GRIDS Tokyo-Asakusabashi — Hotel in Tokyo

In short, the hostel has become a cheap one for foreigners without Japanese standards of service. Don't get me wrong, I have been to Japan many times, and stayed in many of this level of hostels across the whole country.

Not long after the hostel just opened, I booked a room in 2017. The experience was excellent, especially the coffee sold in the lobby was surprisingly good. In February 2019, I stayed here for the second time, the facility and service were still pretty good, but the coffee did not taste as good as before.

This is the third time I have stayed here, the worst one, sort of.

The hostel sent me a link to the "pre check in" one day before. There's a must-filled item: the body temperature. Sorry, I don't know, and only know I don't have a fever, further, I don't want to lie by filling in a normal number of body temperature. So I decided to overlook the "pre check in" procedure, and expect a normal check in. However, when I arrived, the front desk staff just pointed to a QR code and asked me to scan, fill and check in by myself, the exact webpage jumping out.

The staff said I could measure the temperature when walk in. Aha, if I already walked in, it is still a "pre" check in?

OK, then, at least I could know my body temperature now. But I need to authorize that some website could access my cellphone camera to take the picture of my passport.

The hostel already has my information through booking. I'm here, why not just measure my temperature, photocopy my passport? Why I need to submit my information again to a third party website?

The whole procedure was virtually longer than normal. I feel uncomfortable.

The staff said it is because of COVID-19. Well, I traveled from the Kansai area to Hokkaido back to Tokyo in one month, stayed in at least 7 hotels/hostels, from 3000 JPY to 45000 JPY per night, and have never encountered such check in procedure. Usually fill a form with basic information, and photocopy my passport, (which is a requirement, but in other hotels, the staff will gently ask "do you mind I take a photo copy of your passport?", here no such thing).

If it is for the precaution of COVID-19, how about the table in the common room on the 10th floor? There is no screen on the table. Occasionally, I shared it with another guest, and we were trying to not face each other directly. The staff didn't tell me the 10th floor when he explained the facility. I have stayed here twice before, so I know there it is. He just emphasized that it will be 2000 JPY fine for losing a key card, and so on.

I mentioned I have been here 2 or 3 times before COVID-19. In other hostels and restaurants, the staff were all very happy for having a return guest, and one waitress even gave me a small gift. Here, I got a facial expression of "so what?".

The past three years have been quite tough for everyone, especially for the hotels and restaurants. So this time I tried to revisit them to show my support and appreciation. Well, it could be that my expectations are too high, because I did have a good experience and finished the last chapter of one of my books on the 10th floor, I am glad to know it still opens after COVID-19......Anyway, this is my last stop during this trip of Japan and I'm disappointed.

The facility is showing the signs of aging. To compare, another hostel I have stayed in surprisingly renewed its facility. Quilt is quite thin. No towels, if I remember rightly, you need pay for them.

Probably because I showed my disappointment, the staff never again greeted me (I don't remember if he greeted me when I first walked in) , even face to face.

PS: after I submitted my review, I looked through others. I found the most 1, 2 star reviews written in the last year. Well, I am not alone feeling this...

Friendly and very clean.

This hostel is really convenient because it has 2 Family Mart in less than 2 min and a JR train by 5 minutes. Good restaurants are also nearby.

Rooms are a but tiny when you have big luggage but you can still manage to put them under your bed.

I am tall (6'1/1,82cm). The lenght of the bed was perfect. At first the mattress is a bit hard then you get used to it.

There is only one bathroom and three toilets per floor but it wasn't that of a big deal as everybody is really quick (we know we can't stay longer since there is only one shower).

The breakfast is good, ok for certain persons. There is enough. It starts at 7am and ends at 10am. Bread, mini pancakes, slice of orange, sausages, boiled eggs, potatoe salad, viennoiseries, milk, cereals, tea and coffee.

Staffs here are so friendly! Don't hesitate to ask them questions about the area or Tokyo.

I think that's all 😊

I met great...

I booked the hostel for two nights. Everything went perfectly well.

The staff is very friendly and for those who don't speak Japanese: don't worry, you can converse in English too!

The rooms and lavatories were very clean and pretty so there's not a single thing to complain about.

Breakfast is included in the price and you can drink water for free at any time, so that's a plus too.

Another great thing about this hostel is its location. To get to Asakusabashi station, you only have to walk for three minutes. If you want to go to Akihabara station by foot, it's going to take 10.

If you need a convenience store or a pharmacy, you only have to go around a corner or two.

All in all, I'd recommend going there to anyone looking for a place to sleep in a good location. You really get a lot for very little money!

If I come to Tokyo again, I'll definitely...