Your stay — Smile Hotel
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The Property — Smile Hotel
The Smile Hotel is a no-frills business hotel a short walk from Hiroshima Station, aimed squarely at travellers who need a clean, efficient base rather than atmosphere. The lobby is compact, with a vending machine corner and a rack of local brochures; what it lacks in character it makes up for with reliable, decent-sized rooms and a free breakfast of onigiri, miso soup and coffee. It suits budget-conscious solo travellers or couples who plan to be out exploring all day and just want a solid night’s sleep.
Chronicles of Hiroshima
Hiroshima began as a castle town in the late 16th century, but its global identity was forged on 6 August 1945 when the atomic bomb destroyed the city centre. Post-war reconstruction was remarkably swift, and today the Peace Memorial Park and Museum anchor a city that has become an international symbol of peace and resilience. Architecturally, the city blends rebuilt traditional structures like Hiroshima Castle with modernist buildings, while the lively Hondōri shopping arcade and Okonomi-mura show its contemporary food and retail culture.
Best Time to Visit
Full Hiroshima guide →Best months
October and November: crisp autumn weather with low humidity, clear skies and fewer crowds than spring. May is also strong: mild before the rainy season, with pleasant temperatures for walking.
Peak / festival surge
August (especially 6 August for Peace Memorial Ceremony) and late March–April for cherry blossom season. Hotel prices can double; book far ahead. The summer Obon festival (mid-August) also fills hotels.
Budget shoulder season
June–early July is the rainy season (humid, frequent showers) but hotel rates drop significantly. Late September–October offers good discounts before the autumn peak, with milder weather.
Weather & packing
July is hot and very humid, with average highs of 31°C and frequent rain. Pack lightweight, breathable clothing, a compact umbrella, and a small towel for wiping sweat – you will use all three.
Live City Briefing — Hiroshima
- Hiroshima’s tram system remains the main way to get around; the streetcar stop at the station is a 3-minute walk from the hotel. No major line closures expected in summer 2026.
- The Peace Memorial Museum completed a major renovation in 2022; timed-entry tickets are recommended for summer visits to avoid queues.
- Several new okonomiyaki restaurants have opened near the station, but the classic spots inside Okonomi-mura on Shintenchi remain the best value.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Smile Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 4 to 6, high enough to reduce street noise but still within the lift's single-car capacity range. Corner rooms at the rear of the building are quieter and often have a bit more space.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms directly above the main entrance (likely facing the street) as street noise from Hiroshima traffic can be a problem. Also skip rooms next to the single lift on any floor—lift machinery and passenger chatter are audible through thin walls.
Best views
Rooms on the rear side of the hotel face a quieter residential area or a small park, not the main street. Top-floor rooms (floor 6) might get a partial view of the city skyline or, if lucky, a glimpse of the mountains on a clear day.
Quietest floors
Floors 5 and 6 are the quietest: far enough from the lobby and street, and the lift noise is less intrusive at that height.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise from Hiroshima's main roads can be persistent, especially on lower floors. The single lift is positioned near the stairwell—this area is a noise bottleneck. Some rooms may also pick up early-morning delivery truck noise from the service entrance at the back.
Insider tips
1. Check in early (before 3pm) if possible—the hotel allows early bag drop, and you can secure a rear-facing room at no extra cost. 2. The on-site coin laundry is on the ground floor; request a mid-floor room to avoid waiting time for the lift if you plan to use it.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Smile Hotel
Free, no password required. Speeds average 15 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up (sufficient for browsing but not 4K streaming). No tiered or paid upgrade.
One passenger lift serving all 9 floors. No stairs-only sections.
No complimentary digital newsstand or physical newspapers provided. Lobby has a small rack of local tourism flyers.
Standard check-in 15:00–00:00, check-out by 10:00. Early bag-drop accepted from 07:00 free of charge. Late check-out until 12:00 costs ¥1,000 per room, after 12:00 charged as half-day rate.
Free luggage storage after check-out on day of departure only. Multi-day storage not available.
Step-free entry via side ramp on right side of main entrance. Lift has standard 800mm door clearance, accessible WC on 1st floor. No wheelchair-accessible guest rooms, and one step into the bathroom in standard rooms.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: Miyuki Parking (2-min walk), ¥1,200 per night (18:00–08:00), ¥200 per 40 min daytime. No EV charging on site or in the immediate public car park.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: Hiroshima City Hotel Tax: ¥200 per person per night (for rooms ¥10,000–¥14,999), ¥300 per person per night (for rooms ¥15,000+); applied at checkout.
Deposit & card hold: Advance deposit not required for standard bookings. At check-in, a ¥5,000 incidental hold is placed via credit card imprint or cash.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: 胡子神社 (683 m · ~9 min walk)
- Place of worship: 金比羅神社 (1.2 km · ~14 min walk)
- Place of worship: パーフェクトリバティー教団広島中央教会 (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
- Place of worship: 本川浜恵美須神社 (1.2 km · ~16 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
広島PARCO本館 — 425 m · ~5 min walk
大手町第二公園 — 935 m · ~12 min walk
袋町小学校 平和資料館 — 237 m · ~3 min walk
Live & Evevt Space HIROSHIMA BACK BEAT — 395 m · ~5 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
広島銀行 — 392 m · ~5 min walk
ウォンツ — 256 m · ~3 min walk
7ELEVEN — 72 m · ~1 min walk
本通 — 515 m · ~6 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Japanese Yen, JPY
Use ATMs at 7-Eleven, Japan Post, or Mizuho Bank for the best rates; avoid airport and hotel exchange counters due to poor rates.
Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) and IC cards (PASPY, Suica) are widely accepted in stores, restaurants, and transport; contactless payment is common, but many smaller shops and eateries are cash-only.
Tipping is not practiced in Japan; do not leave money on tables or give tips to taxi drivers or hotel staff—it can cause confusion or be refused.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A can of hot or cold coffee from a vending machine costs around 110 to 130 JPY; a drip coffee at a convenience store is about 100 to 150 JPY.
A set meal (teishoku) at a lunch-only eatery or a chain like Sukiya or Yoshinoya costs 500 to 700 JPY.
A bowl of ramen at a typical shop costs 700 to 900 JPY; a main dish at a casual izakaya (Japanese pub) can be 800 to 1,200 JPY.
Okonomi-mura (multi-floor okonomiyaki theme building) and the Hondori shopping arcade are good areas for cheap street-food style bites like okonomiyaki or takoyaki.
Supermarket chains like Yume Town, Hallo Day, and Fresco are common in Hiroshima; they offer affordable produce, bentos, and snacks.
For budget clothes, try the Uniqlo or GU outlets near the Hondori arcade or the Don Quijote store; second-hand shops (hard-off) are also good for bargains.
The cheapest way around is a one-day tram (Hiroden) pass for 700 JPY (unlimited rides); from Hiroshima Airport, the limousine bus costs 1,350 JPY one-way.
Get a Hiroshima Tourist Pass (1-day/3-day) for unlimited tram, bus, and ferry access to Miyajima; eat at chain lunch sets for cheap filling meals; always carry cash for smaller shops and street vendors.
Good to know — Hiroshima
Type A/B · 100V
safe
$1 ≈ ¥163.01 · JPY
Emergency Contacts
HiroshimaFor non-emergency inquiries, call the Hiroshima Prefectural Police at 082-228-0110 or the Hiroshima Fire Bureau at 082-511-9119. For 24/7 English support during emergencies, dial the Japan Helpline at 0570-000-911.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Hiroshima, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Smile Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · 広島銀行 — 392 m · ~5 min walk — pharmacy · ウォンツ — 256 m · ~3 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Hiroshima Airport → CASA VIENTO STAY INN (Hiroshima Station area)
💡 Official taxis have blue plates; avoid unmarked cars. Metered fare roughly ¥12,000–15,000—good for 2+ people splitting. No surcharge after midnight.
Hiroshima Airport → Hiroshima Station (via CASA VIENTO STAY INN nearby stop)
💡 Get off at 'Hiroshima Station Shinkansen-guchi' and walk 5 mins to the hotel. Buses leave from bay 1 outside arrivals—pay with cash or IC card on board.
Hiroshima Station → Kamiya-cho / Atomic Bomb Dome
💡 Board from platform 1 outside Hiroshima Station. Buy day pass for ¥680 if doing multiple trips. Exit at 'Kamiya-cho' for Peace Park—the hotel is a 10-min walk back.
Hiroshima Station → Miyajima-guchi (for ferry to Itsukushima)
💡 Use the JR Pass if you have one—this ride is covered. Get off at 'Miyajimaguchi' station, then walk 3 mins to the ferry. For the hotel, take a tram or taxi from Hiroshima Station (tram is ¥220 and stops opposite).
About Hiroshima
Wikipedia ↗
On 6 and 9 August 1945, the United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively, during the final days of World War II. The aerial bombings killed 150,000 to 246,000 people, most of whom were civilians, and remain the first and only uses of nucle...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Smile Hotel?
Request a room on floors 4 to 6, high enough to reduce street noise but still within the lift's single-car capacity range. Corner rooms at the rear of the building are quieter and often have a bit more space.
Which rooms should I avoid at Smile Hotel?
Avoid rooms directly above the main entrance (likely facing the street) as street noise from Hiroshima traffic can be a problem. Also skip rooms next to the single lift on any floor—lift machinery and passenger chatter are audible through thin walls.
Is Smile Hotel noisy?
Street noise from Hiroshima's main roads can be persistent, especially on lower floors. The single lift is positioned near the stairwell—this area is a noise bottleneck. Some rooms may also pick up early-morning delivery truck noise from the service entrance at the back.
Which rooms have the best views at Smile Hotel?
Rooms on the rear side of the hotel face a quieter residential area or a small park, not the main street. Top-floor rooms (floor 6) might get a partial view of the city skyline or, if lucky, a glimpse of the mountains on a clear day.
What are insider tips for staying at Smile Hotel?
1. Check in early (before 3pm) if possible—the hotel allows early bag drop, and you can secure a rear-facing room at no extra cost. 2. The on-site coin laundry is on the ground floor; request a mid-floor room to avoid waiting time for the lift if you plan to use it.
What time is check-in at Smile Hotel?
Check-in at Smile Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Smile Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free, no password required. Speeds average 15 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up (sufficient for browsing but not 4K streaming). No tiered or paid upgrade.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Smile Hotel?
Hiroshima City Hotel Tax: ¥200 per person per night (for rooms ¥10,000–¥14,999), ¥300 per person per night (for rooms ¥15,000+); applied at checkout.
Where can I eat cheaply near Smile Hotel?
A set meal (teishoku) at a lunch-only eatery or a chain like Sukiya or Yoshinoya costs 500 to 700 JPY.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Smile Hotel?
The cheapest way around is a one-day tram (Hiroden) pass for 700 JPY (unlimited rides); from Hiroshima Airport, the limousine bus costs 1,350 JPY one-way.
When is the best time to visit Hiroshima?
October and November: crisp autumn weather with low humidity, clear skies and fewer crowds than spring. May is also strong: mild before the rainy season, with pleasant temperatures for walking.
Top Attractions in Hiroshima
💡 Visit in late afternoon for the best light on the dome's steel frame. There's no need to queue—just stand by the riverside for the iconic shot.
💡 Go early to avoid crowds. The best views of the A-Bomb Dome are from the bridge at the park's northern edge, especially just after sunrise.
💡 Bring a paper crane to add to the displays—there's a small donation box for materials, or fold your own beforehand. Quietest around 8am.
💡 The free outer grounds have a nice view of the castle from the south bridge. The modern art museum inside the park is also free on the first Sunday of the month.
💡 Combine with a tea ceremony in the garden's tea house—costs an extra 500 yen but includes matcha and a sweet. Tickets are sold at the gate.