Seaside Hotel Maiko Villa Kobe

Not bad, but a little disappointing for the price

Prós: All that you'd expect from a Japanese hotel. Staff was very friendly and helpful despite my bad Japanese. It probably would have been fine if I had only spoken English. The lobby and communal areas are very nice. The view of the Akashi-Kaikyo bridge was very cool. There is a train station close to the hotel, only about a 10 minute walk. (There's also a free shuttle that goes to the station, but I prefer walking.)

Contras: The room itself was pretty basic despite being on the pricey side. I've stayed in rooms exactly like this for much cheaper and in better locations in Japan. The train station is close, but it's a minor station. You still need to take a 30 minute train to get to Sannomiya Station (the central station of Kobe).