Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
13
name, it's the
Daimachi Bekkan
that's the real looker, with
its ancient carpentry and traditional design. There are no
en-suite bathrooms, but all rooms have tatami mats and
look out on an exquisite little Japanese garden. Service is
impeccable, too. The sister establishment across the road,
the Meiji-era
Hon
kan
, is the
only inn in the city that's a listed
cultural property.
¥11,600
Kimi Ryokan
وඒཱྀؗ
2-36-8 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku
T
03 3971 3766,
W
kimi-ryokan.jp; Ikebukuro station;
map p.130.
A great-value institution on Tokyo's budget
scene, and a good place to meet fellow travellers - make
sure you book well ahead. Rooms are compact but clean,
access to a kitchen helps keep eating costs down and staff
are friendly and speak English. There is a 1am curfew, and
the place is a bit
tricky t
of find, i
n the b
ackstreets of west
Ikebukuro. Single
¥4500
, double
¥6500
EBISU, MEGURO AND THE SOUTH
Ryokan Sansuisō
ཱྀؗࢁਫ
2-9-5 Higashi-Gotanda,
Shinagawa-ku
T
03 3441 7475,
W
sansuiso.net;
Gotanda station; map pp.100-101.
This modest ryokan
is beautifully maintained and run by friendly people.
Only a few of the simple tatami rooms have en-suite bath,
and no meals are available. It's a 5min walk from the
station, near the Meguro-gawa - quite convenient, despite
the geographic locat
ion, th
anks to
its loc
ation on the
Yamanote line. Single
¥5500
, double
¥8600
IKEBUKURO AND THE NORTH
Ì
Hōmeikan Daimachi Bekkan
໌ؗொผؗ
5-12-9 Hongō, Bunkyō-ku
T
03 3811 1187,
W
homeikan
.com; Hongō San-chōme or Kasuga stations; see
pp.128-129.
Of the three ryokan under the
Hōmeikan
HOSTELS
Until fairly recently, hostelling in Tokyo meant staying in one of the two municipal-run youth hostels. Now, however,
you can forget about evening curfews and three-night maximum stays, since a glut of excellent privately run hostels have
come on the scene, driving prices down and standards up. The majority are in, or near, the Asakusa area - another plus.
Dormitories tend to be cramped but are kept clean; free wi-fi and 24hr hot water are a given; and most places have
common areas which make good places to socialize.
Ì
Anne Hostel
҇ϗεςϧ
2-21-14 Yanagibashi,
Taitō-ku
T
03 5829 9090,
W
j-hostel.com; Asakusabashi
or Kuramae stations; map p.77.
Now this is a lovely little
place: part hostel, part traditional minshuku (see p.140),
it's tremendously popular with international guests. Most
rooms, even a couple of the dorms, boast tatami
flooring
,
and p
rices in
clude a decent little breakfast. Dorms
¥2600
,
twins
¥6800
Kangaroo Hotel
ΧϯΨϧʔϗςϧ
1-21-11 Nihonzut-
sumi, Taitō-ku
T
03 3872 8573,
W
kangaroohotel.jp;
Minami-Senju station; map p.70.
Although this
contemporary-design, smoke-free place bills itself as a
(“small stay”) hotel the shared bathrooms and kitchen
offer a mix of a hostel and capsule-like environment.
Rates include things like hand towels and slippers, but
it's ¥200 extra for a bath towel. Tiny rooms - both tatami
and Western-styl
e with
beds
- have
a small TV and free
internet. Singles
¥3300
, twins
¥5000
Ì
Khaosan Tokyo Laboratory
ΧΦαϯ౦ژ
ϥϘϥτϦʔ
2-1-4 Nishi-Asakusa, Taitō-ku
T
03 6479
1041,
W
khaosan-tokyo.com; Asakusa station; map
p.70.
The most eye-catching
Khaosan
option - there's nary
a dull surface in sight, with dorms and common areas alike
decorated to within an inch of their lives, mostly along a
retro-futuristic scheme. The “power na
p” area
is a nice
touch, and all rooms are en-suite. Dorms
¥3400
Ì
Khaosan World Asakusa
ΧΦαϯϫʔϧυઙ
3-15-1 Nishi-Asakusa, Taitō-ku
T
03 3843 0153,
W
khaosan-tokyo.com; Asakusa station; map p.70.
The
latest addition to the
Khaosan
empire is a real winner,
with superbly stylish rooms - some are modern twists
on the ryokan concept, while others look almost space-
age. Staff are friendly and informative, and the
dorms
are up t
here with
Tokyo's cheapest sleeps. Dorms
¥2000
,
doubles
¥12,000
Ì
K's House Oasis
έΠζϋεΦΞγε
2-14-10
Asakusa-Nichōme, Taitō-ku
T
03 3844 4447,
W
kshouse
.jp/tokyo-oasis-e; Asakusa station; map p.70.
Not
wanting to be outdone by
Khaosan
in the hostel empire-
building stakes,
K's House
(see below) have opened up
a second branch in Asakusa. It's a real winner, too, with
Zen-like stylings, facilities galore, charming common areas,
comfy
dorm
beds
and en-suite private rooms. Dorms
¥2800
, twins
¥8800
K's House Tokyo
έΠζϋε౦ژ
3-20-10 Kuramae,
Taitō-ku
T
03 5833 0555,
W
kshouse.jp/tokyo-e;
Kuramae station; map p.77.
With a canary yellow exterior,
this spick-and-span hostel just south of Asakusa gets lots
of accolades. There's no shortage of showers and toilets, plus
an attractive lounge
area wit
h a we
ll-equip
ped kitchen and
a roof terrace. Dorms
¥2800
, twins
¥6800
Nui Hostel & Bar Lounge
ψΠϗεςϧόʔϥϯδ
2-14-13 Kuramae, Taitō-ku
T
03 6240 9854,
W
backpackersjapan.co.jp/nui; Kuramae station; map
p.77.
Just 15min on foot from Asakusa, this is an excellent
recent addition to Tokyo's hostel scene. The funky common
area features a bar that's hugely popular with locals,
and a great mingling spot; the pine beds in the
dorms
aren't q
uite as
fancy, but they do the job. Dorms
¥2700
,
doubles
¥6500
