4-Star Hotels in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

This hotel offers incredible value for money! The environment is lovely, and it's spotlessly clean. The staff are all so welcoming and enthusiastic. You can easily walk to both the beach and the shopping area. Plus, the rooms are really spacious. Definitely a highly recommended place!

Stayed here 2 days before my Kobe cruise and it was good enough to rebook for another 3 days after we returned. The hotel is quiet new and located on top of the sannomiya station, giving underground access to most trains and shopping malls nearby. It's basically the center of Kobe. Exits are 1st floor to the street and 2nd floor to station. Reception is 17th floor. Rooms are slightly bigger than most hotels in Japan. Even number room gives you the larger massage machine but room is smaller than odd numbered rooms. These have a smaller massage chair but bigger space and faces the port terminal if you have a cruise ship waiting. They provide amenities, coffee and tea at 17th floor. Did not try the breakfast but there is a convenient store on 2nd floor of the station, near the hotel exit - lots if sandwiches and snacks here. There're hundreds of restaurants and malls underground and you'll get lost most of the time so look for entrance A1 and A2 to get back. Airport bus from kansai stops 200m away and bus to the airport departs 100m from the station. Most of the highest rated restaurants are not more than 400m from the hotel. I'll definitely stay here again.

Due to a late flight, I didn't arrive at the hotel until after midnight. The room wasn't huge, but the bed was big, and the bathroom had a great dry/wet separation. For Japan, this place is excellent! The hotel's location is also fantastic, just a few minutes' walk from Sannomiya Station, and Don Quijote is right across the street. The breakfast was a buffet; while not a massive selection, everything was exquisite. Overall, it was a very pleasant stay.

The room was clean, and the water pressure on the higher floors was consistently strong. They have laundry machines, a microwave, and a vending machine on the first floor, along with water dispensers on every floor. On the first floor, you can also find coffee, tea bags, toiletries, and bathrobes. This is my go-to place whenever I visit Kobe; it offers excellent value for money.

The English proficiency of the local staff is appallingly bad. I went to drop off my luggage and was told I couldn't check-in yet as it was too early. After finally checking in, I discovered my room was right next to the elevator. When booking, I had specifically requested a room away from the elevator, quiet, and non-smoking. It's my fault for not reconfirming with them, so I had to drag my luggage back to the front desk to change rooms. The new room was still on the street side, right next to the elevated highway, and directly opposite Kobe Station – you can imagine how noisy it was. This is an old hotel that's been renovated. You don't need a key card for any of the elevators, so female travelers staying alone should definitely be mindful of their safety. The quality of the renovation can only be described with a 'heh,' the details are just dreadful. Forget the small details, the door wouldn't even close automatically; you had to manually push and pull it to make sure it latched properly. The mini-bar light switch had an intensely bright light that was dazzling at night. Amenities weren't replenished on the second day, not even the drinking water. The staff passage, which also serves as a fire escape, was left wide open until 8 PM, indicating a lapse in safety management. The water pressure and temperature in the shower were unstable – hot one moment, cold the next, and then the water flow would suddenly diminish. I don't even want to comment on the breakfast; it felt worse than what you'd get at a slightly better budget hotel. The only made-to-order hot dish was an omelet. Every single cup was endlessly covered in limescale and scratches.

Compared to Kyoto, the Monterey in Kobe offers much better service. Sona is quite small, and lately, there's been too much of a Korean presence there. Although the hotel is a short walk from the station, it's still easy to find. There is indeed a red-light district nearby, making it a bit noisy and messy (though understandable). The room layout is reasonable, the TV supports screen mirroring, and the toiletries are generously provided, with the DHC lotion being particularly good. Don Quijote is just a short walk away, and it's very convenient to get to Sannomiya Station and Kitano Ijinkan (home to the famous 'Life Toast' and the 70-year-old coffee shop), all within walking distance. The breakfast selection is rich and delicious, with the bread being a pleasant surprise. On a side note, you should definitely avoid the Monterey in Kyoto. Their unfriendliness towards Chinese guests is blatant, especially from the middle-aged Japanese female receptionist! She denied us available rooms unless we insisted and argued on the spot. She also reneged on a promised room type change, even rolling her eyes when a colleague confirmed it with her.🙄

The experience staying at the kobe plaza hotel was amazing! The staffs were very helpful and friendly. The breakfast buffet was okay. Could use some improvements, but still nice. The 3rd floor lounge was so cozy and accessible. ☺️

This is my third time visiting Kobe, and the hotel's location is excellent. It's just a few minutes' walk from Motomachi Station, right next to Chinatown, and across from a 7-Eleven and Daimaru department store. There's also a 7-Eleven and Starbucks downstairs. Getting to Arima Onsen and Mount Rokko is very convenient with direct transport options. The breakfast is quite good too, offering a good selection of meat, eggs, and dairy, plus complimentary afternoon tea. The front desk is on the second floor. I'd definitely stay here again on my next visit!

I want to stay again

The kitchen is well-equipped, and having a washing machine in the room is a huge plus! It even comes with detergent, so you can do laundry anytime. There aren't many hangers though, so it's best to bring your own. The fridge is a good size, and the freezer actually works! For dishes, there were chopsticks, forks, spoons, and four plates, plus a rice cooker! You could practically live here! Highly recommend. The picture below is a meal I cooked at this hotel.