Hiroshima Ekimae Universal Hotel — the dark-horse value pick: rooftop hot spring + 2 meals included
Picture this — you arrive in Hiroshima after a long day, walk five minutes from the Shinkansen exit, check in, ride up to a rooftop hot spring on the 15th floor with views over the evening city, then come back down for dinner that is already included in your room rate. That is exactly what Hiroshima Ekimae Universal Hotel delivers for around ¥7,500 per person per night. Guests who have stayed here say almost unanimously that it is "better value than you'd expect" — and it is easy to see why this place has become the dark-horse pick for budget-conscious travellers in this city.
This is the dark-horse value pick in the Hiroshima Station area. Hiroshima Ekimae Universal Hotel is a 3-star business hotel that does something pricier rivals do not bother doing — it puts a rooftop hot spring on the 15th floor and includes both breakfast and dinner in the room rate. The hotel sits on the Shinkansen-guchi side (right side of the Shinkansen exit) of Hiroshima Station, just five minutes on foot. Roll off the Shinkansen with your bags and you can be in your room within minutes, no extra connections needed.
"Exceptional value — dinner included, rooftop onsen, and a short walk from the station. I honestly couldn't ask for more at this price point."
What sets this hotel apart from other business hotels in the same price band is that 15th-floor rooftop hot spring — genuinely rare at a budget 3-star property at this price. Guests report that soaking in the hot water with city views in the evening is the perfect way to unwind after a day at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park or a trip to Miyajima. The hot spring is quietest after 22:00 or in the early morning before the crowds arrive.
The second selling point that guests talk about at length is breakfast and dinner both included in the nightly rate. Breakfast features soup, salad, porridge, bread and a variety of protein, while dinner is a fixed set — filling and decent though limited in variety. For a solo traveller who doesn't want to spend energy hunting for restaurants after walking all day, two included meals represent real, tangible savings. Think about it — stay multiple nights and the cost of food you save adds up noticeably.
Guest rooms are standard Japanese business-hotel size — not large, but equipped with a fridge and a sofa, which already puts them ahead of budget-chain rooms in the same price range. Rooms are clean and functional, Wi-Fi works fine, and the layout suits travellers who use the room mainly for sleeping and storing bags. If you need wide, luxurious spaces or a view, this is not the right hotel — but if you are out exploring from morning to night, the room does everything it needs to.
The location near the Shinkansen-guchi side of Hiroshima Station gives a clear advantage for rail travel. Catching a Shinkansen to Kyoto or Tokyo is immediate. Hiroshima's tram network departs from just outside the station's south exit, connecting to Peace Memorial Park and the ferry terminal for Miyajima. Hiroshima is a compact city — once you are out of the station, nothing is very far.
A few things worth knowing before you book — the review count is still relatively modest (146 on Agoda) compared with longer-established rivals nearby that have far more reviews. That said, a score of 8.4 from those reviews is solid and consistent. Also worth flagging: the dinner is a fixed set menu with no real choice. If you plan to go out and explore Hiroshima's local dining scene each evening, the included dinner's value to you goes down — and the overall price-to-value equation adjusts accordingly.
All in, Hiroshima Ekimae Universal Hotel is the most compelling option for budget travellers who still want an onsen experience. At around ¥7,500 per person per night with two meals included, the all-in cost of a bed, food and a hot spring soak per head is the best in this roundup — and that is not a close contest.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ 15th-floor rooftop hot spring — soothes tired legs after a full day out
- ✓ Breakfast + dinner included in the rate — real food-cost savings
- ✓ Room rate from approx. ¥7,500/person — best value in this roundup
- ✓ 5-min walk from Hiroshima Station's Shinkansen exit
- ! Review count is lower (146) than nearby rivals in the same area
- ! Rooms are standard business-hotel size — not spacious
- ! Dinner is a fixed set menu with limited choice
- ✓ Rooftop hot spring — praised in almost every review
- ✓ Breakfast well-stocked: soup, salad, porridge, protein
- ✓ Rooms have a fridge and sofa — functional for business travel
- ✓ Good location for trams and the Shinkansen
- ! Fewer reviews than competing hotels in the same area
- ! Rooms feel older than newer openings like Sotetsu or APA
- ! Prices rise and rooms fill quickly during peak periods
- 💡If you want a brand-new room with generous space — rooms here are standard business size and older than newer openings → consider Daiwa Roynet or Sotetsu Fresa Inn nearby if room quality is your top priority.
- 💡If you plan to explore Hiroshima's dining scene each evening — the included dinner is a fixed set with no variation → if you skip it, the value proposition is reduced somewhat.
- 💡If a high review count matters to you — this hotel has only 146 reviews, far fewer than rivals in the area → the sample size is smaller, though the 8.4 score from those reviews is consistent.