Hotel Residence Ohashi Kaikan

There’s more room here than at an APA, and it’s pretty affordable, with a short walk to the station. The bathrooms and doorways are awkwardly designed, though. Nobody mentioned there were extra bath towels in the laundry room, so I only found them on my last day. Some instructions or a guide would help. Our first night in Tokyo was frustrating. The iPad check-in couldn’t connect to the hotel’s database, so it couldn’t pull up anything from our reservation number or name. If the front desk is closed, getting in seems to depend on luck. We had several missed calls and started to panic a bit while jetlagged. It wasn’t the employees’ fault, though. They eventually answered, walked us through it, and gave us the entry codes. I hope they get the system fixed.

We stayed four nights in April and booked a Superior Double. There was enough space to have both of our large suitcases open. The hotel has a modern feel and seems to have been recently updated. We’d seen some poor reviews beforehand and were a bit worried, but the stay itself was good. The area impressed us. It’s a nice choice if you want to be a little outside the Shibuya bustle, with the train station about a 5-minute walk away. There are some really good restaurants, bars, and cafes within walking distance. The walls are a little thin, so bring earplugs. It’s Tokyo. Book early for a good price and a larger room, and you won’t be disappointed.

The good parts were the location, clean bathroom, and amenities. The room was small, as I expected, but the bed was actually pretty big, more than enough for one person. You could pick up fresh towels in the laundry room. When a typhoon stopped me from leaving as planned, staying an extra night in the same room was no problem. The woman at reception seemed stressed but stayed calm and friendly. I’d come back, and I don’t really understand the complaints. I stayed about five days last August. The soundproofing wasn’t great, and I couldn’t get the air conditioner working as well as I wanted, though I managed. I did laundry once, and someone took my clothes out of the machine and left them somewhere while they were still a bit wet.

It worked perfectly for what I needed as a solo traveller. The location is great, about a 5-minute walk from the train station, with convenience stores and places to eat close by. There’s no front desk right as you enter, but it was easy to find, and the check-in instructions were clear since I arrived after reception hours.