吉月閣 Yoshitsuki Apart Hotel

They only give you one key, which is my main reason for rating the hotel four stars. For a room with more than one guest, I’d expect two keys as standard. Maybe I should have insisted on another. The price is excellent, and the balcony view of the Skytree is a good reason to stay. It’s within walking distance of Senso-ji, in a quiet neighborhood that gives you a sense of everyday Tokyo life. I’d consider staying again, and would change my review to five stars if they change the key policy.

Getting checked in and out was easy: you ring, and a staff member comes. The Google TV was a nice touch, though the screen is rather small. The rooms were among the worst we stayed in during our time in Japan. They didn’t feel clean. It seemed like only the Roomba cleaned the floor, while dirt, stains, and remains from previous guests were left on corners, surfaces, and even the toilet. Finding someone else’s toenails was really unpleasant. The air conditioner is oddly pointed at the balcony’s outside wall. It doesn’t seem to have an inverter, and keeps switching on and off. You can clearly hear it from bed, with the fan working against the balcony. There’s a kitchen, but no tools at all: no plates, cutlery, chopsticks, or drinking glasses, only glasses in the bathroom. We foolishly ordered food. The nearest metro station isn’t close. Bus Line 46 goes to Ueno Station, but it was often crowded, so I’d suggest a taxi if you’re coming with the trolleys.

The room layout is nice, and the bathroom is clean, with a bathtub. There’s a fridge with a freezer, washing machine, stove, robot vacuum cleaner, and a small balcony. The front desk speaks English. My only other gripe is that the balcony has a clothes hanger mount but no pole, so I bought a laundry wire from Daiso. For the price, the rooms are spacious compared with hotels in the same range in Japan, and both the hotel and neighborhood are quiet. There are several convenience stores and groceries nearby. The microwave is in the lobby, and it’s a bit of a walk to the train station, so this may not suit you if you don’t like walking.

The location is the downside, but for the pros it’s super. It’s modern, clean, functional, and a great value. The mattress is soft, the living space is perfect, and the kitchen is wow, though it isn’t equipped.