Sotetsu Fresa Inn Ochanomizu Jimbocho — Hotel in Tokyo

Stopped in Tokyo for a few days on my way out of Japan after a conference. Having gotten back into tourist mode, I negotiated the Tokyo subway to this place with a giant suitcases. It's easy to find, within walking distance from Awajicho Station and (as the same suggests) Ochanomizu Station and Jimbocho Station (last is closest, first is easiest to get to from Tokyo Station).||||The staff was friendly and helpful on check-in. As with my previous hotels on this trip in Japan (and South Korea), the room was tiny, but at this point I expect that. It comes with plugs and attachments, which was convenient for all my devices, an in-room refrigerator (make sure this is turned on before you use it—the switch is inside), and free WiFi that is fairly fast. The bathroom is small but roomy enough for basics. The shower is this odd standing-room tub that I've encountered in Japan before. I could not for the life of me figure out how to adjust the temperature on the shower and just got lucky that by default it was already perfect for me. Room is warm by default, as elsewhere in Asia, but the wall thermostat directly controls the A/C unit.||||A word about the A/C unit: while running, it makes a periodic swishing noise that, when you're lying in the bed, sounds exactly like feet being dragged over carpet and you swear it's coming from inside the room. In a dark, quiet room when you're tired from travel and halfway around the world from home, this can be absolutely terrifying. However, it's just something inside the A/C.||||As far as location, there are a lot of good restaurants on the nearby streets, and the Little Mermaid, which is part of the hotel, serves a decent assortment of bakes goods for breakfast (cash only—I don't remember if you can get breakfast included as part of your reservation). It's about a mile walk to the Imperial palace park and so very convenient to locations in central Chiyoda. My first night I walked to Tokyo tower and the next day to the Imperial Palace Gardens. You can walk further afield to, say, Chuo or Shibuya, but with all the subway stations around, those provide easy access, too.||||All in all, it was a comfortable stay in a convenient location. I just wish I'd known ahead of time that the A/C unit sounded like someone lurking under the bed to murder me. I spent one sleepless night under the covers to figure this out for you. ...

Stopped in Tokyo for a few days on my way out of Japan after a conference. Having gotten back into tourist mode, I negotiated the Tokyo subway to this place with a giant suitcases. It's easy to find, within walking distance from Awajicho Station and (as the same suggests) Ochanomizu Station and Jimbocho Station (last is closest, first is easiest to get to from Tokyo Station).||||The staff was friendly and helpful on check-in. As with my previous hotels on this trip in Japan (and South Korea), the room was tiny, but at this point I expect that. It comes with plugs and attachments, which was convenient for all my devices, an in-room refrigerator (make sure this is turned on before you use it—the switch is inside), and free WiFi that is fairly fast. The bathroom is small but roomy enough for basics. The shower is this odd standing-room tub that I've encountered in Japan before. I could not for the life of me figure out how to adjust the temperature on the shower and just got lucky that by default it was already perfect for me. Room is warm by default, as elsewhere in Asia, but the wall thermostat directly controls the A/C unit.||||A word about the A/C unit: while running, it makes a periodic swishing noise that, when you're lying in the bed, sounds exactly like feet being dragged over carpet and you swear it's coming from inside the room. In a dark, quiet room when you're tired from travel and halfway around the world from home, this can be absolutely terrifying. However, it's just something inside the A/C.||||As far as location, there are a lot of good restaurants on the nearby streets, and the Little Mermaid, which is part of the hotel, serves a decent assortment of bakes goods for breakfast (cash only—I don't remember if you can get breakfast included as part of your reservation). It's about a mile walk to the Imperial palace park and so very convenient to locations in central Chiyoda. My first night I walked to Tokyo tower and the next day to the Imperial Palace Gardens. You can walk further afield to, say, Chuo or Shibuya, but with all the subway stations around, those provide easy access, too.||||All in all, it was a comfortable stay in a convenient location. I just wish I'd known ahead of time that the A/C unit sounded like someone lurking under the bed to murder me. I spent one sleepless night under the covers to figure this out for you. ...

I traveled to Tokyo Japan and stayed in this wonderful hotel. I have nothing bad to say about this hotel or the wonderful staff who run it. Every single person who ran this hotel was super friendly. Probably the nicest people I have ever met. They always say hi and bye when you leave, even if you ran in again because you forgot something in your room. Attached to this hotel is the little mermaid cafe where I had my breakfast every morning (around $6 a day). You get 5 total of either donuts, pastries or breads, and a small yogurt on the side and unlimited coffee/tea. About a 1 minute walk from the hotel just down at the end of the road is Jimbocho Station where this metro connects you to multiple other cities to take via the train. I suggest getting a suica card which is very easy to retrieve once down in the subway. You just go to the machine where is shows the pink PASMO sign (IC card) and create a new one and add cash to the machine and it will spit out your card. I spent a little under $50 total for 9 days when using the subway everyday. I saved a lot of money this way rather than getting the JR rail pass for $350 for 7 days (but if you are headed out to Kyoto then I suggest you get the JR Rail pass as its about $260 to Kyoto on the bullet train). I could go on and on about how much I loved Tokyo but I will say you must try the steak and pizza at Seafood Diner Fingers just down the street as well as trying to get to Cafe Gram in Harajuku to try out there amazing fluffy pancakes. Akihabara was also a blast! Make sure to carry your passport with you as there are a lot of tax free shops but require your passport if you want to save a little money. Enjoy this place,...