I was in Tokyo for 3 nights in December last year, and was on the lookout for cheap accommodation. I had heard that accommodation in Tokyo could get really expensive, and was checking out hostels, Airbnb, as well as hotels, in order to do a cost-comparison before booking.
This particular hotel was part of the Sotetsu chain of hotels, and was located in Toyocho (on the Tozai line, about 5 stops from the main interchange, Otemachi station). Although it was not close to the main shopping districts of Shibuya and Shinjuku, at least the hotel was a short 2-5min walk from the Toyocho station.
There was a convenience store and a post office near to the hotel, but nothing much else in the vicinity. There was a cafe (Pronto cafe) that is at the front of the hotel, which is also where guests on the breakfast meal plan go to for their breakfast. There was also a Saizeriya (restaurant) in the basement of the hotel, which would be very convenient for guests too lazy to go out in search of food.
The corridor was rather uninspiring and boring, but at least we were on the only floor that had an ice machine, microwave oven, and vending machine (drinks)! Yep, these are common amenities that could only be found on the 4th floor.
Semi-Double Room
As the name of the room suggests, the room was a tight squeeze. The bed was probably the size of a 5-star hotel’s single bed #notkidding. However, this hotel was really cheap for the 3 nights (total of S$272.30, making that S$90/night) that I was in Tokyo, and not too bad location-wise, hence some compromises on space had to be made.
Upon entering the room, there was a really narrow and short corridor, before you arrive at the really cramped bedroom. There was just barely enough space to open up the hand luggages, and I cannot imagine staying here with big check-in luggages. After the spacious rooms in Kyoto, this brought me quickly back to reality :p #Tokyostyle
Some of the amenities provided in the room include:
- Hairdryer
- Bathrobe
- In-room slippers (flimsy ones)
- Toiletries
- TV
- Mini-fridge
- Electric kettle
- Free Wifi
The ensuite bathroom was equally small, and probably about 3/4 of size of the bedroom. There was a small bathtub squeezed into that area, and a removable shower head, which I do prefer compared to a fixed one.
Hotel Facilities
Nothing much to elaborate on, as there was no gym or swimming pool for hotel guests. Unlike Mitsui Garden Shijo in Kyoto, there was no bath-house for guests either.
Overall Impression
A decent budget hotel in Tokyo, although slightly further away from the more popular tourist locations. At least the room was clean and there were no bugs! Wifi was also free and worked quite well. That said, for the price I paid, and for its proximity to the train station, I would consider staying here again.
Ratings out of 10 (10 being the best, 0 being the worst)
Overall Rating: 7
Location: 7 (for its close proximity to Toyocho station, but otherwise not a very convenient place)
Room: 7 (small but comfortable, no-frills accommodation)
Facilities: – (no gym or swimming pool within the hotel)
Staff: 7 (helpful and friendly staff)
Breakfast: – (hotel offers a choice of 6 breakfast sets at the cafe, but we did not have breakfast there throughout our stay)
Sotetsu Fresa Inn Tokyo Toyocho
4-4-3 Toyo, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-0016, Japan
+81-3-3647-2031
Check out their website here.
Trip Itineraries:
Osaka: Day 1 (Universal Studios Japan)
Kyoto: Day 1 (Yuzansou Ryokan)
Kyoto: Day 2 (Fushimi Inari & Arashiyama)
Kyoto: Day 3 (Gion, Nishiki Market, Shinkyogoku Street)
Tokyo: Day 1 (Shinjuku, Roppongi Hills, Ginza)
Tokyo: Day 2 (Tsukiji, Takao-san, Pokemon Centre Tokyo, Ninja Asakusa)
Tokyo: Day 3 (Nihombashi, Ikebukuro, Meiji-jinggu, Harajuku, Shibuya)
Accommodation Reviews:
Exploring the world one place at a time 