Hotel Resol Ueno

We felt welcome the whole time, thanks especially to the kind and helpful staff. They also helped us forward our luggage, which was very nice of them. The rooms were comfortable, clean, and had a modern interior, with snacks, tea, and amenities available in the lobby. Ueno station is only about a three-minute walk away. We'd gladly return!

There are four fluffy pillows, which is unusual in Japan, and the bathroom is nice. The rooms are so tiny there's not enough space to open a suitcase. There isn't housekeeping, so you pick up supplies yourself from the lobby, though fresh towels are left at your door each morning. There's a bread and soup station, and you can use the oven to make a snack. Nothing to complain about, just very basic, clean, and nicely designed. The main draw is the location, steps from Ueno train station and the park.

The complimentary toiletries and snacks and drinks at reception were good, and there were at least four young staff on duty in the daytime. They were friendly, though I felt they lacked the Japanese custom of greeting guests warmly. I joined as a member and booked directly on their website, which got us late checkout at noon. That helped since our flight was in the evening. I was in Twin room 1009, a quiet corner room on the top floor. There's enough space to open two suitcases, but you have to close them to leave a walking path. The pajamas were comfortable, the towels clean, and the toilet larger than the usual Japanese size. The shower screen had a bit of an odor. The room rate was a little expensive. Also, the nearest Asakusa exit from the train station has no escalators or lifts, so pulling even a 20-inch bag up with seniors can be difficult.

I had a pleasant stay and thought the hotel was good value, even with a few things that bothered me. Most of the receptionists aren't Japanese, so service went smoothly without a language barrier. One staff member kindly booked a seat for me at a jazz bar that only took reservations by phone. But another cut me off when I was trying to say I'd seen my luggage in their storage room, as if I were rushing them and needed to wait. I felt lectured, and it gave me an ick. The room was clean and in good condition, compact as expected for a Japanese hotel. The desk lamp was so bright from above that I had to cover it with a hand towel. I could spread my luggage out, but had to push it aside to open and close the door. Since I was traveling alone, there was enough space. The bathroom was quite large for a room this size, with a full bathtub that I was grateful to soak in after long days of walking around the city. The free lobby amenities covered everything I needed. The hallway was kind of messy in the late morning. I guess the cleaning staff were working hard, but it blocked my way.