Tokyo is definitely a must-visit city when you're traveling to Japan! As the capital of the country, there's so much to explore, especially if it's your first time.
But like any big city trip, one of the most important things to sort out is where you're going to stay. Finding a hotel that's comfortable, well-located, and affordable is a top priority for most travelers.
In this article, I want to share my experience staying at a hotel in the Toshima district of Tokyo. Hopefully, this helps anyone who's planning to stay in the area. Let's dive in!
MYSTAYS Higashi Ikebukuro Hotel is situated at 4 Chome-39-13, Higashiikebukuro, Toshima City, Tokyo. While it’s not right in the heart of Tokyo, the hotel is in a convenient spot with easy access to two subway stations: Otsuka Station and Ikebukuro Station.
If you’re coming from Narita Airport (like we did), you can hop on the Skyliner train, which is a fast train connecting Narita Airport to key stations in Tokyo.
From Narita, take the Narita Skyliner to Keisei Ueno Station, which is one of the final stops on the line.
The journey takes about 40-45 minutes. Once you reach Ueno, switch to the JR Yamanote Line and head to Otsuka Station. From there, it's just a 10-minute walk to the hotel.
The hotel is also close to the Sunshine City Shopping and Entertainment Complex, which is only about an eight-minute walk away.
If you're interested in taking the tram I mentioned earlier, the hotel is also near the historic Tokyo Sakura Tram line (Toden Arakawa Line), one of the only two tram lines still running in Tokyo.
I booked my room through the hotel's official website for ¥36,400 for four nights. The booking process was straightforward, and the price was definitely worth it for the facilities we enjoyed during our stay.
For a three-star hotel, the facilities here are really satisfying. The reception area, for instance, is quiet, bright, spacious, and comfortable.
The staff are also very friendly and speak English, which makes things easier for international guests who don’t speak Japanese (like me).
There’s a convenient beverage vending machine near the reception, perfect for grabbing a quick drink.
One of the facilities we really appreciated was the laundry room, which seems to be a common feature in Japanese hotels. It’s quite large, with six washing machines, three dryers, and vending machines for detergent and deodorizer.
The instructions for the machines are in English, although I did need to use Google Lens to translate a few parts. Overall, this facility was incredibly helpful!
We booked a Superior Semi Double (15 m²) - Non-Smoking Room. The room isn’t very big, you could even call it small, but surprisingly, it’s packed with amenities.
We had a semi-double bed, about 122cm x 195cm, which was just the right size for us. Along with that, the room came with the typical amenities you’d expect in a three-star hotel, like a television, hairdryer, electric kettle, cups and tea, and a mini fridge.
What made this room unique were the additional amenities that seem to be more common in Japanese hotels. These included a kimono, microwave, wall lamp, air purifier, and a selection of adapters.
One of the facilities we really appreciated was the microwave. As you might know, Japan is famous for its konbini (convenience stores) that offer a wide variety of ready-to-eat meals, many of which are frozen.
While you can usually use a microwave at the konbini, my husband and I preferred heating our food back in our room, so having a microwave was super handy.
Another interesting feature was the wall-mounted lamp, which is common in Japanese hotels because of the country’s earthquake-prone nature. This lamp can be unplugged and carried if needed during an emergency.
The air conditioning in the room could be adjusted to cool or heat the space, which is a nice touch. For instance, during winter, you can warm up the room using the heater function. We actually tested this out since it was raining and cold during our stay.
Finally, the room also provided adapters and cables for connecting various devices and adjusting the voltage, which was useful for charging our phones and other gadgets.
The bathroom in this room is very compact, but it still includes a bathtub, which is typical for Japanese bathrooms. It's said that Japanese people love soaking, so a bathtub is a must-have feature.
The amenities provided are quite complete, with separate bottles of bath soap, hand soap, shampoo, and conditioner. Additionally, there are two dental kits and a roll of toilet paper.
Just a heads up: hotels in Japan often don’t have staff who clean the guest rooms and replace amenities every day.
If you need cleaning services, there’s usually an extra charge. As for replenishing amenities, you can pick them up yourself at the reception. My husband and I took care of tidying up ourselves every day—no big deal, really.
Staying at Hotel MYSTAYS Higashi Ikebukuro was surprisingly comfortable! This hotel seems like a great choice for travelers looking for affordable accommodation in a convenient location.
Although it’s not in the city center, the easy access to subway stations and its proximity to shopping and entertainment complexes make it quite appealing.
The facilities are very comprehensive too. If you need something that’s not in the room (like an iron), you can borrow it directly from the front desk.
With all these facilities, do you think it's worth it for a three-star hotel that costs around ¥8000 per night?
