Stay Work Asakusa Guest House

I barely slept, even with earplugs. People in my room were really noisy, with girls showering at 2 and 3 a.m. while packing their bags and doors slamming all night. It was chaotic. It is what it is, I guess, but I wouldn’t stay again. Don’t recommend it at all.

The check-in felt like a security risk: after scanning my passport, the staff member had me scan my face and passport again on another tablet. It’s an extremely budget hostel, maybe worth usd30 compared with nearby places, but not a work hotel. The fourth floor has rooms, the third is the men’s dorm, and the second is the women’s dorm. The rooms are tiny, with broken walls, low ceilings, and thin walls and floors, so you hear footsteps from people walking. Luggage blocks the walkways and stairs. The required small shoe cupboard smelled rotten and was piled with dirty shoes, and rubbish was stacked around the basins. Towels cost extra. The shared bathroom and toilet were tiny too.

The staff were nice, but I can’t give this a higher rating given how the stay went. I paid about the same as I had for a nearby hotel during the same week last year, and that other place had much better facilities. Here, the AC didn’t work properly and made sleep impossible. In the final picture, you can see two of my bunkmates sleeping with their heads poking out. They fixed the AC for my last few days, but I still can’t help comparing the stay with what I could have had for roughly the same price.

The staff are what make this place. Jun from cleaning is great to chat with, entertaining and always upbeat. Fen at reception is helpful and goes out of her way to make you comfortable, and K, the younger receptionist, is lovely to talk to and makes great music. Everyone has been so nice on my visits. This was my first hostel in Japan, and I’ve stayed here more than once, including when I returned to Tokyo between trips around the country. It’s still my favorite. The beds are comfortable, bathrooms and showers are always clean, and there’s a small kitchen for cooking or heating food. The location is in a quieter area, and the common room you pass through on the way upstairs makes the place feel social. The only thing I’d mention is the rooms can get warm, though there are multiple air conditioners. Thank you to everyone who makes the place what it is!