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Local reporting is making its first appearance in Tohoku! We stayed at a "container hotel" that is comfortable with an innovative concept! [Yabuki Town, Fukushima Prefecture]
Local reporting is making its first appearance in Tohoku! We stayed at a "container hotel" that is comfortable with an innovative concept! [Yabuki Town, Fukushima Prefecture]
On April 24th, 2025, HOTEL R9 The Yard Yabuki opened in Yabuki Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
This is a new type of business hotel Ichikawa Chiba, and operates from the Kanto region to Okinawa Prefecture
It is distinct from previous hotels, with mobile containers customised into comfortable rooms and arranged all over the property.
container hotel based on this new concept has now expanded to Tohoku for the first time, so I immediately went to stay there.
What is a container hotel? About its features
A group of containers and a large parking lot seen from the entrance facing the national highway
This is a one-story tenement house, where you can arrange the original architectural containers of the "R9 HOTELS GROUP" as separate private rooms, and space them on the premises at intervals.
Red pillars are visible on the black container
The exterior is a calm black color, and the red, which is used as a special touch, gives it a stylish atmosphere.
Each unit (one building) is completely independent, and the space between them prevents you from hearing the sound of the next container, which maintains privacy.
The containers are spaced enough for people to pass through.
The containers also have excellent mobility functions, and are expected to be easily relocated to the disaster-stricken areas in the event of a disaster, and used as hypothetical housing.
Also, the container is highly confidential and is said to have good effect on air conditioners.
This one unit can control the temperature inside the room perfectly.
In fact, the day I checked in was over 30°C, and when I stepped inside the container it looked like a sauna, but the air conditioner was fully open and the temperature was comfortable in about 15 minutes.
There are three types of container rooms for "HOTEL R9 The Yard Yabuki"
A Simmons bed that provides a good night's sleep with just the right amount of firmness.
Each room can accommodate up to one person, and the beds are made by Simmons, known for its comfort.
The door is auto-locked, but it is a keyless entry that allows you to enter the recital number that is notified when you check in on the tablet next to the door, so it's fine to accidentally lock you out.
Room 3 of the twin room I stayed in, there is a touch panel for keyless entry under the lights at the entrance.
This time we stayed in a twin room (13m2, capacity of 2 people).
Room 3 has functional furniture arrangements and compact, but the ceiling is high so it feels open.
Two semi-double beds (100-120cm wide) are arranged in an L-shaped shape.
Two outlets at the back bedside and two outlets at the side of the freezer and fridge
There were two outlets at the bedside and two outlets next to the freezer and fridge, which was useful for charging your smartphone or PC (free Wi-Fi service is available in all rooms).
A spacious and clean unit bath that you wouldn't imagine from a compact container
Although it is a container house, the shower has high water pressure and is comfortable.
The unit bath has a toilet with a warm water washable toilet seat, and features shampoo, conditioner, body soap and hand soap.
Clean bath and face towels
Towels are available for bath towels and face towels for the number of people.
The TV is hanging in a comfortable position from the bed
The TV is a wall-mounted type that allows you to watch VODs (for a fee), and underneath it is an air purifier with a humidification function that makes the air in the room more comfortable.
The large fridge is spacious and can be used for long stays
One of the hotel's largest freezer and microwaves, along with the microwave above, can be used to store and heat free frozen foods and food brought in.
Additionally, the mini table with casters had an electronic pot, a hairdryer and a folding mirror.
It's a deodorizing and disinfecting spray that's great for you
Other items that you think are needed are mostly complete, such as deodorizing and disinfecting sprays, hangers, slippers, clothing brushes, tissues, and trash cans.
The shampoos provided in the room are luxurious "Bon perle"
In addition, toothbrush sets, hairbrushes, T-shaped razors, cotton swabs, body towels, and nightwear (one size fits all) are available free of charge at the front building.
Amenities available at the front desk
In addition, the double room (13m2, capacity of 2 people) has one double-sized bed (131-151cm wide), and you can use the unlimited use of the massage chair, which has an installed desk.
The deluxe twin room (24 m2, capacity of 4 people) has two double beds, a mini kitchen and dining table, a separate washbasin, and a bath and toilet are separate.
Large parking lot where you can park anywhere you like
Large parking lot, if available, you can park right in front of your room
The spacious free parking area allows you to freely park, and parking near the room makes it easier to put in and take your luggage in and out.
However, there is a step at the entrance to the container, so it may be a bit difficult to put in and take out a suitcase with casters.
Self-service free drinks
The drink corner next to the front desk, and on the left is a tablet for auto check-in
The front building features two types of doutol drip packs, coffee and tea (Earl Grey, Chamomile and Peppermint) and is available for all-you-can-drink for yourself.
All-you-can-drink delicious coffee and tea
Take it back to your room with a cup, milk, or sugar, and boil water for a relaxing enjoyment.
Free snack corner
It comes with a freezer for snacks, pests and spoons, and plastic bags to take to your room.
There is a freezer in the front desk building, and you can receive a free serving of one meal per night, from several types of frozen foods available, including curry, fried rice, and pasta.
I think the snack menu differs from one facility to another, and on this day, we selected European-style curry bento and mapo eggplant bento, and it was delicious.
Apparently the selection varies depending on the season and facility, and when I stayed in Tochigi Prefecture before, I had fried rice and pasta, but this time I had mapo eggplant bento and yaki udon.
If you exchange the exchange voucher given to you at check-in before checking out, you can warm it in the microwave in your room and eat it anytime.
Other shared facilities available on the premises
The four laundromats are also dry.
Soft drink vending machines, four coin laundry units (charges apply: 8:00-24:00), and six trouser presses are available in the shared building just behind the front building.
There is a smoking area outside and a roof that prevents rain, but it may be cold in the middle of winter.
Also, since all rooms are non-smoking, there is a smoking area on the premises.
Easy and convenient auto check-in
Check in at the front building!
Check-in is from 3:00pm to 11:00pm, and check-out is from 10:00am.
The automatic check-in system is convenient, which allows you to hold your smartphone up, and you can use it by registering in advance when making a reservation.
The steps are as follows :
After making a reservation on the official website or reservation site, you will receive an "My Page Information Email" from the hotel
Enter your guest information from the specified URL by the date of your stay
You will receive a check-in QR code and check-in code at 8pm the day before your stay
On the day, hold the QR code over the front tablet or enter the check-in code.
Your room number and key number will be sent to the email address you received with the "My Page Information Email"
Enter your lock number into the small touch panel at the room door to unlock it.
Front desk (the staff member's face has been hidden)
If you are not sure about these steps, our staff will check in until 11pm, but don't forget to contact the hotel if your expected arrival time is past 11pm.
Payment can be made online or locally, but with locally payments you can only pay by cash or credit card, and electronic money cannot be used.
When I went on a trip around Japan last April, I stayed at this chain's container hotel in Tochigi Prefecture and was impressed by its comfort, and was eager to expand into Tohoku.
We hope that "HOTEL R9 The Yard" is compact and has all the necessary facilities and amenities, and offers comfortable accommodation, and will be expanded to the six Tohoku prefectures as a new style of accommodation in the future.
