Nagoya's BEST Hotel? Route Inn Imaike Ekimae Review!

Hotel Route Inn Nagoya Imaike Ekimae Nagoya Japan

Nagoya's BEST Hotel? Route Inn Imaike Ekimae Review!

Nagoya's BEST Hotel? Route Inn Imaike Ekimae: My Honest (and Slightly Chaotic) Review!

Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the Route Inn Imaike Ekimae in Nagoya. And believe me, after surviving a week there, I’m ready to spill the tea (or, you know, the complimentary green tea they keep restocking). This isn't your perfectly polished TripAdvisor review, this is the real, messy, hilarious, and sometimes frustrating truth.

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• Keywords: Route Inn Imaike Ekimae, Nagoya hotel review, accessible hotel Nagoya, Japanese hotel, hotel with free breakfast, hotel near Imaike Station, Route Inn review, Nagoya accommodation, best hotels Nagoya, hotel with spa Nagoya, wheelchair accessible hotel, business hotel Nagoya.
• Metadata Description: A brutally honest and detailed review of the Route Inn Imaike Ekimae in Nagoya, Japan. Covering accessibility, amenities, dining, cleanliness, and my overall experience. Prepare for random tangents, quirky observations, and hopefully, a laugh or two!

First Impressions & the Accessibility Angle – (Where Things Got Off to a Slightly Shaky Start)

Okay, so arriving at the Route Inn, the first thing I noticed was… well, it was clean. Spotlessly so. Japan, in general, seems to have a cleanliness obsession, and this place definitely embraced it. The lobby was bright, and the check-in process was surprisingly painless (more on that later). Accessibility-wise, I was hopeful. They list facilities for disabled guests. That’s a Good Start.

• Accessibility: Yes, they say they're accessible. There's an elevator, ramps where you need them. BUT (and this is a BIG but), navigating around the lobby felt a little…clunky. Tight turns, a few potential bottlenecks. More space would be a boon. The corridor to my room, however, was spacious (the room was good too).

• Wheelchair Accessible: It's… okay. If you're in a wheelchair, you can probably make it work. But I'd advise calling ahead, and specifically asking about the accessibility of the restaurant and any other areas you plan to use. Don't just take the website's word for it. (RANT ALERT: Seriously, hotels, please get this right! Accessibility isn't a box to tick, it's about real usability.)

• Elevator: Elevator worked, and seemed to be frequently used.

The Room: My Little Hideaway (or How I Mastered the Art of the Capsule Hotel Escape)

My room was… well, it was a Route Inn room. Which means it's efficient, functional, and has everything you need, but maybe not everything you want.

• Available in All Rooms: Absolutely!

  • Air conditioning: Crucial in humid Nagoya. Check.
  • Air Purifier: That's nice!
  • Alarm clock: Useful for not missing breakfast.
  • Bathrobes & Slippers: The fluffy bathrobe was a welcome touch after a long day. And the slippers? Pure hotel-room bliss.
  • Bathroom phone: Um…okay? (Never used it.)
  • Bathtub: Yep! (And good water pressure)
  • Blackout curtains: Essential for sound sleep.
  • Closet and Carpeting: Standard stuff.
  • Coffee/tea maker & Complimentary tea: Loved the in-room coffee and tea.
  • Daily housekeeping They are GOOD and fast!
  • Desk: Perfect for working (or pretending to work).
  • Extra long bed: Yay, finally a hotel bed that can hold my 6'4 frame (but not much, extra-long is still on the short side of my standards).
  • Free bottled water: Always appreciated.
  • Hair dryer: Powerful.
  • High floor: A great point of view.
  • In-room safe box: Good for passports and valuables.
  • Internet access -- LAN & wireless: Worked flawlessly.
  • Ironing facilities: Iron and ironing board.
  • Laptop workspace: Same as the desk.
  • Linens, Mirror, Non-smoking: Check, check, check!
  • On-demand movies: Not my vibe.
  • Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator: Perfect.
  • Safety/security feature: Smoke detector, etc.
  • Satellite/cable channels: Okay selection of channels.
  • Scale: I didn't.
  • Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers: all perfect.
  • Smoke detector: good.
  • Socket near the bed: A modern convenience that I loved.
  • Sofa: Not in my room.
  • Soundproofing: Pretty good, you don't hear too much in the hallway, but still hear some sounds from outside, however, acceptable.
  • Telephone: Never used, and I doubt anyone used it.
  • Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella: Good
  • Visual alarm: Good.
  • Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens: Great and easy to use.
  • Additional toilet: No

• The Quirky Stuff: The room was SO compact! I swear, I could touch both walls at once from the center of the bed. It was like living in a really well-designed shoebox. But I got used to it. Think of it as a capsule hotel escape training.

• Emotional Response: I loved that it was spotlessly clean. The free Wi-Fi was a lifesaver. The view from the window (even though it was just a street scene) was kind of calming. No, it wasn’t a luxury suite, but it was comfortable, functional, and a safe haven after a day of exploring (and battling my own questionable sense of direction).

Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Fueling the Adventure (and Avoiding the Tourist Traps!)

Ah, the food. This is an area where Route Inns in general, and this one in particular, really deliver.

• Breakfast [buffet]: The real star of the show. Seriously, go hungry. They had everything from traditional Japanese breakfast (fish, rice, miso soup) to international options (eggs, bacon, pastries). The pastries were…well, they weren't Michelin-star quality, but they were fresh and plentiful. The coffee was surprisingly decent.

• Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Buffet in restaurant: Yes, yes, and yes.

  • Vegetarian Restaurant – Yes.
  • Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant – Yes.
  • A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Breakfast service, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant: – Yes.
  • Restaurants: Excellent!

• The Happy Hour Surprise (I'm Not Even Kidding): A few evenings, the bar area (yes, there's a bar!) had a sort of "Happy Hour Lite." Not exactly "bottomless drinks," but the prices were reasonable and the atmosphere was…well, it was busy, but in a friendly, low-key way.

• Dining Quirks: They had a little "grab-and-go" snack area near the reception, which was handy for late-night cravings. The hotel doesn't have room service, so you're on your own after the restaurant closes.

• Emotional Response: The breakfast buffet was the absolute highlight of my day. I’m not even ashamed to admit I went back for seconds (and sometimes thirds). The food was reliably good.

Amenities & Services: Beyond the Room (And Where Things Got a Little…Murkier)

• Services and conveniences:
  • Daily housekeeping: good.
  • Elevator: good.
  • Facilities for disabled guests: Decent but not excellent.
  • Ironing service, Luggage storage, Safety deposit boxes, Smoking area: good.
  • Air conditioning in public area, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Doorman: all good.
  • Invoice provided, Laundry service, Meetings, On-site event hosting, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private]: not applicable to me.
  • Food delivery: no.
  • Gift/souvenir shop: one.
  • Indoor venue for special events: no.
  • Meeting/banquet facilities: no.
  • Outdoor venue for special events: no.
  • Projector/LED display: no.
  • Seminars: no.
  • Shrine: no.
  • Terrace: no.
  • Wi-Fi for special events: no.
  • **Xerox

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Hotel Route Inn Nagoya Imaike Ekimae Nagoya Japan

Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's meticulously-planned travel itinerary. This is… me. And I’m about to inflict myself upon Nagoya, Japan, based in the glorious, yet potentially soul-crushing, Hotel Route Inn Nagoya Imaike Ekimae. Let's get this messy, glorious, and probably slightly disastrous show on the road.

Day 1: Arrival, Ramen, and Existential Dread in the Hotel Room

• 10:00 AM: Arrive at Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO). God, airports. So many people, so much fluorescent lighting, and that lingering smell of jet fuel and… hope? Hah. Okay, I’m getting a ride on the Meitetsu train to Nagoya Station. Fingers crossed I don't accidentally end up in Osaka. (I’m terrible with directions).
• 11:30 AM: Navigate Nagoya Station. This is where the fun (read: panic) begins. I’m a champion at getting lost, so wish me luck finding the appropriate bus or subway line to Imaike. Praying for helpful signage. And maybe a Guardian Angel. Or a very patient local.
• 1:00 PM: Finally arrive at Hotel Route Inn Nagoya Imaike Ekimae. Check-in. The lobby is… functional. Clean, efficient, and utterly devoid of personality. This is fine. I am here for a cultural immersion, not a romance with hotel décor. Or am I? (Rambles begin.) The key card better work. I don't have the stamina for a front desk confrontation this early in the game.
• 2:00 PM: Unpack. Contemplate unpacking properly. Decide that's a task for future-me, who is significantly more motivated. Toss everything onto the bed. Instantly regret it. My "minimalist" travel style is a joke. (Emotional reaction: mild despair).
• 3:00 PM: Ramen Time! Desperately seeking some local ramen, near the hotel. Google Maps calls for immediate action. Found a place promising "authentic Nagoya ramen." Authentic, huh? Hope it's better than the instant stuff I brought in case of emergency (which is basically every meal.) This is critical: a bad ramen experience could ruin the whole trip.
• 4:00 PM: Ramen Review (post-ramen coma): Okay, "authentic" ramen? Nailed it. The broth was rich, the noodles perfectly chewy, and the pork…oh, the pork! Almost wept with joy. Almost. (Strong emotional reaction: Ramen-induced euphoria). Note to self: find this ramen place again. Right now.
• 5:00 PM: Stroll around Imaike. Get my bearings, which will probably be lost again within an hour. Observe the locals. Secretly judge their footwear (it's a weakness). Feel a pang of jealousy at their effortless style and complete lack of my inherent clumsiness. (Quirky observation: Japanese people are strangely stylish and graceful…even while carrying grocery bags)
• 6:00 PM: Back in the hotel room. Starting to get a bit of jet lag, but still wired. Contemplate a power nap. Decide against it, because I'll probably wake up at 3 AM and be unable to sleep again. (Messier structure: this is how it usually goes). Browse the hotel's (probably terrible) TV channels.
• 7:00 PM: Dinner: Maybe look for something more low-key, like a convenience store. Or maybe stumble upon another delicious ramen spot. The possibilities give me a strange feeling.
• 8:00 PM: Journaling. Attempt to write down all my thoughts and feelings. Realize I have too many thoughts and feelings. Give up. Repeat.
• 9:00 PM: Collapse into bed. Prepare for a sleepless night of adjusting to the time difference, and wondering if I should have learned more than "Konnichiwa" and "Arigato."
• 10:00 PM: Staring at the ceiling. The hotel lighting, slightly too bright, is giving me the sensation of being under a spotlight. My brain is racing. Am I making a mistake even being here? Am I completely unqualified for this trip?

Day 2: Castles, Culture, and a Near-Disaster with a Vending Machine

• 9:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. Probably involving a lot of bread, scrambled eggs, and a vague sense of disappointment. Hotel breakfasts are seldom the highlight of a trip, are they?
• 10:00 AM: Off to Nagoya Castle. Excited! Hope it’s as majestic as the pictures suggest. Praying I don't accidentally trip over a tourist and cause an international incident. (More emotional reaction: some excitement, mixed with a healthy dose of anxiety)
• 11:00 AM: Nagoya Castle. Okay, it is majestic, even if it feels a little… touristy. Spend an hour wandering the grounds, taking far too many photos of the golden fish on the roof (what are they called again? I should know this). Imagine myself as a samurai, then quickly get distracted by the gift shop. (Quirky observation: Japanese gift shops are a masterclass in temptation. I, an easy target, am going to be poor by the end of this trip.)
• 1:00 PM: Lunch near the castle. Something completely different to ramen. Consider curry, or maybe some tempura. The options are overwhelming. (Rambles: Food. Food is a major factor in my travels. I may need to accept a "professional eater" title after all this.)
• 2:00 PM: Visit the Tokugawa Art Museum. This should be interesting. My appreciation for art is, let's just say, developing. Hoping it won't bore me to tears. (Emotional reaction: anticipation with a hint of dread).
• 3:00 PM: Tokugawa Art Museum. Wow. Actually, wow. Seriously beautiful art. I am slightly ashamed to admit I'm actually moved, even if I don't understand it all. The delicate calligraphy, the ornate screens… And the history. The stories behind these pieces… (Doubling down on a single experience: the museum completely surprised me. Totally unexpected!)
• 4:00 PM: Vending Machine Incident. Desperate for a drink. Approach a vending machine with confidence. Input my yen. Select my desired beverage. Nothing happens. Panic sets in. Wrestle with the machine. Push buttons repeatedly. Glance around to see if anyone is watching my public humiliation. Eventually, after much struggle, give up and move on. (Messy structure: a mini-adventure in itself).
• 4:30 PM: Find another vending machine. Success! Buy a bottle of…something. Realize later it was not the drink I thought it was. (Emotional reaction: mild disappointment, plus the lingering fear of the previous vending machine).
• 5:00 PM: Explore a local shopping street. Try to communicate using miming. Fail. Laugh at myself. Buy a silly souvenir I don’t need but absolutely must have. (More quirky observations: the communication barrier is real, but also hilarious. I’m learning to just embrace it.)
• 6:00 PM: Dinner. Consider trying miso katsu, Nagoya's signature dish. Or maybe not. Too many options. Paralysis by choice. (Emotional reaction: increasingly indecisive)

Day 3: Departure. And a Final, Desperate Plea for Ramen

• 9:00 AM: Breakfast. More bread, eggs, and vague disappointment.
• 10:00 AM: Final ramen hunt. This is vital. If I leave Nagoya without revisiting that amazing ramen, I will regret it for the rest of my life. (Strong emotional reaction: hyper-focused mission.)
• 11:00 AM: Ramen, again! (Details omitted because they are the same as Day 1 ramen experience).
• 1:00 PM: Check out of the hotel. Reflect on my time in Nagoya. (Rambles: This city is… interesting. Definitely not what I expected. But then, I never expect anything to go perfectly, do I?)
• 2:00 PM: Travel back to the airport.
• …and then back to the real world.
• Note: I’m sure there will be many unplanned detours, hilarious mishaps, and moments of overwhelming beauty. And that’s okay. Because

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Hotel Route Inn Nagoya Imaike Ekimae Nagoya Japan```html

Route Inn Imaike Ekimae: The Honest Truth (and My Slightly Unhinged Review)

So, is Route Inn Imaike Ekimae the "BEST" hotel in Nagoya? Seriously?

Okay, let’s be real. "BEST" is a strong word. Is it the Ritz-Carlton? Absolutely not. Did I get a diamond-encrusted pillow? Nope. But...is it a solid, reliable, perfectly adequate choice for your Nagoya adventure? Yeah, probably. Look, I’m a creature of habit, and the convenience of being smack-dab next to Imaike Station is a MAJOR win. Like, I rolled off the train after a grueling business trip, practically stumbled into the lobby, and within minutes was sprawled out on a surprisingly comfortable bed. That’s the good stuff. The BEST? Debatable. Convenient as hell? Absolutely. And sometimes, convenience is king (or queen, in my rule-following case).

What's the deal with the location? Is it *really* that close to the station?

Oh. My. Gosh. Yes. It’s practically *on* it. Walk out of the station, blink, and BAM! You're at the hotel. I'm not kidding. There are sometimes *so much* of walking in Japan, it's a huge sigh of relief to not have to haul your luggage across a busy intersection or wander aimlessly for 20 minutes. I’ve had some truly horrendous experiences with 'nearby' hotels, and this one gets full marks for location, location, location. You can hear the trains rumble slightly, but honestly? It's like white noise after a while. It lulled me to sleep, which is a good thing.

Is the room clean? Because, you know, cleanliness is next to... well, you know.

Okay, okay, confession time. I'm a bit of a germaphobe. Like, I judge a hotel on the state of its grout in the bathroom. I can tell you right now with absolute certainty that the grout in MY room was... acceptable. It wasn't gleaming pristine, like a surgical suite, but it wasn't harboring a colony of mold, either. And that, my friends, is a win in my book. The room itself was clean; the sheets were fresh, no stray hairs, and the bathroom, while compact (standard Japanese hotel size), was well-maintained. I've stayed in places that were *considerably* worse, and I’ve stayed in places that were *much* better. A solid 'B' for cleanliness.

What about the free breakfast? Is it worth waking up for? (Asking the important questions!)

Here's where we enter the "slightly less glowing" territory. Look, it's free. And that's good, right? The breakfast is… serviceable. You’ll find the usual suspects: rice, miso soup, maybe some scrambled eggs that look suspiciously like they came from a giant vat, and a selection of Japanese pickles that, let's be honest, are an acquired taste. There's also always the usual offering of bread, coffee, and juice.
I actually *did* wake up for the breakfast. One day, I was REALLY hungry, the other two I just grabbed a quick coffee to go and wandered outside to the nearest Seven Eleven for something with more flavour. It fills a hole, alright? It's not gourmet, it's not inspiring, but it's fuel for the day, and as a seasoned traveler, I can tell you it's better than some hotels.

Any major downsides I should be aware of? Something I *won't* like?

The biggest thing? The size of the rooms. They. Are. Tiny. I mean, you won’t be doing cartwheels in there, unless you enjoy performing them off the edge of your bed. The space is well-utilized, sure, but if you're claustrophobic or traveling with a lot of luggage, prepare for a slight feeling of being crammed. My suitcase barely fit open, but I made it work.
Also, this is nitpicky, but the lighting in the rooms is a little...clinical. Feels more like a hospital room than a cozy getaway. But you can buy a small bedside lamp.

Did you experience ANYTHING particularly memorable? Any quirks?

Okay, true story: one morning I went down to the breakfast buffet and the scrambled eggs were... almost *too* yellow. Like, Simpsons yellow. I swear it was a different shade of yellow than what I had seen yesterday, which was a little… alarming. I'm not going to lie, I stared at them for a solid minute, trying to decide if I had the guts to try them. I went for the rice and miso soup that day. (I feel like it could have been that they just changed to the high-quality eggs, but my inner skeptic thought someone was playing a joke.)
Also, the on-site vending machines are amazing. So many weird and wonderful Japanese drinks to try!

Should *I* stay at Route Inn Imaike Ekimae?

Okay, here's the verdict. If you prioritize convenience, a decent, clean room, and don't mind a slightly cramped space, then yes. ABSOLUTELY. Especially if you have a lot of luggage or are on a business trip. If you're looking for luxury, a romantic getaway, or enjoy spending time in the room, then maybe look elsewhere. I would stay again. It is not the PERFECT hotel, far from it, but it is a solid and practical choice. It has a charm of its own. You can't go wrong with it, unless you have very specific requirements beyond convenience.

Any other tips you like to give for first-time visitors?

Get a Suica or Pasmo card *immediately* upon arrival. Life will be so much easier.
Don't be afraid to try things! Japanese food is incredible, even the slightly weird stuff.
Always carry cash. Some smaller establishments don't take cards.
And above all, relax and enjoy the experience!

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Hotel Route Inn Nagoya Imaike Ekimae Nagoya Japan

Hotel Route Inn Nagoya Imaike Ekimae Nagoya Japan

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