Ryokan Katsutaro

This was a reasonably priced, sharehouse-like stay in a decent spot. The staff were consistently kind and helpful, and check-in and check-out were quick. I noticed guests could leave luggage before check-in or store it after check-out if they were heading out of Tokyo later, though I didn't use those options myself. My room was basic but comfortable, as you'd expect in Tokyo. The futon and blanket were especially comfortable, and the table, shelves, and coat rack were enough for me. There was a small TV I didn't use. The room had a standard Japanese AC/heater, and I could also open the window fully to control the temperature. I was in the ground-floor room by the entrance, so the loud after-hours door keypad could be annoying. People checking out in the nearby hallway also made it hard to sleep past about 8:30 AM. The shower, toilet, and fridge are shared, with only one of each, so that setup won't suit everyone. Using shared facilities outside regular waking hours can disturb other guests. The coin laundry machine was broken during my week there, but there’s a good laundromat about a five-minute walk away, with washer-dryer combos and an online status dashboard. There are upsides and downsides to the location. Ueno Park is a very short walk away, with attractions like the Tokyo National Museum. The Nezu area has a decent range of restaurants and shops, and Nezu subway station is nearby. But getting to the better-connected Ueno Stations, both JR and subway, takes a 15-20 minute walk, or 20-25 minutes with luggage or if you stick to roads instead of cutting through part of the park. Don't mix up the two stations. I'd consider coming back if I didn't have too much luggage and my schedule wasn't packed.

The only small downside was that the walls are thin, so you can hear little noises from nearby rooms. It felt normal and didn't bother us. The ryokan also has a coin-operated washing machine and a free dryer, which was very convenient. The owners kindly stored our bags before and after check-in and check-out. We booked a room with our own toilet and bath, and it felt spacious, especially by Japanese room standards. Everything was very clean, and the owners were kind and welcoming. The stay went smoothly, and we'd love to come back to Tokyo and stay here again. Thank you!

We stayed four days and had a really nice time. Our room was quite large by local standards, and the owners were great. It’s a quiet little neighborhood with plenty of nearby services, though it’s not right in the middle of downtown. If you want to be downtown, stay downtown. This feels more like a neighborhood stay. There’s a convenience store across the street, good local restaurants nearby, and a subway station five minutes away. Ueno Station is about 15 minutes on foot, and the park is easy to reach. The washer is coin operated, while the dryer is free and actually dries clothes well. I recommend it if you’re after somewhere calmer and a bit away from the bustle of a shopping street.

The owner is still just as friendly and hospitable as I remember from my first stay here twenty years ago, when I was a teenager traveling alone. That's the real gem of this simple, charming ryokan. It’s in a great location too, opposite a convenience store, within walking distance of Ueno, and only five minutes from a metro station. I can wholeheartedly recommend it and plan to stay here again next time I’m in Tokyo.