MUSTARD HOTEL ASAKUSA 2 - Hostel

The woman at the front desk was kind and listened with understanding, and an older female staff member stood out for being especially warm and caring. She used small, cute gestures to explain things despite speaking little English. A younger male staff member with glasses also handled a difficult guest calmly and firmly, while staying friendly with the kids. I agreed with his approach, and felt people who saw it probably supported him too. Most of the other staff are businesslike and efficient, which can feel smooth and refreshing when you're in a hurry. I've stayed here a few times, and some foreign guests have made me uncomfortable by disregarding Japanese manners. Many are lovely, but some seem to act according to their own culture or impose their own rules without learning about the country first. Recently, one guest took up space with luggage and left the toilet flooded and filthy. When I politely pointed it out, they answered rudely and insultingly, saying it wasn't a problem in their country. It felt like they had forgotten they were in Japan. I was furious, but checked out the next morning and kept quiet. This kind of thing seems to happen pretty often. Weekends cost a bit more, but the atmosphere is much nicer and relaxed. Weekdays can feel quite mixed. I'd suggest clearer onsen etiquette guidance for international guests. If they improve that, I'd happily come back.

The location is really convenient, and it's a good hotel if you mainly need somewhere to sleep. The rooms are clean but quite small, and not very soundproof since the bed is right by the door and hallway. Sometimes nobody is at the desk, so keep that in mind when checking in or out. There's a phone you can use to call the staff.

The location is a real plus: about five minutes from Asakusa Station on the Asakusa and Ginza Lines, and five minutes from Senso-ji Temple. I spent seven days here and had a good experience overall. The public onsen bath area was okay. They keep the AC on at night, and probably during the day too, though I wasn't there then, so it can get a little cold for Tokyo. A pullover or hoodie is enough to make it fine.

I left feeling unwelcome and uncomfortable, and I don't recommend this hotel. When I arrived around 3:30 PM, a young couple was at the front desk and seemed unprofessional. I don't speak Japanese, but they appeared to be chatting too closely and not paying attention to guests. The woman in a black mask seemed unfriendly, and the man didn't seem to care about customer service. Another staff member tried to explain things in English, but it sounded robotic and was hard to understand. I hope management trains the young staff to treat guests with more respect.