Super Hotel Akihabara-Suehirocho

We’ve stayed here twice and would come back whenever we want to be in Akihabara again. The location is ideal, very close to the main street. Rooms are clean and, yes, small, but that's Tokyo. The staff are welcoming, kind and easy to get along with. There are several amenities: free breakfast, a free open bar from 17h30 to 20h30, and a sento with separate hours for men and women. One of my favourite hotels in Tokyo ✨

The only tolerable things were the breakfast and a washer and dryer that seemed to work. I stayed three nights and truly despised the place. If I could have got my money back, I would've left immediately. I couldn't stand being there. Our room barely had enough space to enter, turn around and leave. It had a queen bed and a bunk, but the upper bed was much smaller than a real twin. They charged extra for three people even though selecting two people showed the exact same room. We had to make the top bunk ourselves with sheets. The stairs were under a lowered ceiling, so getting up or down meant taking an awkward angle or hitting your head, which happened. The elevator was painfully slow and crowded quickly with so many floors. The pillows were hard, heavy sacks filled with round bean-like things, the worst pillows I've experienced. There's a pillow rental area, but it was always empty, so good luck avoiding the sack-of-rocks feel. The air conditioner leaked all over the carpet, which stayed wet, and the room smelled terrible. Even the fresh towels they gave us daily stunk. They also offered luggage storage, but it sat in the lobby with only a thin string tied around it for protection. There was just one onsen, with hours divided between men and women, which was annoying. I hadn't known this major flaw when booking and was never there at the right time to use it. We'd stayed in a few different places during our Japan trip, and none were this small or badly arranged. 0/10, spend your money elsewhere.

The location made it easy to reach several train and subway lines, and the staff always greeted me with a bright smile. My room wasn't large, though it seemed bigger than many hotels in the same area and price range. The hot bath was a moderate size, but enough, and the temperature was just right. I'd never tried a man-made carbonated bath before and enjoyed watching the tiny silver bubbles. Breakfast was modest but good value, and the main dishes changed, so my five-night stay didn't get boring. The fresh banana shake was refreshing and unexpectedly delicious, highly recommended. I also enjoyed the welcome alcoholic drink in the evening.

The rooms are very small, but comfortable. The staff and amenities are fantastic. Know what to expect for room size and you should have a great stay here.