Ichifuji Ryokan

The landlady was nice, and I liked the atmosphere. It felt like time moved more slowly in the room. This place will probably appeal strongly to some people and put others off, but for anyone after a full Showa-era feel, it seems just right. When I checked in one evening, the futons were still hanging out to dry, which brought back memories. The toilet, though, was small and dirty, so that’s why I rated it this way. I stayed here a few years ago.

I couldn’t put up with the conditions and left for another hotel. This place was extremely dirty and unsanitary, and the price had no redeeming features. The elderly couple running it included a husband whose body odor was very strong, like a homeless person. Trash was scattered around the room, the construction looked shoddy, and cardboard had been used to patch holes in the ceiling. The futon was unbelievably old for the Reiwa era, smelled terrible, and looked decades dirty. There was so much dust. When I told the grandmother, she got very unhappy and didn’t apologize, which made me question her customer service. Maybe its location in the famous tourist area of Asakusa is the only reason it can keep operating. I never want to return. Staying here felt like throwing money away.

After listening to rakugo at the entertainment hall, I came back to my room feeling like I was going home. It was cozy enough to remind me of my childhood room, and everything was very clean. The landlady was kind, too. The inn is about a minute from Sensoji Temple, so getting around is easy. I stayed on the last day of the Heisei era, and the whole visit felt wonderfully nostalgic. If you’re into Showa culture and Ryohei Nishigishi, you’d love it. I hope this inn stays around forever. Thank you so much. Just remember to bring your own amenities.

The tiled bathroom is especially lovely, and the whole place has a good kind of time-slip feeling back to the Showa era. There’s a public bath nearby, and it’s easy to enjoy Asakusa. The owner and his wife are very kind (^-^). I used the inn as a base for exploring Tokyo and would stay again if I get the chance.