Hotel Piena Kobe

“Bargain Stay in Kobe Enhanced by a Gourmet Breakfast Buffet”

My husband couldn't believe we were paying only fifty bucks for a room in this hotel. No, it wasn't a youth hostel or Japan's answer to Motel 6. Sure enough, we paid ¥7,200 for a good size room with two double beds and a private bathroom. Granted it was a bit on the dated side but pretty well mai... more

My husband couldn't believe we were paying only fifty bucks for a room in this hotel. No, it wasn't a youth hostel or Japan's answer to Motel 6. Sure enough, we paid ¥7,200 for a good size room with two double beds and a private bathroom. Granted it was a bit on the dated side but pretty well maintained. Moreover, the location was ideal for exploring the highlights of this under-appreciated city when we were just staying overnight. It's walking distance from Shin-Kobe station (where the Shinkansen stops) and even closer to Sannomiya where Nankinamachi (Chinatown) and the Motomachi Shopping Arcade are. The big grabber, if you trust the travel vloggers, was the breakfast brunch. Apparently it's locally famous as it drew more than just hotel guests. It cost ¥3,100 on its own, which seemed high until I saw the extensive spread. It was on the gourmet side with even a dessert selection. At 10AM?? Oh, why not.

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“Cosy stay with good breakfast spread”

I enjoyed my stay there as the room is clean and cosy. While small, it has all the essential amenities and I love the fragrance of the shower foam provided. The buffet breakfast spread was also awesome, like what I typically see in Singapore’s buffet lunch (less cold seafood). Experience is recom... more

I enjoyed my stay there as the room is clean and cosy. While small, it has all the essential amenities and I love the fragrance of the shower foam provided. The buffet breakfast spread was also awesome, like what I typically see in Singapore’s buffet lunch (less cold seafood). Experience is recommended if you are in Kobe.

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“Good location but a bit tired on the inside”

For my second time in Kobe, I wanted to stay a bit further out from the main area of Sannomiya but close enough to still be able to walk to it. Hotel Piena Kobe seemed to fit the bill. Depending on where you are coming from, the hotel can be uphill or downhill. This might be important if you a... more

For my second time in Kobe, I wanted to stay a bit further out from the main area of Sannomiya but close enough to still be able to walk to it. Hotel Piena Kobe seemed to fit the bill. Depending on where you are coming from, the hotel can be uphill or downhill. This might be important if you are bringing heavy luggage with you. From Shin-Kobe station, it is mostly downhill. From Sannomiya station, it is mostly uphill. The distance feels nearly equal to me and as most reviewers have said, it is about 10 to 15 min depending on how fast you walk. The hotel itself is not hard to find and it located in a quieter area. This is good as it did not feel as crowded as Sannomiya which is what I was looking for. The hotel lobby had cafe that occupies a large part of the entrance which can be confusing. I walked out the first time thinking I had entered the restaurant entrance. The check-in area was nice and the people checking us in couldn't be nicer. The level of courtesy is definitely up to par and very efficient. The room itself was a good size and certainly bigger than what you would normally get in Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka. It does have an older feel and the decor looked tired. However, it was a comfortable room with all the usual amenities of a good quality hotel in Japan. I did not get the breakfast as I had an early morning departure and I no longer can eat a buffet that early. Overall, the Hotel Piena Kobe was a good hotel located just a little bit away from Sannomiay. Depending on what you are looking for, it could be a perfect quiet place to return to every night after your adventures in Kobe.

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“A mixed bag”

My husband, adult son & I stayed at the Hotel Piena Kobe for one night in May 2019. It is very convenient to Shin-Kobe station as well as to all the action around the Sannomiya JR station. The front desk staff were very helpful, making a dinner reservation for us when we couldn't get the phone ... more

My husband, adult son & I stayed at the Hotel Piena Kobe for one night in May 2019. It is very convenient to Shin-Kobe station as well as to all the action around the Sannomiya JR station. The front desk staff were very helpful, making a dinner reservation for us when we couldn't get the phone in our room to work. [Not sure how good their English was, but it didn't matter to us as my son is conversational in Japanese.] The cafe in the downstairs lobby had delicious (though rather expensive) cakes, and seemed to be popular with the local "ladies who lunch" crowd. Because of this cafe, the small hotel lobby had an elegant vibe. The upstairs was not as elegant. The hallway was dark, and although it was probably perfectly clean it was hard to tell as it was dark. Our 9th floor room was large by Japanese standards, so that was nice, but it wasn't very attractive--the furniture seemed somehow mismatched, and the little stucco (?) balcony overlooking the street was too small to serve any real purpose. There was no view except for the nondescript buildings across the street. But no big deal. The main problem we had was with the bathroom area. There was a separate room for the toilet--which can be nice when 3 people are sharing a room--but the step up to it was awkward and it was so small that my husband had to sit on the toilet at an angle in order to close the door. So, bad. Another step up to the small sink area, which had no place to put anything and not a lot of room in which to turn around (we are not large people). Again, bad, particularly if you're looking for a spot in which to change your clothes in privacy. Finally, another small step up connected you to an entirely separate room that contained the shower and tub. This room was set up Japanese-style such that you soap up and rinse off first, and then step into the bath. It was quite spacious, but not usefully so for people who only take showers. The showerhead was located in the middle of the room (and didn't reach to the tub) so the floor got soaked as you showered. Wet floor, no place to put your clothes while showering, so not useful for changing. Bad for the third time. In sum, we thought the Hotel Piena Kobe was okay but not great. The next time we're in Kobe -- and there definitely will be a next time as the city of Kobe *is* great -- we will choose to stay somewhere else.

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