Hotel Little Bird Oku-Asakusa

The neighborhood is a big part of the appeal. Oku-Asakusa is known to those in the know, with historic spots, shrines, temples, and plenty of small cafes and restaurants. The hotel has a clean, neat room, and the owner is charming and happy to share what he knows. There’s a little rooftop area with a refreshing view, too. Bringing an extra person doesn’t cost more. We felt at home here and loved walking around. We were happy to walk the 15-20 minutes to Asakusa Station. From there, the Ginza Subway Line, Japan’s 1st full-fledged subway since 1927, goes straight to Ginza Station in 20 minutes and Shibuya Station in 30+ minutes, with no transfers. Tokyo Skytree is 20 minutes from Asakusa Station on the Tobu Skytree Line. There are also several useful buses nearby to stations like Asakusa Kotobukicho, Tawaramachi, and Nippori. Google Maps can show you the routes. Japanese buses are reliable, safe, clean, and mostly on time, and riding them is an interesting way to see local people.

Tetsuro was the best part of Hotel Little Bird. He’s incredibly kind and helpful, and sorted out things like tickets to a sold out concert, food and entertainment suggestions, and tours around the city tailored to what you’re after. We took his Edo period tour, which was the highlight of our trip. We’ll definitely stay at Hotel Little Bird again on future Tokyo visits. We were a group of four, a 43 year old dad, an 18 year old son, a 13 year old daughter, and a 21 year old nephew. We spent 10 nights there and hated having to leave. It’s about a 10 minute walk to Iriya station or 15 minutes to Asakusa, in a peaceful neighborhood with plenty of restaurants. It was easy to take trains or buses to the major Tokyo sights, without the noise and crowds of places like Shinjuku or Shibuya. The facilities suited us well. Our room had a fridge and stovetop, and there was a microwave and washer/dryer in the common areas. The rooftop terrace had great views of the Skytree and more.

The owner was very nice, explained the area, let me check in early, and answered my messages promptly. I stayed for two days. The room was large, soundproof, and had two big beds, with enough space for four people. Most of what you’d expect from a hotel was provided. It’s a 15 minute walk from Asakusa station and 10 minutes from the Senso-hi temple. I visited during a holiday, so it was a bit expensive, but it was a good place to stay.

The hotel’s a little outside Asakusa’s busy tourist center, and I liked that because I could get a feel for Tokyo’s downtown atmosphere. There are lots of good places to eat nearby without going far. My room felt both cozy and comfortable. Tetsuro, who owns, manages, and looks after the hotel, really made the stay. He’s a former businessman, knows a lot about Asakusa and Tokyo, and speaks English and Chinese fluently. He’s professional, enthusiastic, and welcoming, with a warm smile. He’s someone you can count on for a casual but authentic Tokyo holiday and works hard to make guests comfortable.