Kakigara Hotel

The rooms were small but very practical and had what we needed. Our room also had access to a balcony, and the bathroom was clean and lovely. The pictures on the site were accurate. We stayed as a family of four and had a great experience. The staff were kind and spoke English. The place is close to a subway station, with plenty of food and things to do within walking distance. I'd definitely recommend trying it.

The staff were very friendly and shared lots of tips about sightseeing and other things in Tokyo. The location is wonderful, near Suitengu Shrine, Tokyo Station, and Tokyo Imperial Palace.

The futons were heavenly, and it was a lovely little room. Some parts of our tatami were rough and stained, though. Please read up on Japanese house etiquette before staying at a ryokan, especially how to look after tatami, since the reeds absorb moisture and odors easily. Keep outdoor shoes on the concrete, and use socks or bare feet on the tatami. The slippers are for the bathroom. Carry luggage to the closets so the wheels don't roll over the mats. Walk in the middle of each tatami rather than on the fragile edges. Before leaving the room, open the outdoor vent to help keep the mats dry.

This is among the worst three places I've stayed. There was a strange smell lingering in the room, and the shower cubicle was too cramped for me at 1.81m and a slightly above-average build. I kept banging my knees and elbows. The photos didn't match what we got, and it wasn't good value. There was almost no cleaning or staff support. I left a popcorn piece on the floor as a test before going out, and it was still there when we got back at night. They only took the rubbish and replaced the towels; hair and dirt remained. Check-in and checkout were entirely DIY, with no one to help.