Washington R&B Hotel Ueno Hirokoji

Tea, pajamas, toothbrushes, and even face masks are set out beside reception, so you can choose what you need. The hotel is also handy for getting food and shopping, with Ueno Park and Ameyoko very close by and several subway entrances within walking distance. The nearest is about three minutes away. My single room was small, though that seems normal for Tokyo at this rate. It was clean, comfortable, and convenient.

The location was the best part for me. The nearest station is just a short walk away, and Akihabara takes about 10-15 minutes to reach. It’s a handy base for getting around Tokyo. Some amenities depend on what you pay for, and breakfast costs extra. Free coffee is available once breakfast is over, but only from 3:00 PM, which felt late. The laundry machines really bothered me. They cost as much as industrial machines but worked much less efficiently. Still, the location alone made the place worthwhile.

I ended up booking another hotel at 3am on my first night because I knew I wasn’t going to sleep here. I paid for both places that night, and it was the right call. Every 15 minutes or so there were loud slamming noises all night. Maybe it was the construction mentioned on a sign in the elevator, though there was no other notice, or maybe it was other guests and poor soundproofing. I wish I’d known before booking. The staff also made a simple package delivery difficult. My previous hotel was sending over a computer mouse I’d forgotten, and they seemed to think I’d refuse to pay the 990 yen delivery fee. Their excuses were ridiculous, and they made a fuss for no reason. The room was tiny even by Japan standards, with nowhere to put my luggage despite traveling alone. The bed was so hard it almost felt convex, and the pillow was the most uncomfortable I’ve had in Japan. There’s a pillow bar, but every pillow was gone. Just provide decent beds and pillows and you wouldn’t need one. Even at half the price, this room would have cost too much. I can’t understand its review score. If you book after reading this, imagine me saying “I told you so” when you realize your mistake. I tried to save you the grief.

I loved staying here. They offer daily cleaning, and corn soup is included at breakfast.