Hotel Graphy Nezu

There's a nearby bus stop, and Ueno station is a bit of a walk, which I personally enjoyed. You're also close to Ueno park, the zoo, several museums, and the imperial palace. Hotel Graphy Nezu is a good, reasonably priced hostel option for the Ueno area. I spent a few days in the six-bed mixed dorm. It was peaceful with just one other traveler there. The bunks have blackout curtains, little shelves with chargers, and are well furnished. Everyone gets a full-sized locker, which I thought was great. I almost gave the rooms five stars, but the temperature was odd. In January, the other guest opened a window because it was really hot. Staff said there was no climate control remote for that unit, though I eventually found one and fixed the overheating. They provide nice extras like slippers, a toothbrush, and mouthwash. The second-floor showers were great. The bathrooms varied, but there are lots of them, and if you look around you can find one that suits you. The rooftop terrace has a wonderful view, and the cafe is a nice spot to work or chat. Staff were generally friendly, though my experience varied depending on who was there. Checking in and out was easy. Nothing above and beyond, but it's a solid four. One safety concern: there are steps in some lounge areas that a tired traveler could twist an ankle on. Tape or something similar to mark the edges would help.

I slept fairly well in this quiet neighborhood, despite construction during business hours. I liked the hotel's location for Yanaka, Nippori Fabric Town, Nezu Metro Station, Keisei Skyliner Ueno, and JR Ueno Station. The shared restrooms are a nice idea, but having to lock the door every time you leave is a hassle. Breakfast was delicious. My favorite was the clam chowder with a different Yanesen bread each day. I tried the Avocado Toast too, and it was excellent, just not what I wanted that morning. I also liked having access to the shared kitchen. I didn't cook, but saw people making meals and what looked like sugar art. It looked beautiful and tasty. The kitchen seemed to have everything needed for cooking, and the clear ice cubes were excellent in water or cocktails. I somehow left behind two unopened bottles of yuzu liqueur. I hope someone who needed them enjoyed them!

The staff were fantastic and helped me out when my flight home was delayed by a day. The hotel was spotless, and my room was cleaned daily. I also enjoyed the lounge, communal kitchen, and rooftop garden, where you can relax and see the local area, including Tokyo Skytree. Food was great, from breakfast options with different Yanesen bread each morning and yogurt to homemade burgers and Japanese beef curry in the evening. The location is convenient: five minutes on foot to Nezu station on the Chiyoda line, 15 minutes to Ueno Staion, and 15 minutes to Nezu shrine. My only complaint wasn't about the hotel. Ambulance sirens going to and from the hospital opposite Nezu shrine could be heard at night, but don't let that put you off. I'd definitely recommend it and hope to come back one day.

On my third Tokyo trip I finally visited the Ueno area, and when I returned for a 30-hour layover at the end of my Asia trip, I stayed here again. The hostel is within walking distance of a big park with an unexpected auditorium for neighborhood concerts, a pond with pedal boats, and another park with shrines and licensed street performers. Akhibara is a 25-minute walk, and the Narita Skyliner is 15 minutes away on foot. A couple of national museums and a big food festival are about a 30-minute walk away. There's free happy hour, and you can book breakfast ahead at the café for about an $8 surcharge. The café gets crowded at breakfast and happy hour. The kitchen is open for socializing around the clock, with no usual quiet-hours rule, though people can still talk at a normal volume. My 40L backpack fit in a locker, and they provide the key. The curtains reach all the way to the ceiling. The shower setup is great: a locked room for your things, backpack, and towel leads into a separate locked shower room. Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are supplied. They also have a really good, secure luggage storage system for early check-in or a late flight after checkout. My only criticism is that some bathroom faucets don't have hot water.