Araiya

We spent the mandatory two weeks of self-quarantine here after flying to Tokyo from overseas. I expected it to feel like being shut in, but we actually enjoyed staying at Araiya. The staff were warm and kind throughout. One of us had a birthday while we were there, and they left small, cute birthday sweets with a personal message, not a cake, but a thoughtful gesture. Araiya is a cozy old row house, renovated with a nice mix of old and modern touches. Even in Tokyo's business district, it was quiet at night, and after months of tiring days in the U.S., I could relax there. My favorite spot was the little area upstairs between the bedroom and stairs. It had a glass-front shelf of beautiful Japanese modern ceramics, a dripping water feature like a "suikinkutsu," and a small sofa chair. I spent time reading and thinking through the past few months there. It was also a good place to work: the internet was superb, much smoother than the Comcast XFinity I had in the U.S. The big TV, maybe 50 inches, had an HDMI jack and cable for a PC. There were plenty of power plugs and extension codes in every room. The subway station was just a block away, but the neighborhood stayed peaceful. Deliveries were easy to arrange. There was a towel dryer, something I'd seen in Europe but nowhere else in Japan, and staff lent us a clothes hanger to use in the entrance area. With a powerful fan, our clothes dried overnight. We washed them by soaking them in the bath, since there was no washer. Staff checked in on their own to see what we needed, changed amenities and linens every 3-4 days, and did what they could to make the stay pleasant despite the circumstances. Booking the self-quarantine plan felt a bit unusual because our first contact was an intermediary based in Myanmar. I later learned from their website that he had worked with Araiya's owner before starting his own business in Myanmar. The owner seems to be a social entrepreneur who cares about cultural exchange and diversity in the hotel business. They had even offered free lodging at another property to international students stuck in Tokyo, a story featured on NHK World. That gave me confidence about their finances. I was soon in touch with Araiya staff and paid the management directly.

The location makes this hotel an easy choice. It's close to the subway, just a few stops from Shibuya and many other places to see, and there are amazing restaurants nearby. We stayed several nights, liked the people a lot, and I'd happily come back again.

They made us feel so welcome, and everyone was super friendly. They even took us to the metro station and showed us how to get to the airport. Best hotel experience I've had.

The hosts were very gracious, and there are lots of cool little places to eat nearby. It's close to the station, and the fitout is amazing.