LUANA Nakano

I lost 14,000 yen on a two-night booking, but left after five minutes. The place was so awful that I wouldn't stay there even if they paid me. I saw reviews about cockroaches, but what I found was on another level, and cockroaches seem cute by comparison. If you're considering it because of the price or location, please don't. This isn't a hotel, and I seriously want my money back. I'm so angry, I hope it goes out of business. The exterior already made me uneasy. The stairs to the third floor were dirty, and only the lights up to the second floor worked, so I used my phone flashlight to open the door. Inside, there was an overwhelming musty smell and awful humidity. The futon felt disgustingly damp and had insect wings and countless hairs on it. The slippers and towels didn't look clean either. The shower room was covered in mold. As for the toilet, I had to go outside and find a door by the stairs. It had no lock, so there was no security at all. There was a sink and a toilet, but also a toilet seat cover. Who else was that shared with? Anyone could use it. Who would stay in a place like this? Maybe some old guy who doesn't care. It costs 7,000 yen a night, maybe even 1,000 yen, and I still wouldn't stay.

The room was neatly organized, and for somewhere just to sleep, the price is very reasonable. Nakano Station is about a five-minute walk away, with lots of restaurants, supermarkets, and convenience stores nearby, so food is easy to find. There’s no elevator, so you have to use the stairs, which could be tough with a lot of luggage. They email you the room key ahead of time. There was cockroach spray on the first floor; I took it to the room but didn't need it. One thing to watch: the door won't shut unless you push it firmly.

We were five in the room and saw three cockroaches. It didn't smell clean, so we skipped the shower and went to a public bath instead. The toilet is separate from the room and has an auto-lock, so we had to bring our own key. They only provided toothbrushes and towels. I wish they'd at least supplied cockroach spray.

Food and shopping around here are so convenient, I give the neighborhood full marks. The Life supermarket at the alley entrance is open from 9 AM to midnight, and the area around Nakano Station is busy with lots of duty-free shops. Compare prices before getting a tax refund. I even saw three different prices for 270 tamarind. I'd probably return because I can be a little cheap about accommodation, but not about food and drinks. I'm from Taiwan, and finding a place in Tokyo for a family of six is really hard. Usually you have to book two rooms, so I got lucky finding this one online. Our third-floor room for six was fairly large. Luggage took up a lot of floor space, but we could still get around. The little balcony wasn't much use beyond ventilation, and there were no bamboo poles for drying clothes. It's an old, single-story building with narrow stairs and no elevator, which made carrying large suitcases up and down a bit difficult. There are vending machines and washing machines on the first floor. The third-floor rooms have showers, but the toilet is in a separate area to the left of the room door, and it gets very cold there in winter. The room had a heater/cooler and an air purifier. I didn't see any cockroaches during our four nights, but there aren't many power outlets, so bring an extension cord. Towels and toiletries are limited. You can ask the host to bring them or get them on the second floor. Since it's self-service, you can sleep as long as you want before heading out, which felt very relaxing.