Tabist Changtee Hotel

The staff service was pretty good. They showed us to the room and explained the door lock, AC, futon, and other details. The building and the room's furnishings are very old, though still maintained. The room was extremely small and dusty, and the traditional Japanese futon on the tatami seemed to collect even more dust. The hotel can be hard to find, though Google Maps was still reliable. Check-in hours are limited because staff are only available during that time, so early check-in isn't possible.

For three people staying three days, it cost a little under 400 dollars CAD, or about 135 per person and 44 dollars a day. That's a great deal. The room is traditional, with futons for sleeping, so there isn't much space to hang out. There's seating in the lobby, though. If you're coming to Japan just to sit in your room, what are you doing here? The air conditioner is beat up, but it works, and the room was clean. Staff left fresh towels each day. The bathroom is small, and a part sticking out of the wall means you have to watch your head. The toilet has a heated seat. It's about 10 minutes from the station and around a two-minute walk from four different convenience stores. One suggestion for the staff: there's some space under the TV stand where they could put a zaisu. Leaning against a pile of futons isn't a good backrest.

I'm stuck in the room right now because there's no receptionist overnight. The toilet was blocked and hadn't flushed properly since we arrived. I reported it yesterday, and they came that night with a plunger, but didn't check beyond that. Now it's blocked again, water has spilled onto the bathroom floor, and the whole room smells. I'm stuck here, and nobody answers through the app they're asking guests to use. I've never stayed anywhere so appalling.

The room has a traditional feel, with tatami flooring, a futon, and even a mini tub. The toilet is pretty small, though. Getting there from ikebukuro station takes a while, and the walk can be rough if you're not used to walking or you're carrying heavy luggage 😂