Hatoya Hotel — Hotel in Tokyo

Well, so let me try to compose what I want to say about this hotel.||First of all, I should start with I had a very nice stay at Hatoya Hotel, but I might warn you that I'm not a person with too much demand. I just wanted a clean, affordable place with privacy in Ikebukuro during my latest visit in Tokyo. And rooms can be very expensive in Tokyo especially if you travel alone, so I was very happy to find this hotel.||I arrived at 10am, and a nice, elderly guy (the owner) was at the receptionist in the small lobby (the hotel does not provide breakfast etc). I checked in, and he said I could only enter my room after 1pm as they're still cleaning up, but he'd bring my stuff to the room. I was glad that he gave me room on the first floor because I brought a big luggage and I gathered that the hotel didn't have elevators. He handed me the key and I left to walk around Ikebukuro until the time I could get into the room.||When I returned, I found no one at the lobby so I went straight to my room. I was very glad because although the room (indeed, the whole building) had this old look and feel, my room was spacious, the bed was large, I had a private bathroom with bathtub, shower, and hot water, and almost everything was provided in the room... let me check: A/C, TV, refrigerator, towels, bathroom amenities, a bottle of water, an electric kettle, a hairdryer, slippers... yep, I found no reason to complain.||The odd thing was, I stayed for three nights there, and although sometimes I heard sounds of people opening and closing doors or passing by the corridor in front of my room, I didn't see anybody else after the guy at the reception on the first day. In fact the reception was always empty at any hour I left or returned to the hotel. I didn't really mind at that time, you see, because I was not really keen on human interactions, being tired with all the business and fun I was having; but come to think of it now, it was indeed slightly strange. Or maybe it's just a matter of timing. Everybody just happened to be somewhere else when I was there. ||There's a phone on the receptionist desk though, with a message that we could use it to phone the staff if there's nobody at the desk. I did once, to ask what should I do if I want to check out early in the morning. The guy said that there'd be a green box on the receptionist desk into which I should just drop my key when I check out. So that's what I did. And that's it... I felt like I was having a several-storey hotel all for myself!||As for locations, it's within walking distance from Ikebukuro station and the bus stop for Haneda- and Narita-bound buses. There are several combinis/stores around the hotel, and there are many eating and drinking places around.||In short, it has been a slightly odd experience, but I gotta say I had a nice stay...

I like:|1) clean big room ( stayed in room 305) with all accessories you need (such as TV, one free bottle of water, towers, table, chair, 4 hangers, strong aircon, nice clean bothroom |2) near Ikebukuro metro C6, after exit, turn left and walk pass 3 street then turn left and short walk straight will bring you to the hotel|3) very friendly and responsive owner -answer my emails, help me to find the printing shop and print out my boarding pass without charges|4) strong free wifi|5) window can open|6) door can lock from inside|7) can pay by credit card without extra charge (I stayed in another hotel near by which charged 5% if pay by credit card) |8) help to receive courier delivery ( I order used CDs online) |9) It is walking distance to JR if you need to take early train to Shinjuku station for Narita express |10) convenient stores near by (ie Lawson cross street) |11) coin laundry shop next to hotel building |12) quiet hotel which I have good sleep||Note below:|1) no lift - I am fine with it. However if you have large luggage, pls ask for first floor room as reception to 1st floor room is only 2 small steps. This hotel has 3 floors. ||2) there are not always have people in reception however there is tell no to call if case you have questions when no one is there, I called one time when check in which owner was cleaning...

If you're used to clean hotels all the way, this one might hurt a bit. Its in Japan, and the Japanese are particular of cleanliness to a clinical level - but this hotel is a bit more normal in that sense. The old lady owner tends to forget about garbage disposal, room cleaning and clean circulating air. So travelers seasoned to 'hotel' culture might be totally aghast at what they might experience.||||Luckily for us, we got a great spacious room by Japanese standards. Very retro, but everything worked - AC, wifi, warm water. We spent five days here and had to remind the owner to get the room cleaned - which she did. The general ambience of the hotel is a bit eerie - I'm not sure if they had other guests at the time since I saw no-one. Hitchcock did pass as a thought, but once inside the room, it was all okay. ||||Close to the Ikebukuro JR station. If you're Indian - theres a couple of nice Indian eat-ins run by Nepalese chefs 2 minutes away. A 7eleven is right...