Hotel Crown Hills Ueno Premier

The room was still clean, though a bit dated. I spotted mold on the shower curtain, but they changed it promptly when I told them. The hotel is on the higher floors, which made for a quiet stay, and there are amenities in the lobby. It’s near Ueno Station, Okachimachi Station, and the Ginza line, so getting around Tokyo was convenient. I was looking for cheap accommodation in Ueno and stayed at Crown Hills. You get what you pay for. This was the smallest room of the five hotels I stayed at during my Japan trip.

Getting around and finding food was easy, with transport nearby, lots of places to eat, and a handy 7 eleven downstairs. Reception staff spoke little English and used a translator app. The onsite washer and dryer didn't work very well. I ran a drying cycle for over 2 hours and my washing was still wet. Maybe the dryers aren't hot enough, or the spin cycle after washing is too slow or too short. The room was small, which was fine, but after a full day of sightseeing and walking, I just wanted to come back and relax. We were in room 2431, and the bed was hard as a rock and not comfortable at all.

Ueno has the best view for watching the sunset. Be careful with the economy twin, though. It’s basically one single room with an extra bed, and it feels cramped for two people. The extra bed was dusty and irritated my friend’s eyes after sleeping there. Otherwise, choose the city view twin room.

Being close to the Yamanote Line is a big plus for getting around Tokyo. This hotel is about a five-minute walk from Okachimachi Station and roughly the same from Ueno, where you can connect to several other lines. Nearby, there are plenty of Japanese, Indian, and Western food options within walking distance. My compact room facing Tokyo sky tree was 14 square meters, with enough room to sit, work at the desk, and keep my luggage. The bed worked for one person, though it might feel cramped for two. The bathroom was small but acceptable and had modern amenities. The air conditioning could be adjusted in the room, and heaters were available too, unlike the centralized setup at APA hotels. The entrance was easy to spot, beside a ground-floor 7 eleven, but reception is on the 20th floor. The lifts were only decent. Front desk staff spoke English well, which matters a lot as a foreigner, and check-in and checkout were hassle-free. Room cleaning and sheet changes are meant to happen every three days, but they did them regularly during my three-day stay. Breakfast was above average, with a standard menu of around 8-10 courses. For a budget traveler who relies on public transport, this is great value compared with other Tokyo options.