Dormy Inn Akihabara

I'm not going to pretend to be objective: I love Dormy Inn hotels, so when I saw a discounted night available for a staycation I was planning in Tokyo, I snapped it up and started looking forward to my stay. Right in the centre, with a decent sized room, and the usual sauna and outdoor bath, what's not to like?

And I was not disappointed. Check-in was brisk and efficient, and my room was a very pleasant surprise: rather than the usual comfortable western-style one, this was distinctively Japanese, with a (pretend) tatami mat area, a sliding screen door over the window, and a large print of Mount Fuji over the bed! Disclaimer: I had the end room on my floor, so I don't know that every room is like this.

The usual amenities were in place, with my small fridge and kettle and hangars, a sleek TV on the wall at the foot of the bed, and a special mention goes to the heavy-duty fluffy monsters of towels.. There was no chair, just a tiny table and floor cushions, and no bathtub in the room, only a shower stall. That and the presence of a kitchen sink make me suspect that the hotel started life as a company dorm.

But I have no need of a bathtub when there's a public bathroom, and wow, they've made the best use of the limited space. There's a good steamy sauna, with mellow music piped inside, and a cold bath nearby if you want to do it properly in Finnish style, while teaching some new English words to the improbable number of midnight bathers. (The sauna is open until 1:00am, the bathroom through the night).

The indoor bath is nice to relax in, but the outdoor one is better. The stone paths, rocky landscaping and trees give some impression of being out in nature, there are chairs to sit in and take the air between soaks, scented wooden balls in the water, and a big TV to watch while you unwind. It's easy to forget that you're in the middle of a crazily bustling megapolis, which is no mean feat at all.

As well as all this, they provide a range of goodies for guests. There's a manga library and some vending machines, free ice cream in the afternoon and evening, free probiotic drinks in the morning, a free evening drink for guests who book through the hotel website (which I didn't), and even a free bowl of freshly prepared ramen late in the evening. We get absolutely spoiled.

And that's why I love it!