Soja Karube Shrine Hotels

"The hotel condition is a bit old"

"One of the best hotels of my stay in Japan. Highly recommended with fantastic location a few minutes walk from Kurashiki Station and the historic quarter. Great amenities in the hotel, amazing breakfast and spotless rooms. Would love to come back. "

"We used the hotel elevating parking which is connected to the hotel. Within a minute of pulling up to the facility, front desk staff came out to assist with the parking. Additionally, when we notified the front desk that one of the washer/dryer machines was not working, again, staff arrived within minutes to get it working. Excellent location near restaurants and a short walk to the Kurashiki historical district. "

"The staff were really kind and professional, providing excellent service and help, but the actual facilities were not great. There is no on site laundry (there is a service only on Monday to Friday), the AC is centrally controlled with the only alternative being off, and the actual room was not very clean. The bathroom was full of someone's hair across the tub and curtain, with some mould spots around the place (around the sink rim and under the handle in the tub). Just a few straight forward improvements would make this a lot better!"

"Excellent location near the old quarter Good facilities Great staff. Rooms are a little small "

"Good"

"The hotel felt as if it had been renovated from an old love hotel. There were amenities and candies placed at the front desk, but when I tried to throw away the candy wrapper and asked a staff member where the trash bin was, they didn’t take the wrapper and simply handed me a garbage bag instead. The breakfast tasted good and was satisfying, but the dining area was right next to the front desk, so it didn’t feel relaxing. Since the word “spa” was in the hotel’s name, I expected to unwind, which is why I booked it, but I think I could have relaxed more at a regular chain hotel. If you are looking for something cost-effective, I would recommend it. However, if you want to relax, I would suggest choosing a different hotel."

"The room: AC was not working during our stay, but the room gets pretty warm, so opening windows or using the fan becomes very important. Pillows do not allow for anyone but side sleepers to use easily. They are very very dense and hard to use for any other position without hurting one’s neck. This was probably my main issue with the room. Facility: Location is OK, or great for old town if that’s a draw for you. Not very close to the station but under 15m walk. The facility had no spoons for use (not actually a big deal, but weird). The AC being unavailable is temporary hopefully. It was unclear when that will be available. Vending machines said they’d accept ¥500 coin but wouldn’t (this may be due to not having change). I would give about 2.5 stars if that were possible. It wasn’t the worst place I’ve stayed but I’d never recommend it to a friend. "

"Outstanding. Likely the best feature of this property. It is highly convenient, especially if arriving from Okayama. For travelers with luggage, taking the Limited Express train is strongly recommended for ease of access. The room was spacious and very clean, making it ideal for families or those traveling with a lot of luggage. The only minor flaw was a slight layer of dust on the high ledge above the beds. Unmanned check-in was seamless, and the remote customer service team was quick and responsive. A washing machine and detergent are provided in the room, which is a fantastic bonus for longer stays. There is no dryer—plan to air-dry your clothes. The day before my check-in, I received an email allegedly from the hotel requesting my credit card details, threatening cancellation if I did not comply. I was exhausted angter 20-25 k steps from all say and, fearing cancellation at an unmanned hotel, I unfortunately provided the information. This turned out to be a sophisticated phishing scam. While thankfully nothing was charged to my card, I had to immediately cancel it, which caused a major inconvenience for the remaining three weeks of my month-long trip in Japan. While the hotel is not to be blamed the management should investigate how this leak occurred. Putting my experience here for causation for other travelers."