Planning a trip to Kanazawa, I was faced with choosing somewhere to stay, out of the wide range of hotels boasted by the city. Demanding traveler that I am, I wanted somewhere inexpensive, well located, and offering good facilities for the price. Enter APA Kanazawa Chuo, right in the middle of the downtown Katamachi area, ticking all those boxes.
Check-in was a little fraught, in honesty: their machines want a passport scan from any non-Japanese guest, but I live here and am not in the habit of carrying it around with me. That problem aside, things were good: the blingy lobby has an attached coffee shop, and snazzy modern design which is matched in the rooms.
My single room was very compact, with enough space for me and my small case and not much else. I had my standard amenities: my little fridge, both Wi-Fi and cable internet, and a disproportionately large TV that occupied most of the desk. I also took advantage of the 'eco' option for housekeeping: instead of having the staff come into the room, I get left a pack of amenities by the door, including a bottle of drinking water.
One reason I chose this hotel was the public bathroom. Up on the 14th floor it has a wooden sauna (with built-in TV!), and an outdoor bath with a nice view of the city and nearby mountains. After a busy day of seeing the sights, it was really good to be able to have an unhurried steam and soak.
Katamachi is the main shopping and nightlife area, so there are plenty of stores, and dining and drinking options nearby. It's also within easy walking distance of several interesting sights, among them Kenroku-En garden, the "ninja temple" Myoryu-ji, and the stunning 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art.
