I had a fantastic stay at this hotel! The first great point is the proximity to the Fukushima Station. When I arrived, my check-in process was handled by the Manager, Matsuda-san. He was very friendly and warm.
The room I stayed in was decently-sized, giving me enough room to walk around with a large suitcase and other bags on the floor. A suitcase stand and a small stool are provided. The beige wallpaper provided a nice contrast to the dark carpet.
The controls for the room were absolutely fantastic - I could, for instance, adjust the brightness of the main light and the strength of the bathroom exhaust fan. The bathroom was slightly cramped, but I managed. An alarm clock is also provided for guests.
The default blanket in the room was far too hot; even with the heating turned off, I felt like I was being roasted while I was in bed with the blanket covering me (and this was in winter!). I didn't like the default pillow either, it was too hard. On my last night, I requested a thinner blanket and softer pillow. Thankfully, the hotel was able to provide them, and I slept much better after using the new blanket and pillow. Funnily enough, the mattress was also quite hard, but it didn't give me any problems.
The sound insulation was fantastic, and the cleaning staff were super quiet! I almost couldn't tell that they were outside my room doing their work! I also very likely had considerate Japanese guests on my floor, hence the peace.
Nearby the hotel is S-Pal, where you can buy all sorts of prepared meals (if you're lucky, you can find a few vegan options). There's also a large pharmacy, and there are many convenience stores around.
The main complaint I have is that the check-out time @ 10:00 is too early. I think 12:00 would be a better time.
I did not have breakfast at the hotel, nor did I use any of the facilities, so I have no comment on those.
I definitely recommend Hotel Route-Inn Grand Fukushima Ekimae to others, and I will definitely consider staying at Route-Inn hotels in other parts of Japan!
Side Notes:
(1) If you have large luggage and arrive at the Fukushima Station, you'll have to take the elevator at the west exit, and when you reach the ground floor you'll see another elevator about 20 metres in front of you (slightly to the left). This second elevator will take you to the underground passage, which you can use to get to the east side of the station, where Route-Inn Grand Fukushima is located. Do note that there is a rear entrance to the hotel (next to a public parking lot), and this will save you from walking to the front of the hotel with all your luggage.
(2) Vegan options in Fukushima are unfortunately extremely limited, but you can find some vegan tofu bars and a few other items at 7-Eleven...but be sure to use Google Lens to translate the ingredients!
