Centurion Hotel & Spa Ueno Ekimae

The area felt more local than touristy, which I liked. The station is about a two-minute walk away, with lots of bars and restaurants nearby. There were Japanese signs, cheap beer, and plenty of locals, rather than tourist gimmicks like Wagyu burgers. The hotel also gave us early check-in for free without us asking, plus three bottles of water per day. There was a kettle in the room, but no coffee or tea. The bunk beds worked well for a family with one or maybe two kids. It wasn't a bad stay, but the price seemed high, even if the exchange rate made it feel better. I can't rate it above three stars based on the experience. The building looked dated, the elevator was in rough shape, and the air conditioner worked well. Laundry was a hassle: the machines weren't great, neither were the dryers, and a laundromat was a 10-minute walk away. We spent 2,400 yen to wash a small family's clothes. The onsen has a strict no-tattoo rule, though you can still get in with a bandage or wrap over tattoos. I expected a rule like that, but given the high prices for foreigners and the bars, pachinko places, and sign offering love for money around the hotel, I thought they might be more flexible.

The breakfast buffet was enjoyable, and the hotel had an all-in-one washer-dryer that let us get some laundry done. There was even a scale by reception to check our luggage weight, which came in handy. The staff were friendly, and the front desk arranged to send our bags to Narita airport. We loved the location and the amenities, especially the rooftop onsen that welcomes guests with tattoos. This was the nicest hotel of our trip and made our next hotel look shabby 🤣 We'd love to stay again if we visit Osaka, and I highly recommend it.

The public baths were so good, with saunas and roomy, well-equipped changing and rest areas, that we liked them more than some pricey Ryokan Onsens in the countryside. The hotel is clean and very affordable for its Ueno location. The rooms are small by US standards, but perfectly big enough for central Tokyo. The staff speak English, and we'll definitely return next time we're in Tokyo.

I came here just for the sauna. At the front desk you can pick one hour for ¥1,400 or two hours for ¥1,800, then they give you a locker key and two towels, one small and one larger. There are 12 visitor lockers and four private shower stalls. The bath is 41 degrees, the cold bath is 10 degrees, and the sauna sits around 100 degrees with a relaxing herbal scent. There are TVs in the sauna and outside by the hot bath. Seating is limited, with two spots in the bathing area and three in the changing area. It's a little cramped, but not too busy, so it works well enough. They also have plenty of amenities, plus hair dryers, curlers, and straighteners. A handy place for a quick sauna.