Hotels near Korakuen Station, Tokyo

This was my first trip to Japan — I loved the country and its people — but I was disappointed with this hotel and will not return. I hesitated before writing, but decided to share my experience because this property was first on my list and the reception staff’s behavior was very disappointing. I have worked in hospitality and am certain the situation could have been handled promptly and professionally. We traveled together (two colleagues) and stayed in room 611 from June 29 to July 3. The room is indeed small, which we knew in advance: two beds with a narrow passage between them — that’s essentially the whole room. The room had all essentials: clean bedding, good towels, a kettle, an air purifier, etc. My suitcase only fit on the bed; my colleague kept her backpack on the pouf. The hotel’s location is excellent — we reached it from the airport by metro without problems. Ueno Park and the zoo are within easy walking distance. We also really liked the breakfast — friendly staff and tasty food. Unfortunately, on July 2 my colleague discovered that dollars were missing from her backpack. We are certain the money was there on June 30, since she took part of it with her on a walk that day. We thoroughly rechecked the room (I found a surprising amount of dust under the bed, though the room appeared clean overall). My colleague, who speaks excellent English, reported the theft to reception at about 18:00. She was told the hotel has no cameras and that housekeeping had already left. We provided the exact amount missing and our dates of stay. We did not make a scene or demand compensation, but we did expect a professional response: to check who cleaned the room on the relevant dates and to contact the housekeeping team. I ask hotel management to investigate: room 611, housekeeping dates 30.06, 01.07, and 02.07, and the exact amount missing (in US dollars) are all known. Taking these simple steps would help restore the hotel’s reputation and demonstrate true guest care. We stayed in two other hotels during our trip and experienced nothing like this elsewhere. This incident has not changed our positive impression of Japan and its people, but it has changed our view of this particular hotel — we will not return. Advice to future guests: be vigilant with cash and valuables, and be aware that the reception at this hotel may not provide adequate assistance. 今回が初めての日本旅行で、国や人々には非常に好印象を持ちましたが、このホテルには失望し、再訪は考えていません。投稿を迷いましたが、最初に候補に挙げていた宿であること、そしてフロントスタッフの対応に強く失望したため、体験を共有することにしました。私はホテル業界での勤務経験があり、本件は迅速かつ専門的に対処できたはずだと確信しています。 私たちは同僚と2名で滞在し、611号室に6月29日から7月3日まで宿泊しました。部屋は確かに小さく、事前に承知していました：ベッドが2つあり、その間の通路が狭いという間取りです。室内には必要最低限が揃っていました：清潔な寝具、良質なタオル、電気ポット、空気清浄機など。私のスーツケースはベッドの上にしか置けず、同僚はリュックをオットマンに置いていました。立地は非常に良く、空港から地下鉄で問題なく到着でき、上野公園や動物園へも徒歩圏内でした。朝食はスタッフの対応が親切で、料理も美味しかったです。 しかしながら、7月2日に同僚がリュックから現金（米ドル）が無くなっていることに気付きました。6月30日時点では確かに所持しており、一部はその日の散歩に持って出ていたため、消失時期は特定できます。私たちは室内を念入りに確認し（ベッド下に意外なほどのホコリがありましたが、見た目は概ね清潔でした）、同僚は英語が堪能なため、午後6時頃にフロントへ報告しました。フロントからは監視カメラは無いこと、ハウスキーピング（清掃担当）は既に退勤したと告げられました。私たちは消失金額と滞在日を伝えました。騒ぎ立てたり補償を要求したりはしていませんが、プロとしての対応――該当日に誰が清掃を担当したか確認し、ハウスキーピングと連絡を取ること――を期待していました。 ホテル運営側には調査をお願いしたいです：611号室、清掃日 6月30日、7月1日、7月2日、および消失した正確な金額（米ドル）が確認できます。これらの基本的な確認を行うことで、ホテルの評判回復とゲストへの誠実な対応を示すことができるはずです。 私たちは旅行中に他の2つのホテルにも滞在しましたが、同様の経験はありませんでした。この出来事は日本と日本人に対する私たちの好印象を損なうものではありませんが、この特定のホテルに対する評価を大きく下げる結果となりました。再訪はしません。 今後このホテルに泊まる方への助言：現金や貴重品には十分ご注意ください。万が一の際、こちらのホテルのフロントから十分な支援が得られない可能性があります。

[HOSHINOYA Tokyo: A Vertical Ryokan Experience] HOSHINOYA Tokyo offers a truly unique concept. It is a traditional Japanese ryokan built vertically within a modern skyscraper, located in the prestigious Otemachi district. It provides a serene, luxurious escape right in the middle of the bustling city, perfectly blending classic ryokan hospitality with world-class modern design. We enjoyed a wonderful three-day, two-night stay at the property from 29 May to 31 May. We chose not to make any meal reservations, which gave us the flexibility to simply relax and explore the surrounding city. [Getting There] We travelled from Fufu Hakone via a day trip to Enoshima and Kamakura. We took a direct train from Kamakura to Tokyo Station, followed by a short walk to the hotel, and arrived at around 8:00 PM. To make the transit completely effortless, our luggage was picked up and delivered directly to the hotel by LuggAgent on the same day. [Arrival and Check-In] The hotel is situated in the central business district and distinctly stands out from the surrounding buildings. The discreet entrance completely shields you from the busy streets. Upon entering, staff immediately store your shoes, as the entire tatami-matted building operates on a barefoot or socks-only policy. We were incredibly lucky to catch a traditional jap instrument performance, which is usually reserved for weekends. A designated staff member managed our check-in with welcome snack & tea and escorted us to level 15. A major highlight is the exclusive lounge on each floor, shared by only 6 suites. It functions as a private living room, fully stocked with complimentary seasonal teas, coffees, and traditional snacks. [The Suite] We stayed in the Sakura suite. Rather than trying to describe the beautiful layout in words, I will let my photos speak for themselves. The beds are low to the floor with a mid-level hardness that we found quite comfortable, and each bed comes with two soft pillows. There is also a television cleverly hidden behind a mirror, though it is worth noting that it only broadcasts Japanese channels. We kept it switched off to maintain the consistent traditional ryokan feel. The provided yukata is absolutely superb. It comes as a full set complete with an inner layer, an outer layer, socks, and a small handbag. The material is soft, stretchy, and incredibly comfortable for lounging and walking around the property. [The Top-Floor Onsen] Having a natural hot spring in central Tokyo is a rare luxury. The onsen is located on the 17th floor and features a stunning design where the roof is open to the sky. As cameras are strictly prohibited, you will have to visualise it or check the hotel website for gallery photos. I understand that the bath is a salty hot spring containing a high concentration of seawater and seaweed minerals trapped deep in the ground. Soaking in this soothing water gently embraces the skin and helps alleviate fatigue in both body and mind. The onsen is open daily from 3:00 PM to 11:30 AM. It was the absolute perfect way to warm up and recharge before we headed out for a busy day. [Areas for Improvement] Toothbrush Set: The provided toothbrush is far too small and takes ages to use. I strongly recommend bringing your own.

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!

• 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.

Location is located in Ameyoko market, not far away from Ueno station and Okachimachi station. Public bath is in 12F with open hours 15:00 to 10:00. There is the sauna in Public bath. Hotel offer Ice bar/cream for the guests after bathing in Comic room next to Public bath. Hotel-made ramen is available every night from 21:30 to 23:00, which I did not try because I do not use to take late meal after dinner. Breakfast is great.

While this hotel has a convenient location, the experience was ruined by a lack of basic hospitality and very cramped quarters. The room was so small it was difficult to even open two large suitcases. More disappointing, however, was the staff’s attitude. Everything is followed strictly 'by the book' with zero flexibility. I was told a late check-out would be charged by the hour, and even a simple request for a complimentary bottle of water was flatly denied. The staff were condescending and never offered a smile, making for a very unwelcoming environment. A small gesture like a bottle of water costs almost nothing but earns customer loyalty; unfortunately, this hotel chooses rigid rules over guest satisfaction. I would not recommend staying here.

Comfortable one-night stay at Shinjuku Granbell Hotel — great location and clean, modern rooms. One useful tip for anyone driving: there’s parking available nearby that you can either reserve in advance for around ¥2,000 per night, or just drive in without a reservation and pay by the hour (rates around ¥1,700 for 8 hours at the lot near the hotel). Made it really convenient for our road trip stop before heading north. Would recommend for travelers exploring Shinjuku by car.

Good price for a capsule within walking distance of a JR station that reaches ikebukuro and Shinjuku pretty fast. Even has an onsen and sauna! Has a chill area to read manga and buy beer also. Staff also friendly and speaks English which is good to not get lost Only downside is the baggage area is quite messy and feels a bit dirty

This hotel is super convenient with a great location. The rooms are spacious, comfortable, and clean. It's a shame that the front desk staff were unfriendly! That's the most annoying part, especially since it was my first stay and I just wanted to ask a simple question. The two Japanese staff members seemed particularly annoyed and impolite. They even took my suitcase without asking me first.

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.