Hotel Horidome Villa

A great spot for budget travellers: the neighborhood is much quieter than other parts of Tokyo, and the rooms are small but good for a night’s rest, with beautiful views. There are two or three stations nearby that can take you to any district, and the staff are friendly and ready to help with whatever you need. The room came with small hair and body towels, so you may want to bring your own, plus body wash, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, slippers, and dressing gowns. I really appreciated having the sheets and towels changed daily. Coming back to a fresh room made it cozier and more comfortable. I also liked the key return setup. It’s convenient and means you don’t have to worry about losing or dropping your key during the day.

Hotel Horidome Villa is in Tokyo’s historic downtown, about a four-minute walk from Kodenmacho Station. At around $57 (8,860 yen), it’s a great value, and it’s been recognized with TripAdvisor’s "Travelers' Choice" awards. The neighborhood has plenty of character, with the famous "God of Lost Cats" shrine and great local eateries just steps away. I stayed in a clean, compact Single Room with a surprisingly wide bed and a fridge with a manual switch. The rooms have a cozy Showa-era retro feel and a minimal setup. Some fixtures, like the two-handle faucet, feel old-school, but the staff were warm and attentive. Free coffee and a self-pick-up amenity bar add to the charm. There’s also an on-site coin laundry with free detergent, which is a real plus for longer stays. A few nearby picks: Ningyocho Imahan Souzai for its legendary "Sukiyaki Croquette," or Horidome Owariya for rich "Curry Nanban Soba." For breakfast, CITAN is a six-minute walk, with a stylish morning plate and high-quality coffee at BERTH COFFEE. Suitengu Shrine is another stop, with its mix of tradition and modern seismic architecture. Search SUKIYAKI TRAVEL JAPAN on YouTube for the 4K retro room tour and local Sukiyaki croquettes before you book.

The view from the room was surprisingly nice for the price, and Horidome Hotel is easy to reach from several stations, with Kodemmacho Station roughly 300 meters away. It’s affordable, the staff are friendly, and they let me leave my bags for one day after checkout. The facilities are basic, and you pick up the amenities yourself. One problem: when I switched the AC to heat, it blew out dust. I could see white specks settle on my phone screen while it was on the bed. If you’re on a budget and can live with that heater issue, I’d recommend it.

It’s a small place, but cosy, quiet, and in a really handy spot. Walk 5-10 minutes in any direction and you’ll reach a station with connections all over Tokyo, without being stuck in the crowds. There are local restaurants nearby, a Family Mart next door, and a 7-Eleven just a few steps away. The Imperial Palace is about a 40-minute walk, and Tokyo Station is around 20 minutes on foot, with plenty of restaurants and Ramen Street there. There’s also a map with attractions and directions, though Google Maps worked great for us. The price was very good. Staff at reception were easy-going, spoke English, and helped when I asked for an extra blanket. It was lovely and fluffy. We got fresh towels, bathrobes, and toothbrushes every day. The bathroom had plenty of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Our room had a 120 cm bed, AC, and a TV with ten Japanese channels. The windows don’t open. The only thing I missed was a small drawer for clothes, though the room was already small. We were on the fourth floor, where there’s a washing machine for 300 yen, a dryer for 100 yen per ten minutes, and a vending machine with cheap drinks. There’s no food service or gym, but you’ll find lots of restaurants nearby. Anyone visiting Tokyo could easily get 20,000-30,000 steps in a day. I’d stay here again.