Hotel Sankyo Fukushima

Hotel Sankyo turned out to be a lot better than I was expecting! I got a deal on the room for more than 50% off too. It is very centrally located (less than 10 minutes walking from the central station) in Omachi, one of the central districts in Fukushima. It is well connected to just about everywhere in the city through trains and buses. The area it is in is mostly pedestrian as well. On top of its location, the hotel feels almost new. Some other reviews said it was tired and worn out, so it has probably had a renovation recently. The breakfast was also superb, featuring a wide variety of Japanese food and a selection of western cuisine. There was even an entire buffet table just for peaches and peach-flavoured items (fruit, yoghurt, even pizza!) during the summer and early autumn months - coinciding with Fukushima's peach season. The room (I was in a superior single) was very comfortable and spacious. I had enough room for a suitcase and hiking backpack and could still comfortably do cartwheels (if I had wanted to). There are also many amenities provided.

Good selection of both Japanese and Western choices.

The breakfast buffet more than lived up to its reputation. There were western and local staples each day but a rotation of fresh produce from the region really provided an intentionality to the experience. The bed and pillows were really comfortable. Airconditioning was also great given the heat of Japanese summer.

Clean and neat room. Small but enough space to move around comfortably. Bed is comfortable. Coffee, tea, plus mineral water provided. Good WiFi, and just enough electric outlets to use. Very courteous front staff. We reached a bit early, and the staff allowed us to check-in. Free drinks in the form of coffee and tea at the lobby, but there's a time frame, and also a microwave oven provided, which is useful. Very good breakfast, there's quite a variety of dishes. There's a convenience store next to the lobby. It's about 10-15 mins' walk to Fukushima Station, but room rate is cheaper than those around the station. And it's nice to stroll along the Abukuma River which is less than 10 mins on foot.

The superior twin room we selected was spacious with comfortable beds. It was an easy walk from the train station to the hotel as it's a straight shot between the two places. On a morning stroll, we unexpectedly found a small park along the river. It was peaceful and pretty. We enjoyed the variety of foods offered at breakfast. The tiny persimmon mochi was a sweet way to end the meal. And Cafe Rob adjacent to the hotel entrance is a "must try". The fluffy Japanese pancakes were heavenly--definitely the best I've ever eaten!!