Another typical budget hotel. Not quite as good value as the Toyoko Inns are, the Excel includes no breakfast and is a bit more expensive than the Toyoko Inns. It still makes for a good budget hotel, which can be recommended without hesitation. the rooms are very small, but this is typical for Japan. they are clean, have tea and other hotel amenities - shampoo, soap etc. (own bathroom).
Free internet on a lobby computer or with LAN cable in the room.
The staff at the reception were very friendly and extremely helpful. It helped that one of them could speak English, a rare thing in such inexpensive hotels and even in expensive hotels.
The location is very good for Korakuen garden, Okayama's top sight, but not so good for restaurants and shopping. there is a tram stop outside the hotel, which takes you to the station. We walked it, which is just straight up the main road and takes about 20 minutes walking. To stay nearer the station would probably be preferable, if any hotel could have matched the price (and had rooms available - not on our dates).
As it was the Excel was fine.
Cannot comment on the restaurant. We did not eat there. It seemed very noisy at night and for breakfast we preferred proper coffee and Western style breads (Starbucks is near the station...)