Via Inn are a chain of low cost business style hotels run by the JR West group in 17 locations across Japan. The hotels are all located within 5 minutes of major railway stations. In the case of Via Inn Kanazawa, the hotel is actually located inside the Kanazawa Station building, so you can get from the ticket gate to the hotel entrance in just 30 seconds. The weather in Kanazawa is famously rainy so this can be a big advantage!

The first floor entry to the Via Inn on the Kanazawa Station concourse
This hotel offers comfortable but cheap rooms with no extra frills and is suitable for those travelling for either business or pleasure. As it is located inside Kanazawa Station it gives guests immediate access to the building’s excellent shopping and dining facilities as well as local rail, bus and taxi services.

The 3rd floor hotel lobby
Guest Rooms
This hotel has 206 rooms which consist of 194 single rooms, 8 “economy twin” rooms, 3 standard twin rooms, and 1 “universal room” which is suitable for wheelchair users. All rooms are equipped with a refrigerator, an LCD screen television with video on demand, an air conditioner, a humidifier, a hair dryer, an electric kettle, pajamas, and tea. Bathrooms have bath tubs and showers and come supplied with towels, toothbrushes, razors, shampoo, and conditioner. The toilet has a heated seat and washlet style bidet.
Single rooms are divided into “A” and “B” types but as both are fitted with semi-double beds they are suitable for couples as well as single travelers. Below are the details.

A single room at Via Inn Kanazawa Station
The Single A room size is 13 sq m. This room features a desk facing the window, a 32 inch screen TV, and a semi-double bed which is 140cm across.
The Single B room size is 13 sq m. This room features a desk and sofa, a 40 inch screen TV, and a semi-double bed which is 140cm across.

Twin Room at Via Inn
The Economy Twin room size is 13 sq m. This room features two 90cm wide single beds and a 32 inch screen TV.
The Standard Twin room size is 22 sq m. This room features two 98cm wide beds and a 40 inch screen TV. An extra 88cm wide bed can also be added on request. The.
The Universal Twin room size is 26 sq m. This rooms features two 110cm wide beds and a 40 inch screen TV.

The hotel elevators at the 1st floor entrance
Breakfast
Via Inn Kanazawa does not offer breakfast inside the hotel itself, but for a cheap breakfast the hotel recommends two partner cafes which are also inside the station building.
The Caffe Arco di Campagne is on the opposite side of the station’s central concourse from the hotel’s first floor entrance. This café offers a simple 700 yen breakfast set of omelette, hash potatoes, salad, toast (or waffles), and a drink. Breakfast is served from 6.00 – 10.45 with last orders at 10.30.
Cafe Maple House is inside the Rinto shopping area on the north side of the station concourse. This café serves a similar 700 yen breakfast set which has scrambled eggs instead of omelette and you can choose toast or rice. Breakfast is served between 7.00 and 11.00 with last orders at 10.30.

The first floor entrance. These doors are locked late at night but guests can enter with a key card or use the intercom to contact the front desk
Safety & Security
Via Inn hotels all have the following safety and security measures:
- The front desk is staffed 24 hours a day so you can always ask for assistance.
- Staff regularly patrol the premises.
- The hotel entrance is locked late at night so that only guests can gain entry with a card key.
- All hotels are stocked with AED defibrillators in case of heart related health problems.

The hotel can also be accessed from the 3rd floor
Facilities
Via Inn can be entered from the first floor station concourse via an elevator or directly from the 3rd floor of the Kutsurogikan which is a small shopping and dining complex on the west side of the station building. On the 3rd floor the hotel has a front desk, lobby, coin laundry, microwave oven, and smoking room. Soft drink vending machines are available on all floors. Ice making machines and vending machines with alcoholic beverages are available on the 5th and 7th floors. Rooms on the 5th, 6th and 7th floors are all non-smoking.
Free Wi-Fi is available in all guest rooms and the public areas of the hotel. This hotel was extensively remodeled in 2015 and the interior decoration now features colorful designs inspired by traditional kaga-yuzen silk dyeing patterns.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.