Dormy Inn Premium Shimonoseki

What People are saying

Value for money, everything we need for a family holiday

HappyAKAon 24/11/2016 14:11

We took 3 double rooms at Dormy Inn Premium Shimonoseki in early Nov this year, stayed for 2 nights. Selection was based on the following:

1) walkable distance from Shimonoseki station. This hotel is less than 10 mins walk from the station. (Do not confuse with Shin-Shimonoseki station, the latter is for the Shinkansen and 10 mins by local train from Shimonoseki station). Take advantage of the shuttle service, every 10 minutes to the station. Saves you some walking, particularly if you have luggage upon check-out.

2) Onsen onsite within property. Dormy Premium Shimonoseki has a fabulous natural open air onsen, with spectacular outdoor views of the port and neighbouring islands, facing the Seto sea. Best for a city hotel that we have come across. Also, immaculately clean, and stocked with premium toiletries. Separated by gender for male and female.

3) Washer/dryer. Available at hotel at minimal cost for the dryer. The washer and detergent is free. Located within the onsen area.

4) WIFI throughout property. Reception was good.

5) modern hotel rooms, comfortable beds, smoke free!! But note, they don't have twin rooms, so if you are travelling with a child, might need to book 2 rooms.

Being fans of the Dormy Inn chain, we were used to the same successful formula of the above + massage service and great breakfast. Dormy Shimonoseki has a superb breakfast variety, one which we have come to expect from the chain, and even between the various Dormy hotels, this one shines with superior quality in terms of variety (the fruit for instance, while we were there, included local grapes. And some rather expensive Japanese cod roe). At Y1800 for adults (half for kids 12 and below), I would still consider it good value.

While we were there,
- our elderly mum (70) had a 90 min massage at the hotel. The male therapist was fantastic.
- the hotel recommended some restaurants within walking distance from the hotel
- we bought our groceries from Halloday, a huge supermarket 3 mins walk from the hotel. Fantastic local prices, local variety. Fruit galore, as Yamaguchi is known to produce variety of fruit.
- checked out Edion (huge electronic store) and Daiso right across from the hotel
- visited Karato fish market (900Y by taxi). We took the taxi there and walked back (takes around 25 mins with children aged 13, 12 and 8).
- visited Kokura (15 mins by local train). We had a fantastic Teppanyaki lunch at Rihga Royal. We then took a ferry across back to Shimonoseki, which stops directly at the Shimonoseki Aquarium. The kids had a wonderful time on the ferry (10 mins ride).

Relative to other Dormy Inns, this hotel was smaller than Gion Hakata, and also that of Wakayama's. But everything worked. We would stay again if we are back in the area, as it was good value for money.

A fine business hotel

EmWu0000on 05/01/2016 10:59

This was a fine hotel. Helpful staff. Clean room. Good neighborhood.

We picked it for its proximity to the train station - though it turned out to be slightly further than we'd liked considering we were carrying 15kg each on our shoulders. The hotel actually has hourly shuttles to the train station, so we were able to get a lift on our way out. They serve free noodles from 9:30-11pm every evening.

Room Small, Breakfast Excellent

baermon 21/06/2015 23:03

Unfortunately, probably best in Shimonoseki. In sixth trip to Japan, the smallest hotel room we've encountered. Reasonable walk to train station, where bus station is also located. Unusually good breakfast for one included in room rate.
Service somewhat lacking - free shuttle not provided in middle of the day when we wanted to use it. Also, got no help with coin laundry problem caused by thoughtless individuals who left laundry in the driers for hours - personnel seemed unable to think about this problem, which was comically made worse by bizarre laundry set-up: two sets of machines, one in each spa, in areas with unclothed people running around. This made it impossible for my wife and I to try to deal with this together.
Shimonoseki is not in and of itself a lovely city, but it's in a beautiful location, with a great shrine (Akima), an interesting wharf area, a lovely garden a few miles east of the station, a great viewing tower, a very enjoyable rope-tow accessed observatory, an interesting aquarium, etc.

Roof Top Natural Spa

jamie166on 13/05/2015 07:31

I stayed here a little while back now with work for about 4 weeks. The hotel is immaculate and high tech as you can expect from Japan. What makes this hotel quite special, other than the incredible sushi selection at breakfast and the evening massage service is the roof top natural spa! Heated from thermal gases deep into the ground the spa is around 40 degrees celsius and is the perfect place to unwind with a beer and the view from 10 or so floors up. I would advise late night use to avoid the traditional naked business men!! I doubt I'll ever be in this part of Japan again but I would definitely recommend it.

Decent hotel, poor front desk service

JosephTngon 10/05/2015 08:56

The hotel's facilities are decent, the nightly free noodles a surprising treat. It's location is not the best, though, being situated in-between the train station and the main attraction - Karato. Both are not near enough for a nice short walk, and not that far enough to warrant a bus ride (approximately 3 bus stops away, but at 220 yen a ride, not always an ideal option)

Front-desk service leaves a lot to be desired, however. Not only did the staff give me inaccurate directions to Tsunoshima (it was told to us that a public bus would be available at Kottoi station), they also gave the wrong opening time of the Karato Fish Market (open on weekends by 8am, but front desk said 9am). Also, they had no idea what cultural significance the old European buildings situated around the area had. One would need to do a quick Wikipedia page to find out the significance of Shimonoseki, something not well covered in other sites owing possibly to a revisionist mindset.