Anshin Oyado Premier Shinbashi Shiodome

My bunk was near the communal door, so I sometimes heard guests slam it or make noise. Guests were also the source of my other problems: some didn't follow the onsen rules, hogged the massage chairs, or got noisy. Still, the hotel has made a nice, quiet capsule space with all the extras. The walk to the station took longer than advertised because of Japan's crossing system, so allow 10 minutes for any station. One tip: don't be afraid to use the escape doors. The stairs are best for moving between floors, and the alarm won't go off. I had an injury, and staff made sure I got a lower bunk. They were really helpful even when we had communication problems, which were my fault. I saw staff handling a lot, including one poor girl cleaning up someone's vomit, while juggling different cultural expectations. There were lots of extras and I was very happy with my stay. If I'm back in Tokyo, I'll book one of their branches again.

There were plenty of facilities in the surrounding area. The hosts were welcoming, social, and helpful the whole time, and everything felt comfortable and luxurious. The capsules were very spacious, with room for some of my things, and there was also a separate roomy locker for the rest.

Our group of six stayed one night before flying home from Tokyo. Check-in was easy, and staff gave us a quick introduction to the facilities. It's a nicer hostel-style setup, with an older age range, clean common areas, and a quiet atmosphere where people mostly kept to themselves. The beds were more comfortable than at other places I've stayed, but the pods got very warm and stuffy, which made sleep difficult. You could hear every sound on the dorm floors, even from one of the pods furthest from the door, so it's not ideal for light sleepers. The lockers, rooms, showers, and lounge are on separate floors, which can be inconvenient with only one elevator. There's just one private shower. I never had to wait either time I used it, though there might be a line from 9:30-11 at night. I would have rated the stay three or four stars based on those things. But at checkout, the staff member Rita seemed annoyed by our questions and comments. She kept huffing and rolling her eyes. We went to get food before checkout and came back a few minutes after 12. Since we'd been told we could use the 9th floor until 3p, we asked if we could go up. She rolled her eyes again and started commenting to the other staff. I couldn't believe how openly rude she was. If you aren't willing to be friendly with customers, you shouldn't work a hotel's front desk. That last interaction left a bad taste, and I wouldn't return or recommend this place.

It was a good first experience. The place was clean and well maintained, and everyone was kind and respectful. One receptionist, whose name I unfortunately forgot, helped me figure out my trip to Mount Fuji, which meant a lot to me. The location was close to everything, especially trains and subways. I'll do it again!