Toyoko Inn Tokyo Kamata No.1

This may be the oldest Toyoko-inn, or the first one if I’m remembering right. I’m 5'9 and the bed only just fits me. The room is really small, and so is the lobby. You pick up breakfast there and take it to your room. It’s things like donuts, small croissants, white bread slices, and a little carafe of coffee. There’s no hot rice, miso soup, scrambled eggs, meatballs, and so on. The toaster is a regular one, and once breakfast is gone, it’s gone. There’s a microwave on the 5th floor. The toilet is tiny, and using it would be a struggle if you’re a hefty person. It’s better than a capsule hotel, but only by a little, and the price should reflect that.

It’s cheap, and the man at reception was very helpful, though I’m not sure he speaks English. The rooms were clean and the WiFi reliable. For Haneda airport terminals, there’s a convenient shuttle from Bus stop 0 at the JR Kamata St East Exit. It’s a five-minute walk from the hotel and the ride takes around 20 minutes, for ¥280. The train from Keikyuu Kamata costs ¥250 but involves a longer walk. Be aware that walking from Keikyu Kamata Station is quite a trek, about 20 minutes. Bourbon St is right nearby, though, so there are plenty of bars if you’re around in the evening.

I was really disappointed. The bed was too hard, and the walk from JR Kamata takes about 15 minutes. Breakfast is just a very limited pack of snacks. Also, it’s surprising that the room door has no security chain in this day and age. There’s another chain hotel right by JR Kamata.

The lower price makes sense given the residential location, about a 7-10 minute walk from Kamata JR station. The rooms and service felt much like other Toyoko Inn hotels. Breakfast is only bread and coffee, and there’s no dining area, so you have to take it back to your room.