BRENZA HOTEL KOBE

The most striking thing about this stay was the hotel's fantastic location! I took a highway bus to Kobe, and the hotel is right next to the Sannomiya Bus Station. After getting off, I didn't even need to open navigation; I could see the hotel sign and follow it for two minutes to arrive. So, if you're taking a highway bus to Kobe and want to stay near Sannomiya Bus Station, this place is perfect. As with many Japanese hotels, it's small but has everything you need. Overall, it's excellent!

Pros: Great location, just a 7-8 minute walk from the JR station. I stayed in a larger single room, which was spacious enough to fully open my suitcase. The window could be opened for ventilation. Cons: The bathroom had an odd smell, which only improved when the exhaust fan was left on 24/7. I occasionally noticed a spice-like scent in the hallway and room. The bathroom was also a bit small, and the drain was slow after showering. I hope these points can be improved upon. There's a lot of construction and building going on nearby recently, but closing the window at night effectively blocked out any noise.

The hotel's location is super convenient, even with the road construction nearby. If you know the shortcuts, you'll be there in no time. Give me a like if this helps! Here's how to get there from JR Sannomiya East Exit (see pic 1): Take the escalator up one level, then turn left. You'll see an overpass. Head towards the OPQ building (see pic 2), which has an AEON on the ground floor. Go inside, and immediately on your right, you'll see an escalator going down. Turn left, go around the back of the escalator, then exit and turn left again. Walk to the very end, turn left one more time, and you'll reach the hotel in about 100 meters. It's really easy to get anywhere from here. The reception desk is on the second floor. The self-service bar is a great perk, and they offer quite premium coffee and tea for guests. The room isn't huge, but there was enough space to open up two large suitcases. The only downsides were the small bathroom and the dim lighting.

The hotel is conveniently located right across the street from Subway Exit 23 (take the small alley next to Lawson). There's also a bowling alley building directly opposite. While the area is currently undergoing subway construction, we stayed in a street-facing room and it wasn't noisy at all. The room decor is very new, though the space is a bit small. There's a raised platform under the bed, so be careful not to bump your feet when getting in and out. The bathroom is a bit cramped, and the sink and shower share a single faucet, which I guess is an 'innovative' design choice, haha. Both the front desk and restaurant are on the second floor. After checking in on the second floor, you take the same elevator back down to access your room. Toothbrushes, toiletries, and pajamas need to be picked up yourself from the area opposite the front desk on the second floor. For breakfast, you need to provide your room number at the front desk to get a queue number. An attendant will then call your number at the restaurant. Breakfast is a set meal, but some items like bread, rice balls, small cakes, and drinks are self-service. I thought the breakfast was quite good and worth booking. We only stayed one night, so I'm not sure if the breakfast menu changes daily; it might be worth asking the front desk. Image 1 is breakfast, Image 2 is notices, and Image 3 is the JR line.

There's a large supermarket and a shopping mall near the hotel, which is super convenient for getting to any transportation hub. Just a heads-up, there's no bottled water in the room, so remember to buy some. Otherwise, everything else was fine.

Convenient location, great service, and healthy, delicious breakfast. Although there's some construction happening nearby, it's generally pretty quiet. Stayed for four nights, and one morning I missed breakfast because I'd had a bit too much to drink the night before! 🥹

This is my second time staying at this hotel. The location is excellent, just a short walk to the train and bus stations, as well as the shopping street, making it very convenient for daily life and transportation. The room is large and comfortable, with complete facilities. It's great value for money, and I will definitely stay here again next time I visit Kobe.