MUSUBI HOTEL MACHIYA Chiyo 3

There’s no blackout curtain, and the expressway noise carries straight into the apartment. I could hear motorcycles and sirens in the early hours. It’s a tiny place with very limited equipment for cooking, and there aren’t convenience stores nearby, just a ramen restaurant around the corner. For the same price, I could have booked a hotel in a better spot, or found another self-catering place for less.

Check-in is self-service, with no customer support. When I stayed on the 10th floor, the air conditioner wouldn’t cool the room.

The receptionist was very nice and explained how to get to nearby restaurants and the subway, which is only about a five-minute walk away. There aren’t many restaurants close by, but the transit location is convenient. The room was clean and comfortable, just like in the photos, and had almost everything except a TV.

At around $60 a night, it was a reasonable place, pretty average overall. I’d like to see the old, dirty carpet replaced, better quality bath towels, and a less slippery tub. The so-called kitchen was very basic and needed more cutlery. We also needed more clothes hangers and extra garbage bags for our week-long stay. Location: 2, value: 3, service: 2, space: 3.