Hotel New Touhoku

The standout for me was how attentive the staff were. I was traveling solo and stayed six nights, and it was excellent value for money. The room had standard amenities, including coin-operated washers and dryers. It's only a five-minute walk to Ueno train station, and there was almost no traffic noise at night.

I enjoyed my stay, and the staff were very friendly. But after checking out, I realized that evening, once I'd already left Japan, that I'd forgotten my watch in the room. I emailed the hotel twice using the address on the Agoda booking page and also tried the contact form on the hotel's own website. I never got a reply from either. That was disappointing. I would've expected at least an answer, even if they couldn't send me the watch.

They even helped send our luggage on to the next hotel, which made things easier. We were on the third floor, and with no elevator the front desk team carried our bags up and back down for us. They were also really understanding when we mistakenly thought checkout was an hour later and came down late. We had a wonderful two-night stay, and the staff were so helpful throughout. I’d definitely come back.

For a budget stay, the quiet atmosphere and friendly staff were a plus, and the solo room was okay. It’s within walking distance of the station, restaurants, parks, a museum, Lawson, and other convenience stores, and the price is pretty cheap for Tokyo. The building feels old, the floor creaks, and the mattress springs felt hollow, though I was tired enough that it was sort of okay. The bathroom is small, and the shower curtain smelled damp and unpleasant. There’s no elevator, so you have to carry all your luggage up and down yourself. Still, it’s not a bad choice if you’re watching your budget.