Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel

Fumiya Yamada san deserves a special thank you. We weren't familiar with how to book a two-way bus ticket to kusatsu, and he patiently helped us sort it all out. It took more than two hours, and his patience was remarkable. The room for two, with two twin beds, was a reasonable size and clean. The breakfast spread was good, too, and guests could get tea and coffee daily, plus free pastries from 8-10pm. The laundry room on L2 has two washers and two dryers, each costing 300yen for 30mins, so have 100 yen coins ready. The hotel has been the place I've wanted to stay in tokyo on many visits, though it's a hotcake. It's near the 'over the top' pancake too, and within walking distance of sensoji temple and other things. I'll definitely stay again next time.

The breakfast room was pleasant and the staff there were nice, but it was tiny for the number of people, and the buffet food was all cold, even the things that should have been warm. The front desk staff were polite, though not very friendly. We asked twice for restaurant recommendations: one was a dingy place that wasn't open, and the other was a horrible spot across the street. My husband and I stayed three nights. I liked the location, and although the rooms were small, they were laid out well. The nightly sweets were a nice touch, except once when everything on the tray was frozen.

The neighborhood was walkable, though it was my least favorite of the four areas where we stayed. The lobby was nice, and the room was a good size by Japanese standards. The bathroom was decent and the linens were clean, but the room smelled fishy and the walls were visibly dirty.

The stylish entrance and lobby make a good impression, and the staff are helpful and nice. You get a late-night snack from 8-10pm. Metro A is right next door, but it may not take you to the popular tourist stops; for Shibuya, you'll need to walk about 10 minutes to metro G. Good value for the money, much better than APA for sure.