KAIKE･North Ikebukuro

We stayed in the room nearest the train tracks, but couldn’t actually hear them inside. The problem was that the room wasn’t ready by check-in time. We’d already spent time waiting around the city with our luggage, so that was inconvenient.

I couldn’t sleep because the place is so noisy from being right by the tracks. It’s also a long way from the station. I really wish I’d paid a little more for somewhere better. You get what you pay for, so be careful!

The room was roomy and had a wardrobe, and the little bathroom area was clean and comfortable. I liked the separate bathroom setup, but hauling luggage around between different vehicles was tiring. After four days there, I’d honestly suggest staying just one night. There’s no staff to handle basic cleaning, like taking out rubbish or replacing towels. As the trash piled up, the room started to feel like a garbage dump, and the damp smell from used towels after a day out was unpleasant and really affected the stay. The room rate was low, but the owner said towels cost extra and didn’t say whether rubbish collection would cost extra too. That should have been clear in the website’s service guidelines. The whole thing made for a very unpleasant experience. Four days didn’t save us money at all. It felt like a penalty.

Getting help was difficult. There’s nobody on site to talk to about a problem, and you have to message through the booking app, Airbnb in our case. Replies can be slow, and there’s no promise they’ll do what you ask. We requested two pillows, were first told there weren’t any in stock, and only got them on the third day after contacting Airbnb. There’s also a storage spot by the entrance with assorted spare furniture, which is quite noticeable. The room was a double with two separate beds, though the listing calls it tatami-style and what we’d call beds were really sun lounger cushions. It’s in Toshima City’s Ikebukuro district, around a 1.5 km walk from what we’d consider the center of Ikebukuro. The room had many of the things listed on Airbnb, but it took a long time to get answers about extras like pillows, blankets, and detergent, and they said they didn’t have them available. Don’t set your expectations too high. There’s hot water and kitchen utensils. A washing machine is outside, though I didn’t use it. There’s nowhere to dry clothes. The rooms are very small, and sometimes a smell comes from the bathroom drain. It might not stand out in a bigger place, but in a small room it can be really bothersome. There are four vending machines outside, and drinks are fine, with the priciest at 150 yen. For food or snacks you have to walk 1.5 km, where there are supermarkets such as 7/11, Picos, and Family, plus restaurants, cafes, and bakeries. The metro is about 2.5 km from Ikebukuro’s east entrance. It’s walkable, and Shinjuku and Shibuyu are only 3-4 stops away, with tickets around 170 yen. Even with all that, being in Tokyo and Ikebukuro was nice and enjoyable. Hope you enjoy it too. 🙂🙂👍