HotelCO Kuramae

The room looked just like the photos and was lovely, but there wasn’t a desk or a good place to work. No ironing board, no booklet with laundry information, and no room cleaning either. That might suit a teenager, but it felt like a gap for an adult traveler. Getting in was confusing. There’s no reception desk, and there wasn’t a sign saying to register at the pricey sake bar next door. I’d booked through Booking.com, which said reception was open until midnight, but it had closed by 11:20. Nobody answered when I called to ask how to get inside. The staff were great, though. There’s no elevator, and I was on the fourth floor of a six-floor building. The stairs are very steep, and there’s a low overhead beam on the third floor that anyone over six feet tall will hit their head on.

The staff were so friendly and helpful, and communication was easy. They gave us lots of ideas for things to do and places to visit. The hotel’s location is really convenient, too, with easy access to different parts of Tokyo. I loved the room, which was beautiful and had everything I could need. I was surprised to find a Dyson hairdryer. The bathroom was a special experience, especially taking a bath there. There’s also a bar at the hotel where you can try different kinds of sake and hear about them. I had a great time, and I already know where I’ll stay next time I visit Tokyo.

The location felt quite out of the way, and the $500 deposit was unusual. The included breakfast was a letdown: rice, miso soup, and a few vegetables, with no other choices. The room itself would get four stars from me, but the breakfast and the lack of cleaning bring my rating down to two stars for the price. I put the “CLEAN UP ROOM” sign out before 12:30 one day, but nobody cleaned the room or even left a note. There’s also no phone to call reception. The room had a Dyson hairdryer, but no tea or coffee facilities, and there wasn’t much room for clothes, so I had to live out of my suitcase. There’s no lift either, so you have to carry your suitcase up and down a narrow staircase.

After a long day in busy Tokyo, this hotel felt like a peaceful, warm place to retreat to. The room was beautiful, modern, and very clean, with an onsen tub built in. The location was great, too.