Hotel Kumamoto Pacela, the hotel that left my jaw on the floor!

Location Kumamoto

Temperature 11

Occasionally, a hotel truly leaves an impression on me. The list of such hotels is small, but it includes places like the ones I stayed at in Sibiu, Romania, the amazing hotel in Faro, and the Mayfair hotel in London that I was fortunate enough to visit once, along with a few others from my adventures around the world. Today's new entry on that list is a love hotel in Kumamoto. From the outside, it doesn’t look like a place that would make it onto Becca’s list of best hotels ever. But if ever the phrase does not judge a book by its cover was more relevant it was at this very hotel.

Hotel Kumamoto Pacela, located in Kumamoto City, is easily accessible by foot, bus, tram, or taxi. Its convenient location is just a short walk from the main shopping street. Regular readers of my blog will know that my hotel rankings often face scrutiny in the location category. Until now, the top contender in my list of love hotels has been Hotel Bvljua in Kurume, which scored 56/70. So, how does Hotel Kumamoto Pacela compare? For location, I am awarding it a score of 9/10, possibly the highest I’ve given for location in any hotel I have reviewed. The hotel's central location makes it very easy to reach, and it is well-connected to various transport options.

The next category is ease of access. A significant advantage of love hotels is their seamless check-in process, which often allows for little to no interaction with staff. This is ideal for anyone whose Japanese isn't very strong or who feels anxious about social interactions.

During my stay at Hotel Kumamoto Pacelas, I noticed that the check-in time was slightly later on the weekend, this can be a disadvantage if you are wanting an earlier check in time as you would need to pay for an extension. However, the electronic boards were very user-friendly, and I was able to browse the available rooms at my own pace. The only issue I encountered was needing to make a phone call because I had received a coupon that unfortunately didn’t work. Aside from that, the check-in process was smooth, and I was able to book the room I initially wanted. I had been worried as I showed up with no booking in hopes there would be some rooms available. This is also normal for love hotels only a handful can now be booked via online booking sites. So, it can be a bit of a gamble.

Overall, the experience was excellent, so I am awarding a score of 9 out of 10.

Moving to the room itself, I was filled with anticipation as I unlocked the door. What would the room look like? The electronic check-in boards only displayed a carefully curated image, often leaving much to the imagination, making it difficult to gauge the size of the room. Imagine my surprise when I turned the corner and found myself facing a long, beautiful corridor that elegantly framed the room. Never have I had to grab my travel companion because I am speechless and needed a second pair of eyes to confirm it my eyes still worked.

The space was adorned with stunning faux marble pillars and beautifully decorated awnings. The floor featured exquisite white marble, and everything was impeccably clean. I realized this was the largest hotel room I had stayed in during my time in Japan. The room stretched the entire length of the hotel and included comfortable sofas complemented by Roman-style columns.

A gorgeous four-poster bed added a touch of luxury to the modern atmosphere, it certainly beat out the four-poster bed in Hotel Ubud. The lace surrounding the four poster was neat and a beautiful white. While a hotel's theme can occasionally detract from its appeal, in this case, the Roman and Greek influences enhanced the overall bougie feel. Fresh flowers filled a vase, and the room included both an air purifier and a humidifier. The dark wood flooring throughout the space was in pristine condition, with no peeling or wear. As a creative, I found myself examining the paintwork on the columns and was impressed; they weren't marble, but they convincingly resembled the material.

At the far end of the room, there was a massive TV and sound system, with adjustable lighting to suit the occupants’ preferences. Additionally, a massage chair and rocking chair provided further comfort. The bathroom, while clean, was less thematically cohesive and felt like a missed opportunity; it didn’t follow the Roman theme. However, it did feature a jetted bath and a shower.

For comfort and cleanliness, I rate this hotel room a 9 out of 10.

The next category is amenities, which is typically one where the Chapel group excels. They usually have a charming convenience store set up in the reception areas, allowing guests to select items to bring to their rooms. However, this hotel is not part of that group and does not feature a similar setup.

That said, the room was equipped with all the usual amenities, including a quality selection of hair and beauty products, bubble bath, bath salts, an air purifier, and a humidifier. Additionally, there was a sound system, a television, and a bubble jet bath in the shower. The room certainly provided everything needed for a comfortable stay.

I'm just accustomed to the Chapel style of product selection, so the lack of a few extras made the room feel slightly lacking. Overall, I would rate the amenities a solid 7 out of 10.

The next category is food. Unfortunately, due to the late check-in, I didn't have time to order anything that evening. Additionally, I had an early wake-up time for a date with a fiery volcano, so I couldn’t try the food. However, the menu featured a good variety of options available for ordering. Given the circumstances, I will award a score of 5 out of 10, as I don't want to negatively impact the rating since I couldn't sample the food.

The last two categories are overall enjoyment and likelihood to rebook. From the moment I entered this room to the moment I reluctantly left my bubble of luxury I really enjoyed my stay in this room. The atmosphere felt great, and the room really brought a smile to my face. My overall enjoyment is 8/10. Rebooking is difficult as it is further away than the current first place hotel which can be visited by taking a bus. This hotel isn’t too far out of the way for a long weekend. If I stayed in Kumamoto again, I would rebook this hotel so the score for rebooking is 10/10.

I honestly had an amazing time at this hotel and was very pleasantly surprised. The overall hotel score is 57/70 meaning the Hotel Kumamoto Pacela has shuffled into first place by 1 point. I love Hotel Bvujua but the ability to balance a theme and still feel bougie is an amazing feat. The later is bougie and certainly a posh experience but Pacela adds in a little uniqueness to your stay. Both the first and second place hotels are amazing, and I really do recommend checking out either if you are in those prefectures.