Edo Sakura — Hotel in Tokyo

I booked here primarily because it was among the cheapest options in Tokyo with pretty much any decent hotel going for over $200 per night. I actually realised later that this hotel is owned by the same company as the Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura in Kyoto but this did not factor into the decision making. ||The location is a bit to the North of the main attractions in Tokyo but the Iriya Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line is relatively close and makes things fairly convenient.||The rooms were a better fare than what I experienced in Kyoto with the room being larger and there actually being a viable seating area for three alongside the small table. The futons felt more comfortable as well as the blankets being thicker and softer though the pillows were a bit flat. The rooms still had some issues with general upkeep as there were a number of black marks and stains on the walls and cabinet paneling. Also the door here locks automatically after closing.||The bathroom here was a bit wider than the previous ryokan but still fairly compact in size and critically, there was still an issue of the wall being too close to the toilet and the vanity area not having sufficient space. The shower was fine in terms of water pressure and size.||I didn't try the breakfast either morning I was there but I assume it was similar to what I experienced in Kyoto. The internet here was also noticeably better.||My rating here is largely based on the pricing of the hotel which while cheaper than the alternatives, is still fairly high. I just don't think it's quite up to ryokan quality but I would say it's better than the one I stayed at in Kyoto although the price drags down...

We stayed here for 5 nights and the best part of our stay was the excellent hospitality. All the staff were so warm, welcoming and helpful. The place is tucked in a quiet neighbourhood near a convenience store and two izakayas. It's a 10 min stroll to Iriya train station and is one stop away from Ueno train station. We stayed in the Deluxe room. It was little bigger than the standard room and was spacious enough for us to leave everything open, i.e., we didn't need to fold our futon beds in order to open our luggage and vice-versa, and walk around comfortably. The futon beds were comfortable (there are 2 layers to it!), even though you are sleeping on the floor. The down feather blankets certainly kept us warm during winter. There was a small garden next to the room, which we enjoyed too. Breakfast selection is small and you have to pre-order the night before. But there are Japanese and Western options and the food was delicious. It tasted like a hearty and cozy home-cooked meal. You can also request for the staff to help you with your laundry for a small fee, but you have to inform them ahead of time as there is only 1 washing machine and dryer each. We attended a tea ceremony that is part of our stay too (this has to be pre-booked btw). It was such a lovely experience and was a good introduction to Japanese Tea Ceremony. TDLR: The Edo Sakura is conveniently located near a train station and a convenience store, is in a quiet and safe neighbourhood, and the rooms are cozy and comfortable. 10/10...

We booked a Japanese style room for 10 nights here. We could not have found a better base for our Tokyo exploring. The entire staff became like friends during the week. Any question we had about transportation, nearby restaurants or things we needed for our room were taken care of quickly and honestly. ||I wasn't sure what to expect with our room since we were sleeping on mats on the floor in our Japanese style room. After a few minutes of lying down I realized I needed an extra mat and pillows to be comfortable. A call to the desk later and they were delivered to our room with no problems. ||The breakfasts you can purchase are well done and prepared individually. We had breakfast here about 4-5 times during our stay. We also took advantage of their ofuro (hot bath) for 500 yen for 40 minutes. It was so nice to soak in the hot water at the end of a long day of walking.||The hotel is on a quiet street off the main road but within a 2 minute walk of a convenience store where we purchased bottled water, snacks and even some meals. It is within walking distance of Iriya and Uguisidani Metro stations. ||If we are ever in Tokyo again we will definitely stay here, I can't recommend it highly enough. ||Yoko and Toshi were extremely helpful during our stay, going out of their way to make us comfortable. A plus for foreign travelers is most of their staff speaks outstanding English as our Japanese is very...