Oyado Kien

The room was about a 10-minute walk from the station, with a view of Tokyo Skytree nearby and a convenience store right across the street. There was also a drum-style washing machine, though I didn’t see much need for it. Those were about the only upsides. The room hadn’t been cleaned properly, with lots of mold and dirt, and there were no slippers. The shower was cramped and its drain was clogged, which made the stay really unpleasant. I’d have been better off at a capsule hotel in Tokyo. Check-in was a mess because you have to register your details beforehand to get your room number and PIN. The registration email had a URL that looked like an illegal site, with Chinese characters mixed with symbols. I checked it, but was too scared to click. That may have been my mistake, but sending something like that felt completely unethical. I couldn’t enter my room and had to call for help. The person who answered spoke broken Japanese, but was very helpful and got me checked in. I’m writing this so nobody else has to go through the same unpleasant experience.

The place is small, but it’s well equipped and even has a little balcony. Towels, toiletries, a toothbrush, laundry detergent, an iron, and kitchen utensils were provided. There’s an electronic lock, so you don’t have to worry about losing a key. Lawson is downstairs, Ryogoku Station is around a 10-minute walk away, and you can walk to Tokyo Skytree too. One thing to remember when cooking: turn the range hood up all the way and open the window, or the smell gets really strong. Also, check the water heater switch on the wall before using the water, or you could end up with a cold shower.

There was sticky grime on the floor that wouldn’t come off, and mold had grown in the corners of the walls. The curtains were stained and the refrigerator smelled awful. The cleaning was inadequate, and the place just wasn’t clean.

The electronic lockout was a nightmare. The room key was kept in an external electronic security system that often didn’t respond, even when I pressed the right buttons. One night it malfunctioned and left me locked out for over 30 minutes. Customer service answered quickly and got me in with a spare key, but the electronic security system should have been reviewed before they used it. The room itself was in terrible shape. Right after checking in, I found three long hairs on the bed. The pillow, comforter, and sheets all smelled of human odor, so I wondered whether they’d even been dry-cleaned. There was dust and hair all over the floor, the mini-kitchen sink was dirty, and there was no hand soap. Outlets were so limited that using the microwave meant unplugging the kettle, and vice versa. The oversized washer in the bathroom/toilet area made the toilet cramped, and having the sink in the bathroom was inconvenient. I picked this cheap hotel because accommodations in Tokyo are expensive, but I won’t choose it again, even at 3,000 yen a night. This is the worst hotel.