3-Star Hotels in Tokyo

This hotel is turning out to be my go-to as it is my second time staying there out of my 3 times visiting Tokyo. Very conveniently located, just a short 2 stops away from Tokyo station, and at the mouth of the vibrant and exciting Akihabara Electric Town, it was a cozy home away from home. This time round though, I was assigned a room on the 3rd floor, just off the reception and I was afraid that it would be noisy, but it was well off the main area so it was still fairly well contained. Room was as usual, cozy and comfortable and had a bigger desk area than my previous stay. Walking distance to Aikihabara, and many abd eateries, kobinis, and a minute away to Akihabara Station, really the location takes the cake. Nothing much negative to say, and definitely will be top of the list for subsequent Tokyo visits!

Between 2 metro stations, which should be convenient but if you have luggage and need to take the lift, not really so, because there IS a walk to the specific exit. Even more so if you are from the JR lines at Tokyo Station: it takes 10+minutes. Then again, not bad for Haneda access as there is a direct train 2-3 times per hour? Also walkable to Ginza. They advertise free service/lounge but it really is just a bit extra something near the reception. Arrived less than an hour early and asked if my room is ready: they straight up showed me a calculator of ”2000yen”. Room is regular and size slightly over Tokyo standard.

• located at the furthest exit from the Ikebukuro train station. have to walk about 10-15 minutes to get to the Yamanote line. the surrounding is also filled with a lot of sus shops, with girls standing around at night holding papers and shouting at men. if you’re a female they won’t bother you but if you’re a guy stay safe.  • at night can hear some shouting from the street as well.  • good; have Refa hair dryer, hair wash etc. there’s also a laundry machine, microwave, etc. which was really nice. • space wise, I think that it is very spacious especially for a solo traveller with only one luggage but if you have two, there might not be enough space for you to open your luggage.

The hotel has a fantastic location—just a 5-minute walk from the Keisei Skyliner (Narita airport transfer), a 1-minute walk to the metro, and right opposite Ameyoko market. The room is small but fine for two people; you can fit one 24-inch luggage and a carry-on, but can't open two large suitcases at the same time. They provide 2 bottles of water daily, slippers, and basic bath amenities. What I didn't like was the smelly curtains (though my husband didn't mind, and I've noticed this in other Japanese hotels too) and the room felt a bit dusty, making me cough. On the bright side, the lobby offers a coin laundry, vending machines, free tea/coffee, cookies, and self-serve amenities (combs, bath powder, razors). The staff are lovely, and they offer free luggage storage before check-in and after check-out.

Though small, this hotel has everything you need. Its Ginza location is incredibly convenient, perfect for shopping or quickly getting to Narita Airport via the expressway. What truly impressed me is how many features are packed into such a compact space. They have a coin-operated laundry and a large public bath. The room, which I'd estimate at about 20 square meters, even managed to fit bunk beds (1.2m/1.5m), making it very family-friendly. A minor point is that since the hotel is directly above the subway, you occasionally feel vibrations as trains pass. This led to a funny moment when an actual earthquake hit at night, and I initially thought it was just another train going by!

I always have a soft spot for hotels with hot springs, especially when they have an outdoor section. It's perfect for when you want a quick dip without feeling cooped up if you stay longer. The room size was pretty standard, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a separate hallway leading into the room, which is a nice touch compared to other business hotels. To be honest, the location is just okay. It's a bit of a walk from the station (about 7-8 minutes, mainly because you have to cross the street right outside the subway entrance), so it's not exactly right by the station. It is, however, right in front of an elevated road, but the windows do a decent job with soundproofing. The biggest drawback with this type of hotel is that there's only one elevator, which means you can end up waiting for quite a while.

This is a reasonably priced hotel in Tokyo where you can enjoy a hot spring bath. It's not simply a 'downgrade' alternative to a Dormy Inn; Super Hotel has its own unique charm. While the rooms aren't large, the space is efficiently utilized. You can slide a large suitcase under the bed, which effectively creates a lot more room. You can also choose your own pillow. The room uses a password entry system, so you don't have to worry about losing your key card. The hot bath was very comfortable too. The surrounding area is full of traditional Japanese charm, which is quite interesting. I even had a heated argument with a few elderly 'rebellious' ladies... Of course, Ikebukuro itself has plenty of places to explore. Tobu Duty-Free offers tax-free shopping without any processing fees, and there's often a long queue, likely for Montbell. Personally, I'd recommend the Montbell in Kagoshima, as they have more discounts. From Ikebukuro, you can use your JR pass to visit Kawagoe and Omiya, which are less crowded than Tokyo and also great for exploring.

Centurion Hotel Ueno was a complete disappointment, falling short of basic hospitality standards. The deception started right at check-in: the room was explicitly advertised and booked as a ”Casual Double Bed,” but what we actually received was a cramped single bed. This blatant misrepresentation immediately compromised the comfort of our stay. The lack of care extended into the bathroom, which was a major letdown. The sink and shower area were marred by very bad, visible marks that made the entire space feel neglected and unhygienic. For a hotel that positions itself in a convenient location like Ueno, the absolute disregard for accurate room descriptions and rigorous housekeeping is unacceptable.

Before my arrival, I had to change my reservation due to a personal matter, and the staff were incredibly kind and helpful in processing it. I was also very pleased that they assigned me a good bed upon check-in. The only minor drawback was that the lockers weren't on the same floor, unlike at the Ningyocho branch, which was a bit inconvenient. Other than that, everything else was satisfactory.

Hotel is easy to find but a little bit small. Staff is nice and friendly. They can help me to solve the problem. Thank you.