Toyoko Inn Cebu - First Stay

This hotel opened last year (May 2017?), and I never thought I would be able to see its rooms, much less stay in one, even for just while. Why? Kasi, I live "a walk away"!

But voila! I just checked-out this morning after a 4-night stay!

And I was able to confirm and affirm my observation of years ago (in Japan), that a room in any of their hotels, always looks and feels like all others at various places.

That's the most aliw part!

Why This?
Why did I have to stay at this hotel that's only about 1.5km away from home? Ahay, I had 7 friends who came to roam Metro Cebu for a much needed B&L (not R&R daw)!

They wanted a "medium-end hotel near a mall", so I chose this for them. Only to end up with them insisting I also get a room, para sama-sama kami 'day & night' forever!

Eh I am hard-to-get hehehe, and I also wanted to see this hotel at bayad nila. GoRa!

So we got me a King Double Room (whatever that means) - booked online while my friends were already checking-in - since Single or Double Rooms were 'already taken'.

My Room
This was how my room looked like upon entry. Door at right is the bathroom.

Gosh, even the positioning, type, and brand of electrical switches they use are same as their many hotels in Japan! Even the size and position of the TV is also the same.

Two steps inside and it looks like this. A simple, modest, clean and comfy room.

Very much like rooms at their hotels everywhere. If you have been to any Toyoko Inn facility, you will know what I mean. I think even their floor tiles are exactly the same.

Wall colors, window size (nabubuksan yan), curtains, hangers - exactly the same!

I imagine, they must have imported all those from Japan. But probably still cheaper for the company as they must be buying everything in bulk. That's a Jap philosophy.

Everything that you see, except my backpack on the chair, are the same in all hotels!

I'm not exaggerating. The last one I remember was near Narita Airport. Sumalusep, panahon pa ni FVR at Erap ang naaalala ko, but even before, ganyan na rooms nila!

The lights, phone, fridge, wall clock, pati bibliya (3 palagi yan) - all are the same!

All the more is the bathroom. This is a Jap-style modular pre-fabricated "unit bath".

Hindi lang yan 'uso sa ngayon', it's a standard in Japan home constructions (middle to low income segment). Engineers call it "prefabricated fiberglass pod" - one piece.

It's like a big cube kasama na ang sahig at ceiling. Then screw-screw nalang sila.

Oist, binebenta yan sa mga hardware at mall sa Japan. Lahat yan kasama sa isang set - including the trashcan! Only towels & consumables aren't part of the usual set.

Included too are the 'rain shower', exhaust vent and the usual "two" shower mounts.

Shower Mount? Ah yung pinag-sasabitan ng detachable shower head. Each module has 2 - isa sa taas (kung nakatayo ka) at isa sa baba (if nag-bath-tub ka). Ganyan yan!

It is not common in the Philippines, but practical and economical. As you can see in the pictures, no need for a gripo sa baba, just bring the shower head down. Ganito:

That's why you see the shower head is near the soap dispenser, para siya pa rin ang tubig mo kung magtatampisaw ka sa bath tub. Kung tatayo ka, eh di ilipat mo sa taas!

Another btw, that tiny receptacle I encircled in red is the other end of the 'sampayan'. You pull the string from the opposite end and insert the tab there, voila, clothes line!

Where is that "opposite end"? Syempre sa dingding sa kaliwa. Ayun, kita sa mirror o! So me sampayan ka ng dalidali mong nilabhan na undies all behind the shower curtain.

Para hindi masagwa, refined pa rin ang arrive (sosy ba). Ganyan sila. Dapat tayo rin!

Now children... just where/how do you operate the shower, hmm?! Keep reading!

Nitty Gritty & Amenities
Let's start with this thing, so you don't have a hard time finding the "shower knob"!

Hmm and oops! It does not really explain the thing too well, especially to the simple minds like us, right? But that's the start, since everything is controlled at the lababo.

This simple-looking faucet is your only water control for the sink and the shower!

Look at my arrows, red is hot, blue is cold, white is to increase or decrease the flow. Yellow is as described in the "precaution" above": turn the lever left for 'rain shower'.

'Rain shower' yung nasa ceiling. Turn that lever right for 'hand shower' (the common shower sa atin, na prang me hose)! Turn it to the center (pointing up) for the lababo!

I didn't even think about those, as I could still recall how to use them from years ago in Japan. Kaso mo, noong nagsi-katok na ang mga kasamahan ko, explain how ako!

It's nice to encounter such situations. Educational for everyone.

Back in the room, you would usually find this laminated "advice" on the bed.

I checked it out... not just 'some space', it's dust-free clean! Best for any bulky bags.

Those are simple beds with rollers for easy movement. But the mattresses are soft.

Nice that low or mid-range as they want to be called, all rooms are amply equipped.

Those cups are no less than the renowned RAK Porcelain brand. Yep, Made in UAE! While the slim 'emergency torch light' at right is a Panasonic. 'Di lang just-just, ano?

Oist! This clearbook and booklet of their branches, pareho sa lahat ng hotels nila!

Sayang I forgot to take pics of that clearbook's pages - standard kasi sa Japan yan, containing information, reminders, pati nga government permits nila. Transparency!

And this little thing, even your popular 5-star hotels in this country do not have...

Common in Japan (and now by-and-by in Korea), that is what many of them call the "always on" power line. Great for charging gadgets even if you go down & out to eat.

Well, bottled water is locally made by Nature's Spring diha ra sa Mandaue. Aleluia!

We should rejoice - at least there's something na pinagkakatiwalaan ng mga Hapon!

And there's for me, happiness contentment satisfaction and relaxation in this room!

Walang kokontrang kontrabida! Sanctioned yan, kaya nga me ashtray pa sa room e!

Elsewhere in this hotel
You will notice strict din naman sila, that all humans abide by these rules.

I am elated that they suggest what I usually practice - sa CR mag-yosi kasi nandoon si exhaust fan, though I also open the window, keber walang aircon, 13th floor na'to!

Oh, it is easy to find this hotel from the J Centre Mall signage along AS Fortuna.

Nasaan dyan? Ayan o! 'Wag kang masanay sa pahiga, minsan subukan mo patayo - ang reading direction para kita mo lahat! I think Ph-1 means their first branch in PH.

And this is their 258^th hotel branch.

Being in the Philippines, you might find it absurd (like I do) why their brand name (as displayed on a Mandaue street-side) uses kanji characters in lieu of romanized letters.

Ah, walang basagan ng trip! But I think it also already poses as their 'visual identity'. Mas palaisipan naman yata kasi, kung yung logo pa nila and gamitin na "4&5" hehe!

At least consistent sila in using "toyoko-inn.com" anywhere their identity is needed.

Hey just for fun-dagdag-kaalaman, I know how to read those "chinese characters" as many of us would call it! It is Kanji (a Japanese handwriting), and yes, halaw sa insik.

Wait. I must say "Sulat at Relihiyon lang ang copied nila sa mga insik, hindi ugali.

Anyway.., 東 (Tō) means east and 横 (Yoko) means side or horizontal. Thus, TōYoko means East Side. So its an East Side Inn. Sa sulat nila 東横イン read as Toyoko Inn.

Yes, nasa eastern side ng Tokyo yan. About 5kms lang to Haneda Airport.

But pero ngunit subalit demo shikashi, the real (sabihin na natin original) truth to the name is: Tō was for Tokyo, while Yoko was for Yokohama! Their 1st branch is there!

Sa halos pagitan ng Tokyo and Yokohama nga naman!

Grabeng coincidence kung talagang nagkataon lang na ganoon nga ang pangyayari where 'To' means both East and Tokyo; and 'Yoko' means both Side and Yokohama.

Ah, kung hindi tsamba yan, kung pinag-isipan talaga, grabe ang galing. Bow na ako!

Entrance by the way is at the mall's lower ground - the building's real ground level.

Once you emerge out of the elevator, you will immediately see the hotel's front-desk or reception area (see first photo at the start of this article). Yes, it's at the 6th floor.

This is technically where the hotel starts, since lower-ground up to 5F is the mall.

Free to use laptops, internet and printers. Pati papel libre. Oy, walang naka-sulat, but I think oks lang mag-print ng 1 to 3 pages. But if mga 1 ream yan, mahiya ka naman!

Remember, me mall sa baba, bili ka ng papel mo, wag kang ano!

Aw, depending on availability, you can even borrow a laptop from front desk staff, to be used in your room and you can either wait for it or have it delivered to your room!

To the left of that wall above, is the entrance to the Sky Water Park (swimming pool).

I wasn't able to use it this time. My group had a hectic schedule of 'serious matters'.

We contented ourselves with watching from the glass windows during breakfasts.

Yep, that is where the free buffet breakfasts are served every morning. Noticed that glass wall at right? That's where you enter Sky Water Park after paying at front desk.

Outside those windows at left is a big wide terrace that can even be a party venue!

You can bring coffee and food out here - to enjoy breakfast al fresco. Of course I did!

This is a hip morning place, as the sun is covered by the building's frontage at left.

Not to mention the thing you see on my table. Alams na! This is the 'public smoking' area if the hotel. The only! Otherwise, you smoke in your room, if its at 12, 13 or 14F.

Oh, if you have the height, that ledge area behind the plants has good views of Cebu and Mandaue -even if it wasn't meant to be a viewdeck. It's as high as my chest. Da!

Another "oh", I purposedly framed that last picture as such - to capture the maker of that table (and chairs). Proudly bisdak yan! At least pinagkatiwalaan ng Toyoko Inn!

Hey what about the buffet breakfast? Well, this is not a resort or a luxury 5-star. It is fairly regular like at many "business hotels" or "budget hotels". Here are 3 examples:

Those were on 4 separate mornings. I think my photos don't do justice to the whole service, since I'm not a fan of breakfasts. Bumaba lang ako to be with my group. Ta!

But I did observe there's free flowing brewed coffee that come from big dispensers; there are breads with toasters at 2 locations; banana is always present; and so on.

And one more thing.., at about 7:30AM there comes battalions of people of all sizes attacking the buffet tables! Agawan, meron pang takbuhan, parang me bargain sale!

Ang mga salarin sa aking nasaksihan? Alams na, groups of "maiingay na wakanga"! Yeees mga taga "mainland". Their loud voices and crass ways are very easy to spot.

Ah, I should have shot some pictures or even videos of these abhorrable people.

Okay sige, next time I check-in (I'm sure it's gonna be soonest), I will document more!

Anyway, when done at 6F, you either go up to your room or down to ground and out.

4 elevators. You might think that's ample. But this hotel has 580+ rooms! When the unruly mainland wakanga tourgroups descend to attack the buffet breakfast. Kulang!

Here was a morning shot where my 13F lobby was wonderfully peaceful and quiet.

Note: there are reminders everywhere that, even if 12F, 13F and 14F are all "smoking rooms", no one is allowed to smoke at hallways and/or elevator lobbies - For Safety.

And oh, I tested this with an "overactingly non-smoking friend": I asked her to come to my room and sniff the hallway and floor lobby for 'hints' of cigarette smoke. Faint daw!

We wondered how this hotel does that. Now we're still wondering and asking around! They don't mask it with heavy air freshener or anything like that. Just "real fresh air".

Palaisipan!

There's also something interesting in the way those elevators have been configured: the left-most car is the only one that goes up to 19F -there's a bar/restaurant at night.

The right-most car always stops at 6F lobby even if no one pressed that floor. Them 3 cars at right are "panoramic lifts" (back wall is glass, you can see outside), like this:

Down there on foreground, is AS Fortuna St., intersecting at left with MC Briones. At upper-right-edge, almost hidden, is Radisson Blu. And Bayfront also covers part of it.

Can you see still them? Aliw na rin riding sa tatlong elevators na yan!

Still on the right edge lower portion light-green roof is San Miguel Brewery Mandaue. The white roof in front of it is Coca-Cola Beverages. I can also see Chong Hua, CDU, Park Mall, CICC, Bai Hotel (in the making), Mandani Bay, Ouano, Mandue Sports etc!

Imagine that, I was just riding an elevator, I already had a wonderful nostlagia!

Oh, those lifts don't pass by mall floors (UG, 2F, 3F, 4F and 5F) howsoever you press the buttons hanggan mapudpud ang daliri mo! That's good, for privacy and security.

Okay, enough of the elevators, hilom, hipos, huyo, syadap, awat na!

More Views
Mandaue is a 'commercial/industrial' city, and this hotel is only a 19-floor edifice, so I didn't expect much. Yet I caught some inadvertent cool outside views like this one:

I took that shot while having breakfast at the terrace and discussing the day's plans with my group. I was even only interested in 'the size of this terrace and those plants'.

A companion was saying we could hold a party here and those must be bagumbilya. I took that photo as we laughed, correcting her that the plant is called "bougainvillea".

But I noticed the 'accidental background', so I went near the ledge to shoot this:

Hmm, I thought that was a nice view of 'where I live'. That's AS Fortuna goin Banilad at lower right. That tall building far at right is Allure Hotel - 10mins walk to my payag!

I silently said "aba ok 'to a"! First time I saw this kind of view. Those tall buildings far up the mountains must be Citylights Towers and to the left must be the Marco Polo.

Grand! And I was only on the 6^th floor. Hmm, it must be better from the upper floors. Aw, I guess I won't see more of that 'west-side' as I always book 'east-facing' rooms.

Anyway, back at 13F, I saw from a window, and this is the back of the hotel/mall.

Yep, that is part of the Sky Water Park at 6F (and some still-in-the-making portions). A good snippet enough - even if I was not able to go out there for a 'live experience'.

Meanwhile, back at my room preparing to leave kanina, this was my window view.

That must be Ouano Port Area. In that 'trajectory' across the Mactan Channel would be the Muelle Port, the Virgen Sa Regla, and end of the runway. I saw planes landing.

And... at exactly 10AM kanina, Toyoko's free shuttle service whisked me to MCIA.

Imagine that... with the kind of safety, security, comfort, and convenience that I had, my room was only P1,700 per night. Andami yatang hotels na dapat mahiya naman!

Mauulit ito. Promise!

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