Unbelievable Chiba Getaway: APA Hotel Chibachuo Ekimae Awaits!
Unbelievable Chiba Getaway: APA Hotel Chibachuo Ekimae Awaits!
Unbelievable Chiba Getaway: APA Hotel Chibachuo Ekimae – A Rollercoaster Ride! (Mostly Upwards)
Alright, buckle up, buttercups! My recent "getaway" to Chiba, specifically to the APA Hotel Chibachuo Ekimae, was… an experience. Let's just say it's a hotel that throws everything at you, and sometimes, you're just dodging bullets (figuratively, of course!). This isn't your sanitized, perfectly-edited travel blog review. This is the REAL DEAL – the unfiltered, slightly-obsessive review of someone who spent a few days wrestling with vending machines, questionable air conditioning, and a surprisingly delightful foot bath.
SEO & Metadata Overload! (Because, you know, Google)
- Keywords: APA Hotel Chibachuo Ekimae, Chiba, Japan, Hotel Review, Accessible Hotel, Wi-Fi, Spa, Restaurants, Convenience, Cleanliness, Safety, Travel Japan, Budget Hotel, Business Travel, Family Friendly, Chiba City, Ekimae, Accessible Travel, Japanese Hotel, Onsen (sort of!), Covid-19 Safety
- Meta Description: Honest review of the APA Hotel Chibachuo Ekimae in Chiba, Japan. Accessibility, amenities, food, safety, and overall experience dissected with a dose of quirky humor. Is it worth it? Let's find out!
Getting There & The Arrival – A Slight Hiccup (But Hey, the Elevator Worked!)
- Accessibility: Okay, this is important. Accessibility is a mixed bag. The hotel claims to be accessible, and I'm gonna say… it's trying. There's an elevator, which is a HUGE win! (Because imagine lugging your suitcase up 10 flights after a long flight. Shudder). The lobby is relatively spacious. But… and there's always a "but"… The hallways felt a little narrow, and I didn't check a room specifically designed for wheelchair users (they do have them, I believe). So, while it's a step in the right direction, it's not flawlessly accessible. Do your research and call ahead if you need specific accommodations!
- Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Front desk [24-hour], Concierge, Doorman: The check-in was… brisk. Like, "here's your key, here's your room, good luck!" brisk. Not a major problem, but definitely not "warm welcome" vibes. Thankfully, the 24-hour front desk meant finding help wasn't impossible.
The Room – Conquer the Tiny Space!
- Available in all rooms: Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes (yes!), Bathroom phone (um…?), Bathtub, Blackout curtains (thank the heavens), Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed (sort of- those Japanese beds are compact!), Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor (mine was!), In-room safe box, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale (huh?), Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens.
Okay, let's be real. The room was… small. Like, "I'm pretty sure my suitcase is now part of the furniture" small. But hey, it was clean! (Mostly. More on that later). The blackout curtains were a LIFESAVER. The air conditioning worked… sporadically. The bed was comfortable enough. And seriously, the free slippers were a nice touch.
- My biggest room gripe? The air conditioning. It was a beast. One hour it was arctic, the next, I was sweating like I was in a sauna (which, ironically, they also have!). I spent a good twenty minutes each day wrestling with the thermostat. It’s a small, petty thing, but it definitely added a little bit of stress to the vacation vibe.
Let’s Talk About Food & Drink! – A Mixed Bag of Delights and… Not.
Dining, drinking, and snacking: A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant.
Breakfast: The buffet was… a buffet. Not amazing, not terrible. Standard Japanese hotel breakfast fare: rice, miso soup, some sort of fish, scrambled eggs, and questionable sausages. I mostly stuck to the coffee and whatever pastries didn’t look too sad.
Restaurants: Didn’t try anything fancy. The hotel seemed to have a few restaurants I walked past, but nothing pulled me in.
Room service [24-hour]: This was a godsend after a late day of exploring. The menu was limited but the fried chicken was a surprisingly good late-night snack.
My Food Rant: I am not a picky eater, but the breakfast buffet felt a little like a free-for-all. On the first day, I thought, "wow, so many choices!" By day three, I was staring at the same sad-looking scrambled eggs and contemplating the meaning of life.
Ways to Relax – The Foot Bath! (My Unexpected Highlight)
- Ways to relax: Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor],
Okay, here is where the hotel redeems itself, at least in my book. Forget the fancy spa (never got around to it). The foot bath was a game-changer! After a day of pounding the pavement, sinking my tired dogs into that warm, bubbly water… pure bliss! It's a simple thing, I know, but it was the perfect way to unwind. The view from the foot bath area was… well, it overlooked the city, but it was honestly kind of ugly. Doesn’t matter: the foot bath was pure gold.
- An Emotional Rant about the Foot bath: It's not the prettiest, it's not the fanciest, but I will forever associate the APA Hotel with the warm embrace of that freaking foot bath! It's just… that's the place where I really started relaxing.
Cleanliness & Safety – Doing Their Best?
- Cleanliness and safety: Anti-viral cleaning products, Breakfast in room, Breakfast takeaway service, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment,
Honestly, I was impressed with the effort. Hand sanitizer everywhere. Staff wearing masks. Lots of cleaning going on. The room seemed clean, but I did find a stray hair (a non-human one, thankfully) in the bathroom… but hey, it's a hotel! Overall, I felt reasonably safe in terms of health protocols.
- Honest Anecdote about the Cleanliness: I have become a bit of a clean freak since the pandemic. While the hotel definitely tried to be clean, my inner germaphobe kept giving me side-eye. They seemed to clean the room between stays properly, but you could tell it's a fast paced operation.
Internet Access – The Struggle is Real (Sometimes).
- Internet: Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!
The Wi-Fi in the room was generally okay. I managed to stream some Netflix (on the small screen, of course). But the LAN cable? What is this, 1998? Also, Wi-Fi in the lobby? Spotty. Not ideal for anyone needing to get some work done.
Things to Do – Basically, You’re in Chiba!
- Things to do: Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal, Access, CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Elevator, Exterior corridor, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Hotel chain, Non-smoking rooms, Pets allowed unavailable, Proposal spot, Room decorations, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms, Getting around, Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [
APA Hotel Chibachuo Ekimae: My Brain Dump of a Trip (Maybe Don't Follow This)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. Because this isn’t a polished travel brochure. This is me, post-jet lag, fuelled by lukewarm vending machine coffee, trying to remember what the heck I even DO on these trips. And it all starts with… the APA Hotel Chibachuo Ekimae. Good luck.
Day 1: Arrival and the Awkwardness of Pod Hotels
- 14:00 - Narita Airport - Arrival, Sheesh. Okay, so the landing was smooth. That's a win, right? But getting through customs… Ugh. Why do I always pick the line where the person in front is carrying a suitcase full of live turtles? Stress levels: rising.
- 15:30 - Narita Express to Chiba Station: This part, surprisingly, was painless. Comfy seats, fast train. Though the relentless announcements in Japanese (which I understand, at best, like 10% of)… well, let's just say I'm practicing my best blank-stare-and-nod-casually skills.
- 16:30 - Check-in at APA Hotel Chibachuo Ekimae: The lobby is… bright. I mean, really, REALLY bright. Like, fluorescent-light-staring-into-the-sun bright. The tiny room… I'd heard about Japanese hotel rooms, but seeing is believing. My carry-on barely fit, which immediately made me think, "Welp, this is gonna be an adventure." Got a room on the 12th floor, which offers… a view of another building. Sigh. Inner monologue: "Just breathe. You're in Japan. Embrace the compact life."
- 17:00 - Exploring the Room & Bathroom: The bathroom. Oh, the bathroom! It’s a pre-fab space module. Space is at a premium, but then there's the toilet. Heated seat? Check. Bidet? Check. Buttons labeled entirely in Kanji? Double Check. This could go well, or I could accidentally trigger the automatic self-cleaning feature and end up drenched. Which, knowing my luck, is entirely possible.
- 18:00 - Dinner Mishap: Found a ramen place near the hotel. Looked legit! Sat down, ordered… and then froze. The menu was… a visual puzzle. Pointed at a picture of something that looked vaguely like noodles. Got handed a massive bowl of something that was delicious, but I had no idea what it was. Embarrassment level: 7/10.
- 19:30 - Walk Around Chiba: The walk around was surprisingly nice, just to walk around and explore the area.
- 21:00 - Passed Out: Jet lag hits hard. I blinked, and the sun was down.
Day 2: The Fish Market Frenzy (Or, "Why I Regret Eating Sushi at 7 AM")
- 06:00 - Regretful Awakening: Woke up, feeling absolutely terrible. My internal clock is screaming at me.
- 06:30 - Tsukiji Outer Market (Attempted): The plan: go to the Tsukiji Outer Market (Tokyo, I know, an hour away, but still!), gorge on fresh sushi, and be a cultured traveler. Reality: Got on the wrong train, missed the best deals because I arrived way to early, and ended up wandering around feeling perpetually lost. Emotional state: Hangry and slightly disillusioned.
- 07:30 - Sushi Breakdown: The sushi was… incredible. Like, melt-in-your-mouth, taste-bud-orgasm-worthy incredible. Except… it was 7 AM. And I'd eaten way too much. Now, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be sick. Moral of the story: Pace yourself, and maybe skip the raw fish at dawn.
- 09:00 - Return to Chiba, Seeking Caffeine and Redemption: Back at Chiba station, clutching my aching stomach, I hunted for coffee. Finally found a 7-Eleven, coffee barely helped.
- 11:00 - Exploring Chiba Park: The park was nice, but I was still feeling off.
- 13:00 - Lunch: Ate at a small restaurant, and ordered a soup made of rice.
- 14:00 - Rest Again: More of the same.
- 19:00 - Dinner again: Found a small restaurant, got some local cuisine.
Day 3: My Heart in Tokyo
- 09:00 - Tokyo Bound!!
- 10:00 - Harajuku: Harajuku was fun. Had a blast. Went to the place with the food again.
- 13:00 - Shibuya Crossing: The Shibuya Crossing was something else. The energy was crazy.
- 15:00 - Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden: Went to the park, had a chill time.
- 18:00 - Back to Chiba
Day 4: Farewell (and the Promise of More Ramen)
- 08:00 - Last-Minute Souvenir Scramble: Panicked rush to the local convenience store for last-minute souvenirs.
- 09:00 - Breakfast at Hotel: Tried the hotel breakfast. Bland. I'm starting to miss my own bed.
- 10:00 - Check-out: Goodbye, APA Hotel Chibachuo Ekimae! You were… an experience. I’ll miss the pre-fab bathroom. (Maybe.)
- 11:30 - Train to Narita Airport: Praying I don’t mess up the train this time. Actually, if I do, it would probably be pretty funny.
- 14:00 - Departure: Arrividerci, Japan! Until next time (and I’m already plotting my return for more ramen).
This is not a guide. This is what happened. Take from it what you will. And remember, bring your own towel when travelling.
Escape to Dalat: Unbelievable Views from Room 301!
Why Chiba though? Isn't Tokyo the cool kid?
Okay, fine, let's address the elephant in the room. Yeah, Tokyo. It's shiny, it's bustling, it's got all the Michelin stars. But hear me out: Chiba's the *chill* older sibling. Cheaper, more relaxed, and (honestly?) easier to navigate if you're still mastering your chopstick skills. Plus, the APA Hotel Chibachuo Ekimae? It's practically *ON* the train station. So you can day-trip to Tokyo whenever the urge to be overwhelmed strikes. Me? I needed a break from the Tokyo madness. And after a week there, let me tell you, I needed a break. Chiba? Perfect.
So, the APA Hotel Chibachuo Ekimae... Sounds fancy. Is it?
Ha! "Fancy." That's a *very* generous word. Look, it's an APA hotel. You know the drill: compact rooms (seriously, *compact*), slightly…institutional decor, and the kind of minimalist bathroom you'd expect from a space station. But here’s the thing: it's *clean*. Spotlessly, surgically clean. And the beds? Surprisingly comfortable. I slept like a log, which, after the jet lag from my flight and battling the crazies in Tokyo, was a GODSEND. Also, they had the little complimentary amenities. That's always a win, right?
Tell me about the *room* size. I've heard things...
Okay, let's talk about the rooms. Because, let's be honest, they ARE small. I'm not kidding. You could probably touch all four walls while standing in the middle. Pack light. And by light, I mean, like, a single backpack and a toothbrush. Seriously! Now, here's a secret: it doesn't matter as much as you think. You’re not *living* in the room, you're *sleeping* there. And honestly? After a day of exploring Chiba, all I wanted was a clean, dark, and QUIET space to collapse in. Small room? Less time cleaning. More time exploring, which, you know, is the whole point.
What's the deal with the onsen/bath situation? Is it worth it?
Okay, this is IMPORTANT. Yes, the APA Hotel Chibachuo Ekimae *does* have a public bath (onsen) on the top floor. AND YES, YOU SHOULD GO. Now, I'm a little shy about public bathing. Like, I'm more of a "let me bathe alone in my own apartment" kind of person. But. This… was… different. The water was SO incredibly hot. Like, feel-your-muscles-melt-away hot. There's something about soaking in a steaming hot bath after a long day of walking that just hits different. And nobody, and I mean NOBODY, judges you in an onsen. It's all about the communal chill. But BE WARNED! You MUST be naked. No swimsuits. It's the law. (And for the love of god, wash yourself thoroughly *before* you get in the bath. Don't be *that* person.)
The location... How easy is it *really* to get around?
This is where the APA Hotel Chibachuo Ekimae *truly* shines. It's literally *attached* to the Chibachuo Station. This is a game-changer. Like, wake up, stumble out of your room, and BOOM, you're on a train platform. No long walks with luggage. No frantic map-reading in the pouring rain (which happened. More than once.). Chiba Station connects to everywhere, so it’s so easy to get to the beaches, the parks, the other towns. I spent a whole day in a little fishing village, exploring. And back to the hotel at night. It was like, a dream. The real star of the show.
Okay, best thing to do *near* the hotel? Any hidden gems?
Alright, listen up. I've got a secret for you. It's a little ramen shop tucked away a few blocks from the hotel. You won’t find it on Google Maps. It's called "Ramen Kuma". (Disclaimer: I might be misremembering the name because, jet lag. And delicious ramen.) Seriously, best ramen outside of Tokyo. The broth was richer. The noodles were better. The pork was melt-in-your-mouth amazing. Trust me. Wander a few blocks. Get lost a little. Find it. You won't regret it. Just…be prepared for a bit of a queue – it’s a local favorite, and for damn good reason. And don't be shy – the local Japanese people are generally quite helpful. If you are respectful.
Any major drawbacks? Is it all sunshine and onsen bliss?
Okay, now for the real talk. Yes, something did annoy me. The hotel's breakfast… was… well, it was *there*. Let's put it that way. If you're expecting a gourmet buffet, you'll be disappointed. Lots of bread. Some questionable sausages. And, you know, the usual Japanese breakfast fare of rice and miso soup. My advice? Skip it. Hit up a conbini (convenience store) for a proper pastry. OR get ramen. The convenience stores are everywhere you'll need one.
Would you recommend it? Be honest!
Absolutely. Even with the tiny rooms and the questionable breakfast, Yes! The convenience of the location, the cleanliness, and the surprisingly comfortable bed more than make up for the, er, “quirks.” Chiba itself is a fantastic base for exploring the area. It's easy to get around, it’s not overly crowded, and you can still get that authentic Japanese experience. And after the chaos of Tokyo? Well, the APA Hotel Chibachuo Ekimae was a welcome oasis of calm. Plus, that onsen… I'm still dreaming of it. Just GO. Go to Chiba. Go to the APA Hotel. Go get your ramen. You won't regret it. Just remember my tips. And don't forget your soap. (That one time I forgot, that was traumatic).
Post a Comment for "Unbelievable Chiba Getaway: APA Hotel Chibachuo Ekimae Awaits!"