Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
13
Shinjuku Astina Hotel Tokyo
ΞεςΟφϗςϧ౦ژ
1-2-9 Kabukichō, Shinjuku-ku
T
03 3200 0220,
W
bw
-shinjuku.com; Shinjuku station; map pp.118-119.
Part
of the
Best Western
chain, this appealing hotel is proof that
Kabukichō is on the up. The location puts you in the heart of
the action and the executive floor roo
ms sport
particularly
plush designs. Rates include breakfast.
¥20,000
store - the
b
offers a surprising, stylish twist on the dreary
ambience of most business hotels, with funky carpets
leading to rooms decorat
ed with
pleasant colours and
occasional wood panelling.
¥15,000
Metropolitan
ϗςϧϝτϩϙϦλϯ
1-6-1 Nishi-
Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku
T
03 3980 1111,
W
www
.metropolitan.jp; Ikebukuro station; map p.130.
Part of
the
Crowne Plaza
group, Ikebukuro's plushest hotel offers
all the facilities you'd expect, including several restaurants,
a fitness club (¥2100) and limousine bus connections to
Narita Airport. The rooms are comfortable and well priced,
and the hotel
is locate
d on the more interesting west side
of Ikebukuro.
¥27,800
IKEBUKURO AND THE NORTH
The b Ikebukuro
β̱ା
1-39-4 Higashi-Ikebukuro,
Toshima-ku
T
03 3980 1911,
W
www.theb-hotels.com;
Ikebukuro station; map p.130.
Located on the east side
of the station - just down the road from the Bic Camera
RYOKAN AND MINSHUKU
One of the highlights of a visit to Tokyo is staying in a
ryokan
, a traditional inn (see box below).
Minshuku
, the Japanese
equivalent of a bed-and-breakfast, are generally cheaper and more informal, but the same basic rules apply. The majority
of ryokan include two traditional meals - dinner and breakfast - as part of the price; it's usually possible to forgo them
for a cheaper rate, but the meals are usually excellent and form part of the experience.
2500).
A good
alterna
tive if
S
awanoya
(see below) is full.
Single
¥5200
, double
¥8400
Ì
Ryokan Sawanoya
ཱྀؗᖒͷ
2-3-11 Yanaka,
Taitō-ku
T
03 3822 2251,
W
sawanoya.com; Nezu
Station, map p.61.
This welcoming family-run inn is a real
home from home in a very convivial neighbourhood within
walking distance of Ueno Park. Though nothing fancy, it
UENO AND AROUND
Ryokan Katsutarō
ཱྀؗউଠ
4-16-8 Ikenohata,
Taitō-ku
T
03 3821 9808,
W
katsutaro.com; Nezu
station; map p.61.
Handily located within walking
distance of Ueno Park, this homely place has just seven
slightly faded tatami rooms, plus coin laundry and internet
access. They also run a newer annexe in Yanaka (
T
03 3828
STAYING AT A RYOKAN
Staying at a traditional Japanese inn, known as a
ryokan
or
minshuku
, is one of the best
experiences that a trip to Tokyo can throw at you. However, as exotic as these stays may be,
many components can be utterly unfamiliar to Westerners - there are countless ways in which
you may find yourself losing face, and as such it's essential to know what you're getting into
before taking the plunge. However, most Japanese are pretty forgiving, and in many
establishments you'll be handed an English-language printed list of dos and don'ts.
Upon entry, there'll be a row of
slippers
ready for you to change into - wear these at all
times, since bare feet are a no-no in common areas. You'll be ushered to your bedroom,
which will have
tatami
(rice-straw matting) on the floor, and little else beyond a low table,
dresser and a few cushions. At almost all places, you'll be sleeping on futons on the floor -
this may seem alien at first, but most people find them just as comfortable as a bed. The
bedding is stored behind sliding doors during the day, and laid out in the evening. In most
establishments, this is done for you, usually when you're having dinner.
All ryokan provide a
yukata
, a loose cotton robe tied with a belt, and a short jacket in cold
weather. Always wrap the left side of the
yukata
over the right; the opposite way is used to dress
bodies for a funeral. You may wear this to your evening
meal
; these tend to be served early,
at 6 or 7pm, and you may be asked to stipulate a set time on check-in. Smarter ryokan generally
serve meals in your room, while communal dining is the norm in cheaper places. At night, some
ryokan
lock their doors
pretty early, so check before going out - they may let you have a key.
Lastly, all ryokan and most minshuku feature a
traditional Japanese bath
(
furo
), a
luxurious experience with its own set of rules (see p.29). Note that ryokan usually have
separate bathrooms for men and women, while minshuku may only have one bathroom, in
which case there'll either be designated times for males and females, or guests take it in turn.
It's perfectly acceptable for couples and families to bathe together, though there's not usually
a lot of space.
