Yokohama has so much to offer that very few people really know what is actually available. It is a walkable city with something interesting around every corner.
One way to discover many of the famous attractions is to find a hotel with a central location. Situated just a few minutes' walk from Kannai Station and Kannai Subway, Hotel MyStays Yokohama Kannai is the perfect solution. They offer 165 very nice clean rooms with many amenities you would find in higher-priced hotels.
The MyStays chain was established in 1999 and has grown to 76 hotels with about 12,000 rooms, with even more being added this year. If you book through their web page or phone number, they offer a points program to encourage staying at their other properties.
My first surprise upon check-in was that the front desk employees all spoke English. So it was easy getting answers to my typical questions, such as "Do you have a local restaurant map?" Aiko and Seo were a wealth of information and the check-in took about three minutes. I went ahead and booked the breakfast in advance, saving a few hundred yen off the regular rate. The ladies also explained the various amenities available in our room and additional items we could pick up in the lobby.
Upon entering our room the first thing I noticed was the size, which was much larger than your typical Japanese hotel room. Even the bathroom was Western-style, with enough space to put out our toiletries. The bed was extremely comfortable and the memory pillows ensured a great nights sleep. And forget carrying a piece of paper with the W-F-I pass codes, just turn on the TV and presto all the information appears on the screen. We selected a restaurant a short walk from the hotel and then proceeded to the Red Brick Warehouse for some night views.
The next morning, I enjoyed an excellent western style breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
Over our three days we walked to Yamashita Park, Red Brick Warehouse, Chinatown, Landmark Center, World Porters Shopping center, Yokohama Park (next to the Bay Stars Stadium), walked along the river and visited several neighborhoods. On one day, I walked to Kannai station and headed to Negishi just three stops away to visit Sankeien Gardens. You can either take a 45-minute bus from the bay area or the train to Negishi station and a 10-minute bus to the gardens. Also within a short walking distance from the Hotel MyStays Yokohama Kannai were our choice of restaurants - Chinatown (knife-cut noodles), lunch at La Salsa (Hispanic food), La Pausa (Italian food), and of course Seven Eleven (one block from the hotel) for their excellent ¥100 coffee. Now that is what you call a convenient hotel location.
Best of all, just a few minutes away from the hotel is the great walkway along the Ookagawa River from Sakuragicho to Kamiooka. In a few weeks, it will explode with cherry blossoms and all the activities associated with springtime. It is not just great for photo taking, but also all along the river will be hundreds of vendors selling delicious food and other items. You can even take a short river cruise to enjoy the sites from along the waterway.
Within a short radius of Hotel MyStays Yokohama Kannai are many other attractions that you do not want to miss. The hotel staff will give you a local map that will show sites of interest in every direction.
To book Hotel MyStays Yokohama Kannai, go to their web page or call 045-227-6701.
