ZAITO Tokyo Chitose Economy Inn

The location is pleasant and residential, with three stations not too far away, and the hosts were quick to respond and share useful information. The economy-tel also had a good range of useful things: a kettle, towels, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, sponge, dish soap, hand soap, a shared rooftop washing machine, umbrellas, a luggage scale, and a microwave. The microwave is outside on the first floor, which might not suit everyone. The main issue was other guests. The walls and roof are thin wood, so conversations next door and rain on the roof are easy to hear. Earplugs were provided, but some very rude guests kept loudly talking from 10pm to 1am, and I didn’t sleep at all. There’s a rule about keeping noise down after 10pm, but they ignored it. Light sleepers may want to think twice. It’s also a tight fit in places. There’s no elevator, and the stairs, toilet, and shower room are quite narrow, which could be a hassle for taller or wider guests. I still felt fairly content with my stay, though I wish I could give the place five stars because the establishment itself deserves them. The rude guests brought the rating down.

The room was small, and the facilities were decent, with a fridge, stove, and oven. There’s no TV or air conditioning in the living room. Kinshicho Station is more than a 12-15 minute walk, so the location won’t work for everyone. A 7-Eleven is right across the street.

We were happy there wasn’t room service. Our second-floor room was better than expected and looked nicer than the photos, with a good amount of space for a Japanese hotel. It’s recently renovated and practical, though the ceiling is a little low. I also appreciated the proper desk and chair for working. Morishita station is only a three-minute walk away, where two lines meet, so getting around Tokyo is easy. I actually prefer it to staying on the Yamanote line.

I gave up and stayed somewhere else, and didn’t get a refund. Apparently an actual room exists, so maybe it wasn’t a total scam, but it sure felt like one at the time. This was my only bad experience in Japan. Getting the key was like an escape room puzzle. We spent 15 minutes trying to work out the steps to release it. Why not use a simple lockbox with a four-digit code? The host didn’t answer my calls. Then I went up in a tiny, narrow elevator I didn’t trust, even though I usually trust elevators. On the floor I’d been told to go to, there was only one door, and its number didn’t match the key. When I tried the key, it wouldn’t open the door. I stayed here some time ago and still remember how difficult and confusing the check-in was. I wondered if the whole thing was a scam.