Meitetsu New Grand Hotel

Rooms and decor

This is the oldest hotel on the list, and the lobby tells you that the moment you walk in. Meitetsu New Grand Hotel has run since 1968 — 58 years — and the room feels like late-60s Japan, all brown tones, floral lamps, carpeted floors, and front-desk staff a generation older than the crews at the newer chains. There are 245 rooms running roughly 13 to 18 sqm. They are clearly older than the newer-brand competition, but they stay clean and the service holds the Japanese standard. The smallest singles sit around 13 sqm, while the Standard Double at about 18 sqm is the one we'd point you to. Every room comes with free Wi-Fi, a fridge, a TV and a bidet bathroom.

Food and amenities

The thing you can't get in a new build is in-house here: a classic French dining room serving the old-fashioned 70s Japanese-French style, plus a classic Japanese restaurant. The French room in particular has a charm that has all but disappeared from this part of the city. What's missing is the wellness side — there is no gym and no spa, so if you want either you're heading out. Free Wi-Fi runs throughout.

Location and getting there

The hotel sits on the Sakuradori side (the east exit, written 桜通口) of Nagoya Station — the office-and-shopping flank, a 3-minute walk from the gates to the lobby. From here you reach Midland Square (which has the Toyota Showroom), JR Central Towers, KITTE Nagoya, Takashimaya and the Lachic mall in a few minutes each — a real contrast to the quieter, mall-light Taikodori side. It is part of the Meitetsu group, the same company behind the μ-SKY airport train to Chubu Centrair.

Things to know before booking

The rooms and the building show their age — this is a classic, not a modern hotel, so anyone after sleek interiors should look elsewhere on the list. The guest score of 8.6 is the lowest of these picks, mostly because of the building's age rather than the service. And there is no gym or spa on site. The singles run small at around 13 sqm, so families or anyone wanting more room should book up to a Standard Double or higher.

Our take

Meitetsu New Grand Hotel is for travelers who like a classic atmosphere, older business guests, and budget visitors who want the Sakuradori side near Midland Square from about $63 a night. If you'd rather have something newer and more modern, the higher-ranked picks suit you better. But for our money this is one of the few genuinely classic hotels left in the Nagoya Station area — and that retro French dining room alone is a reason some people keep coming back.