Ochanomizu Inn

I liked having to hand in the key when heading out, since I worry about losing it and having to pay for a replacement. The hotel was lovely, with very helpful, kind staff. Free drinks were nice to grab when I couldn’t sleep at 3am, and the washing machine was handy. Two 24-hour stores are barely a two-minute walk away, and the train station is close. We wanted a room that could work for two people and three suitcases, given the usual room sizes in Tokyo. We booked one that was a little larger, and although it was a tight fit, it worked for us. Great spot overall. If I visit Tokyo again, I’ll definitely consider staying here.

The good points are the price, the nice neighborhood, and the location near both the station and Akihabara. The room size was acceptable, if a little small compared with other hotels in Japan. The lobby has unlimited free coffee and tea, and maybe other drinks too. It didn’t seem to be open 24/7, but it was close. There’s only one elevator, though that wasn’t a big deal. The walls seem thin: I could clearly hear water running and people talking next door. Mornings were especially noisy with the cleaning staff working in other rooms. Internet was slow, around 13Mbps download, and dropped occasionally, which sometimes made streaming or reliable work difficult.

Breakfast was the one weak point for me, though it was fine. There are three choices, one Western and two Japanese. Otherwise, this was a five-star stay in a small, cozy three-star hotel. The staff were amazing and did what they could to make things easy and pleasant. My small room was cleaned daily, with fresh sheets and towels. It’s near three important train and metro stations, so getting around was easy. I’m coming back next year.

After long days out, coming back to ochanomizu Inn felt like coming home. Would I stay again? A strong yes. The free breakfast deserves a mention on its own: the taste and care put into it were top notch, 10/10. The staff were sincerely helpful and did their best despite the language barrier. For a short trip of a few days, the room was surprisingly adequate, though three pieces of luggage is about the comfortable limit. They kept it as clean as possible and encouraged daily housekeeping. Fresh towels and basic amenities every day felt like five-star service.