Tokyo Central Youth Hostel

The strict 11pm to 6am curfew made the stay less enjoyable and disrupted some of my plans. I understand it was set by the building’s private owners rather than hostel management, and I partly blame myself for not checking ahead. Still, I wish the listings had made it clear. I only heard about the curfew by email a few days after booking. On the plus side, the dorms were really clean, the beds comfortable, and the communal bath was great after a long day of travel. The view of Tokyo from the 18th floor was lovely. Staff at the desk were friendly and professional, and did their best to make guests comfortable. I paid about 3,500 yen for one night, which was very good value. The place is clean and well maintained, but the curfew felt unreasonable. It’s a good option if you don’t plan to be out past 11pm.

The building is locked for security from 11pm until 6am the next day, so plan around the curfew. Luggage storage is available from 6am to 11pm. To get into the building for storage, use the underground train station entrance rather than the ground-level entrance. Check-in starts after 3pm. I had a delightful week here. It exceeded my expectations for the affordable price, and Masami and the team were incredibly friendly and helpful. The hostel was clean and well maintained.

The staff are kind, the place is quiet, and people are respectful. I loved almost everything about my stay. The room is spacious, and the bathrooms are big and sparkling clean, with great showers. The toilets are spotless too, with bidets always available, thanks to the staff. There isn’t a table in the room, but you can find one in a common area. Honestly, this is the best place I’ve stayed among hotels and hostels rated three stars or lower. Service in Japan can feel quite different from the rest of the world.

The location is incredible, the city views are great, and everything is super clean. Staff are helpful, and the separated men’s and women’s bathhouses have lovely, very warm water. The showers are great too, with a more Western style. WiFi only works on the 18th floor, though. If you need somewhere to rest, get online, and charge your stuff, this place does the job. The lockers are massive, and you get your own key. I fit both giant backpacks in mine with room to spare. One downside is that there aren’t many foreign guests or backpackers, mostly locals, though they’re nice. If you go to hostels to meet people, that may be a letdown. And oof, the mattresses and pillows are about one DNA strand away from slabs of concrete, but they do the job.