My first-ever trip to Shikoku (四國) got off to a fast start this morning. We had our first taste of the newly launched Terminal 2 at Hong Kong International Airport early on, and a few hours later, we finally touched down in Takamatsu (高松市), the lively capital of Kagawa Prefecture (香川縣) on the north side of the island.
During my research for this trip, I already realized that lodging options in Takamatsu (and throughout Shikoku) weren’t exactly abundant. There are plenty of budget hotels and some mid-tier properties, but for someone like me who tends to prioritize newer hotels with a more contemporary design, the choices were slim picking. Maybe just a handful of them at best.
73-key Royal Park Hotel Takamatsu came to mind mainly because of its proximity to the city centre. It’s basically a stone’s throw from the city’s main shopping street — the very area we planned to head to for our first dinner. So in my mind, it ticked most of the boxes.
Despite a major renovation in 2016, the building that houses Royal Park Hotel still felt a bit aged.
The hotel lobby, in particular, has a nice, modern design that creates an inviting vibe.
But beyond the lobby, the mood changed. Most of the interior areas felt a little dark, including the corridors, and the same was true inside the rooms.
The rooms themselves have been tastefully designed with a modern European style in mind.
The room layout was less than efficient, though. It would have felt even more spacious without the table and two chairs taking up a good chunk of central floor space. Not surprisingly, we ended up re-arranging the setup almost immediately after stepping inside.
When it said everything has been renewed since the major renovation, I guess I didn’t pay enough attention to the bathroom. It was noticeably dim, and based on my first impression, it seemed like it might be due for a facelift at some point.
Overall, we had a nice stay at Royal Park Hotel Takamatsu. With less than 24 hours in the city and even less time inside our room, it wasn’t really possible to judge the hotel in great depth. Still, aside from the absence of an onsite parking lot, it proved to be a serviceable option for a short stay. (The hotel has an agreement with a parking facility just across the street, around 1,200 yen per night.)
Rewind to early this morning — everyone in our group was genuinely impressed by how Terminal 2 at Hong Kong International Airport looked. Little nugget joked that it felt more like an aquarium than an airport. I’m sure a lot of us felt the same too.
Rating: ❤❤❤
Price: ￥￥￥
Address: 1-3-11 Kawaramachi, Takamatsu, Kagawa, 760-0052, Japan
Closest Train Station: Kawaramachi
Tel: +81 (0)87-823-2222
Website: http://ryl.anabuki-enter.jp/
Post a Comment
Please tell us what you think