Ryokan Ichinao

This was the biggest disappointment of our family trip to Japan. Nobody from staff showed up during the whole stay, and the express or self check-in was laughable. If you can’t get the room key, you’re left waiting a long time. The room was so dirty we had to clean it ourselves. There was mold in the women’s shower, and the microwave couldn’t be used. I’d look elsewhere, since there are much nicer places in Tokyo.

We were nervous after reading the reviews, but our stay was just fine. It’s a practical, efficient backpackers, and our private room was good. The toilets and showers were clean, it was quiet at night, and check-in was simple: we got the key from the lock box and went straight in. The cleaner kindly came out to let us lock our bikes securely in the back yard. There were a few small marks on the side of the bed base, but everything else in the room was perfect. In our opinion, it’s a pretty good backpackers, just keep in mind it’s not a hotel.

We had a terrible experience. Someone else was in the room my boyfriend had already booked. They took our key, and we were left without a room.

We’ve had no trouble using the bathrooms or shower, since we haven’t run into anyone. There are four bathrooms, each with a bidet, toilet, and sink, but only one shower for everyone. As of November 10, the place is really quiet. It almost feels empty, though we can tell people are around from all the shoes by the entrance. We’re staying here now and enjoying it despite the other reviews. It’s close to Shinjuku station with lots of places to eat nearby. The rooms are small, but plenty big enough for a couple. We have three bags, and they fit in the tiny space.