Functional Business hotel in Higashimatsuyama City, Saitama (about 60 kms north of Tokyo).

This is your typical Japanese no-frills hotel with tiny rooms (mine is about 7 sqm) with single bed, plastic-moulded bathroom, tiny TV and window. But it is cheap, about 5500 yen per night, a few minutes walk to the station, and with expected excellent Japanese guest service.

There are little touches that only Japanese hotels provide, such as ‘inner soles’ for the slippers they provide, antibacterial hand spray in the lobby, and Japanese-style sliding door instead of blind for the window.

Breakfast is an additional cost of 800 yen for a choice of set Western or Japanese fare – I have Western on both days and it is pretty good.

A nice quiet stay away from the typical Western chains.