cyashitsu ryokan asakusa — Hotel in Tokyo

tl;dr - They have single-handedly and forever raised the bar for hospitality. Just book this place. You will not regret it.

Cyashitsu Ryokan Asakusa was my first ryokan ever, and getting there was a bit of an adventure. My JR Pass didn't cover either of the nearby transit stations, which turned out to be my one and only complaint about this place. It's hardly their fault, though, so I won't hold it against them.

The location was excellent - 10/10. The hotel is just a few blocks from the picturesque Sensoji Temple with its stunning architecture, 5-story pagoda, and Akamise shopping street. There were several 7-11s nearby (meaning cash was easy to obtain at their ATMs), and there was even a Don Quijote - one of the most fascinating and eclectic discount stores I have ever visited.

When I first arrived at the ryokan proper, I didn't actually recognize it. It looked more like a cozy bar with a tasteful garden out front than a hotel. So I walked right past it, assuming that Google maps had once again taken me off on some mad adventure. (It does that sometimes in Japan)

Fortunately, a gentleman wearing tasteful, traditional Japanese garb stepped outside and called out to me by name. (They were apparently awaiting my arrival.) He introduced himself as Dan and guided me in. Rather than taking my passport and my money, as is the norm when first arriving at a hotel, he sat me down at the bar and poured me a cup of Green Tea.

The interior was an oasis of quiet, calm, and peace - as if the hustle and bustle of the 6th largest city in the world wasn't literally right outside the door. Dan spoke to me like an old friend - asking how my travel was and where I was planning to go. He seemed to genuinely care about my well-being.

A few cups of tea and some nice conversation later, Dan introduced me to Hana, who taught me some of the history of Japanese hospitality, described the design aesthetic of the Ryokan, and kindly walked me through some Japanese etiquette to use in the area (especially at restaurants). Which was great! Nobody wants to be that gaijin who offends all the locals with their ignorance.

Hana then led me to a luxurious footbath which smelled of Cypress and other organics, where I cleansed my feet before being taken to my room, which had an attached open-air bath with an elegant little garden and a gorgeous view of Tokyo tower. It was cozy, comforting, and absolutely beautiful.

After that, Hana offered to help me find a place to eat. Unfortunately, I did not take her up on that offer because I already had a reservation at Ninja Akasaka (highly recommend, btw!), but other guests described the staff not only helping them find nice restaurants in the area, but helping them book over the phone and, in some cases, even walking them to the restaurant.

That night, the private bath was deeply relaxing, and the futon was profoundly comfortable. I'll never understand how, but I got some of the best sleep of my life at this place, despite sleeping on a thin mattress on the floor. I guess we still have a few things to learn here in the U.S....

The next morning, I was served a meticulously prepared traditional Japanese breakfast by Yoko, who proved no less warm and friendly than Dan or Hana. It was delightfully varied, with flavors ranging from egg to miso soup to salmon, all of which were delicious.

Because of their treatment, I felt completely comfortable asking Yoko, Dan, and Hana all of my questions on how to handle Japanese culture and etiquette, which proved invaluable during my trip.

The end result was that Cyashitsu Ryokan Asakusa felt less like a hotel and more like a home. I have never been more relaxed or felt more welcomed by any business than I did during my stay here.

They've effectively ruined me. Now that I've been here, the bar for hospitality has been raised so high that no western hotel I visit will ever be able to measure up to what I've discovered at this quiet, quaint little ryokan in Asakusa.

So stop reading my review and book a night already! You won't regret it....

A very small boutique hotel hidden 5 minutes walk away from the busy tourist area, and not the typical hotel you expect, would recommend booking early. Excellent customer service, when you arrive they serve welcome tea and traditional Japanese sweet treat whilst they process the check in. A good introduction for the concept of the hotel which is tea house and minimalism. Shoes are required to be removed after reception area. They also bring you to your room and the room is first a tea house with table only and space to sit and will later be transformed into bed room with the futon whilst you are out for dinner. Booked the room in the top floor which includes an open air bath and the view of Tokyo skytree, perfect for a hot bath soak after a long tourist day in Asakusa however it is slightly chilly and was raining that evening. Traditional breakfast is also served which was great experience. Toilet is located next to the room which is slightly inconvenient as there is also a public open air bath on the same floor for the other hotel guests right next door to our room and can hear when people walk in and out there till midnight. The room is slightly dark even with lights on at night. In addition to the usual shower gel shampoo conditioner, they also provide cleansing oil, face care items, razor, comb etc. They also provide yukata, a Japanese wear and the staff explain how to wear it. Sleeping on a futon is also a new experience for me. Traditional Japanese breakfast is served on another floor in a private room. Overall lovely friendly staff, service...

I stayed in this ryokan with my partner for 7 nights and it was an unforgettable experience! Not only was the ryokan absolutely lovely - the staff was extremely friendly and polite, genuinely some of the nicest people on Earth.

The breakfast was delicious and we looked forward to it everyday, and the open air bath on the sixth floor with a view of the skytree was super relaxing and a perfect way to end our day. We even got to use it on the winter solstice, and the yuzu in the bath was so magical. The cold weather and the hot bath was an amazing experience.

The rooms were spacious and beautifully designed, definitely perfect if you want to experience a cultural stay in Asakusa. The amenities were well-stocked and it was always clean. The location was really convenient, it was close to the station and extremely close to Sensoji, which is a lovely area bustling with local shops, foods and of course the gorgeous shrine. There’s also a 24/7 laundromat right next to the hotel so you don’t have to worry about doing your laundry.

The staff again were SUPER helpful, I forgot my shoes there and they really helped me get them back. They also went out of their way to help us find the laundromat nearby and took us to a non-pork ramen restaurant nearby and even told the chef about our dietary restrictions.

We had the omakase and it was delicious, definitely the best meal we had in Japan in the two weeks we were there. The chef was lovely and polite.

Overall, the best hotel experience we’ve ever had! We’ll definitely be returning here next time...