Hotel MyStays Asakusa

The staff were kind and friendly, but the hotel's cleaning was very poor. There was mold around the window, sink, and bathroom, and the AC was full of dust. My wife coughed all night. It looked as if the room hadn't been cleaned in ages. Water condenses on the single-pane window, which seems to cause the mold. The air purifier with humidifier they provide makes the problem worse, and its bright light is no good for sleeping. The room is tiny, and the only outlets are by the kitchen sink, set vertically so chargers fall out. To reach the room you have to walk along an outdoor balcony, with a view of Tokyo Sky Tree. It's about 10 minutes to Kuramae st. and 5 minutes to a less frequent bus stop.

The rooms aren't new, but mine was clean and I was quite happy there. It's no five-star hotel, though I'd definitely come back to this one if I stay in Tokyo again. Kuramae Station is fairly close, and we could get there from Haneda Airport by public transport. We used both JR and non-JR lines all over Tokyo for six days, spending about 5000 yen on our SUICA cards. Restaurants, supermarkets, and a 711 are nearby, and the front desk lends things like utensils and ironing boards for your stay. If your trash bags fill, you have to take them to the basement and sort burnable waste, non-burnable waste, and plastic bottles. Fresh towels can be picked up near reception. Check-in was fairly painless. The staff were polite, capable, and spoke English well. The room was cramped but had a desk, small TV, two chairs, cubby holes, a tiny closet, refrigerator, and microwave. The bathroom was tiny too, with a small tub, shower, and toilet; its folding door had a broken handle. The sink was outside it. There were plenty of power outlets, plus a multiport charger for USB-C, Apple Lightning, and micro-USB, and an Ethernet port nearby. Wi-Fi varied a lot depending on where I stood. Near the window, download was 2.58 mbps and upload 0.44 MBPS. The next morning, closer to the door, it was around 50/50. The metal plate in the door seemed to help: right by it, inside the room, speeds were over 100 MBPS both ways.

The staff were nice, and the hotel is close to public transport with a few cafes within walking distance. But I found a baby cockroach on the bed, and the toilet and room sink looked visibly dirty. I wouldn't stay here again. There are better options for the same price, though the final choice is yours.

Mr. Nagashima at the reception was incredibly patient and kind when he helped me after I left my phone in a taxi, even though I couldn't say which taxi it was. All the staff were friendly and helpful, and I had a really pleasant stay with good facilities. Getting around is easy with Japan's closely spaced train stations, just check the lines carefully. If you take a taxi, ask for a receipt so the vehicle can be tracked if you leave something behind. Thanks again to Hotel MyStays Asakusa and Mr. Nagashima.