I spent 6 nights at the Sasebo Central Hotel while attending a wedding and visiting friends. The management and staff were very friendly and went out of their way to make my stay comfortable. I used the safe at the main reception desk to store my netbook computer and important documents and felt very secure doing it.

I had a small single room which was simply decorated but it had free internet connection and an excellent air conditioner (quiet) which was welcome in the hot/humid weather. The single bed was a bit firm but still comfortable. The price included a comprehensive breakfast buffet with many Japanese dishes and also western-style scrambled eggs, breakfast meats, toast, juice, coffee and tea served in a very nice restaurant on the 2nd floor.

The location is very convenient--minutes from the main train and bus stations. Express buses can be caught just outside the airport terminal in Fukuoka and probably in Nagasaki as well and then a short walk or taxi ride to the hotel. Directly across the street of one of the longest shopping arcades in Japan (at least 7 blocks long) with all kinds of shops, restaurants, department stores, main branch of a major bank, even Starbucks, KFC and Dunkin' Donuts! Several excellent restaurants (most very affordable with a wide variety of cuisines) are nearby including my favorite Chinese restaurant next door (check out the A/B special dinner which comes with their specialty--pot stickers),

The hotel is also near the main post office and on the main street in Sasebo which means easy access to local buses as well. The U.S. Navy Base is about a 20 minute walk or short taxi ride away.

I will return to this hotel in future visits and not even bother friends or family.