MANGA ART HOTEL, TOKYO - Hostel

It was easy to find, clean, and pretty comfortable, but check-in was a hassle. The tablet for the required video call had no internet connection, and I couldn’t get it working even after trying the Wi-Fi. I sent a message but didn’t hear back quickly. A sign listed phone numbers, but I only had data and couldn’t make calls, so I had to get a relative to call for me. Eventually someone noticed me waiting and let me check in. When I explained the tablet problem, though, nothing much was done. Being able to make the video call through LINE or WhatsApp would have made things a lot easier.

It’s a very affordable capsule hotel with several train lines nearby, so getting around is easy, and the staff are friendly and keen to help. I stayed from late December to early January, though, and the rooms were freezing, as if the heater wasn’t on. Trying to fall asleep was actually painful.

Chiyoda city is a handy base for exploring Tokyo, and this hotel is right by metro and bus stations. It has what you need and was comfortable and budget friendly. Just don’t expect a full hotel room experience at this price. If that’s what you want, you’ll need to choose a more expensive hotel.

There are loads of manga in different languages, plus a couple of small reading nooks. The concept is cool, the location is great, and the beds were comfortable. It stayed pretty quiet apart from some snoring, and the lights and air conditioning didn’t bother me, despite what others have said. The problem was that both the bunk and the main sleeping area smelled like feet the whole time. Womp womp.