Accommodation Review: A 1-minute walk from Okayama Station! ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Okayama

Stayed at the ANA Crowne Plaza Okayama, a one-minute walk from Okayama Station.

I stayed at the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel in Okayama.

Since I had plans to return to Tokyo by Shinkansen the day after my stay, I chose the ANA Crowne Plaza Okayama, located just a one-minute walk from Okayama Station.

It is situated on the West Exit side of Okayama Station.

The hotel’s greatest asset is its exceptional convenience, being located right next to Okayama Station.

I arrived in Okayama by train and needed to travel to Okayama Momotaro Airport the next day, so I was looking for a high-quality hotel close to the station; that is how I ended up at the ANA Crowne Plaza Okayama.

It cost just over 10,000 yen for a weekday stay.

Here is the location.

It really is right next to the station.

Since it is adjacent to the Okayama Convention Center, the location is incredibly convenient, especially for business trips.

I was traveling alone this time, so I booked a double room.

I had heard the breakfast was delicious, so I included it in my booking.

I booked an 18-square-meter double room.

A room tour of tonight’s room.

I checked in early and took a short rest in my room.

My room this time was on the 10th floor.

Since the building has 20 floors, that puts me roughly halfway up.

Here’s what the elevator lobby looks like; the interior features a chic color scheme throughout, creating a calm and relaxing atmosphere.

You can clearly see from the room that the Shinkansen runs right alongside the hotel.

Also, the semi-rooftop garden (?) visible in the photo features a space set up for hosting weddings or receptions.

As expected of a slightly more upscale hotel, the room feels spacious, with the bed and furnishings arranged to allow plenty of breathing room.

The bed looks like this, and it seems very comfortable.

The double bed measures 140cm x 200cm; it is perfectly fine for a single guest.

In fact, it feels quite spacious.

(I actually slept very comfortably.)

It also comes with an air purifier, which is great if you’re concerned about dry air indoors.

I believe it has a humidifying function as well.

Perhaps with business use in mind, a very large desk for PC work was provided.

The chair was also a high-quality model designed to prevent fatigue.

The chair is a real highlight.

Cheap hotel chairs often cause lower back pain during long sessions of PC work, but—as expected of ANA Crowne Plaza—they got this right.

It’s a proper leather chair, so it looks like it will be comfortable even for extended periods of work.

You mentioned it was 18 square meters, but it doesn’t feel cramped at all.

A wide range of amenities is provided.

The refrigerator was stocked with drinks, and chocolates and snacks were also available—perfect for a quick treat when you didn’t feel like stepping out.

(The water is my own.)

I’ve forgotten exactly where I saw this, but I believe it was a tea provided by the Crowne Plaza to support a comfortable night’s sleep.

In line with their “Sleep Advantage” concept—designed to promote better sleep—they offered caffeine-free roasted green tea (*hojicha*) and herbal tea.

It was a thoughtful touch that revealed the hotel’s genuine concern for ensuring their guests get a good night’s rest.

The bathroom featured the standard layout found in business hotels, with the toilet and bathtub in the same space;

however, the bathroom itself felt spacious.

The bathtub was also quite large so I didn’t have to feel cramped.

It may be hard to tell from the photo, but it was quite spacious for a hotel bathtub.

This hotel is perfect for those who want to take a bath while staying at the hotel.

Here is what the amenities looked like; there were both the standard brand-wide products used at Crowne Plaza and products in shared dispensers.

The face soap is made by POLA.

I suppose the idea is to use whichever one you prefer.

The shampoo in the provided bottle was DHC.

Buffet-style breakfast

Typically, breakfast is served buffet-style in the designated dining area.

With options such as a lunch buffet, Japanese dining, teppanyaki dinner, and a bar lounge available, the hotel is designed so that guests can spend the entire day on the premises without getting bored.

However, due to current circumstances, the breakfast buffet I had been looking forward to was suspended.

According to the hotel’s website, the breakfast buffet usually looks something like this.

You can enjoy plenty of vegetables starting in the morning, and they also cook up a fluffy omelet for you.

During my stay, instead of a buffet, the staff served the entire breakfast—arranged like a traditional set meal—directly to the table.

It was a very hearty meal, and since I didn’t have to walk around to fetch food myself, it actually turned out to be a stroke of luck.

It was a lavish spread featuring both Western and Japanese dishes, and—needless to say—everything tasted absolutely delicious.

My personal favorite was the crispy croissant.

True to the hotel’s confidence in its offerings, there was a wide variety of breads available.

It was a shame there were so many options that I couldn’t try them all.

[Update: June 2020] Due to COVID-19 prevention measures, the breakfast buffet has been suspended for the time being. Guests now choose between a set-meal style Japanese breakfast or a Western-style set.

Please check the ANA Crowne Plaza Okayama website for further details.

Breakfast | ANA Crown Plaza Hotel Okayama

[End of update]

My impressions of the stay

As I mentioned earlier, the hotel’s proximity to the station is a major plus.

Since I was specifically using the Shinkansen and the airport shuttle bus, the fact that I could get from the hotel to the station and bus terminal in just a few minutes was incredibly convenient.

It’s only a short walk to the station, so I didn’t have to lug heavy bags around, which made the experience much more comfortable.

I also really appreciated the schedule—check-in at 2:00 PM and check-out at 11:00 AM—which allowed for a more relaxed stay; it meant I didn’t have to rush around on the morning of departure.

Having a 2:00 PM check-in and an 11:00 AM check-out allows for a slightly more leisurely pace compared to other hotels, which is great.

It is truly wonderful to be able to enjoy this level of service without any hesitation or awkwardness when staying alone.

I would definitely recommend it.

Also, since the Crown Hotel is part of the IHG group, guests can earn IHG points—just like when staying at American chains such as Holiday Inn or InterContinental.

The hotel is fully equipped with facilities like a fitness gym and a business center, making it convenient for business travelers as well.

Staying at the ANA Crowne Plaza Okayama during a business trip would certainly give me the motivation to work hard.

It is also conveniently located for sightseeing; I used the hotel as a base to visit various spots, including Okayama Castle.

It’s also a great option to check out, do some shopping at Okayama Station, and then head straight home on the Shinkansen.

It is a hotel I would love to stay at again.

This time, I booked through Jalan and happened to find a plan for under 10,000 yen.

You might find a great deal depending on the season, so I definitely recommend checking it out.

■Check Room Availability of ANA Crown Plaza Hotel Okayama by IHG■

ANA Crowne Plaza Okayama

Address: 15-1 Ekimoto-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL：086-898-1111

FAX:086-898-1200

Hotel HP：https://www.anacpokayama.com/index.html