Tokyo Guest House toco. — Hotel in Tokyo

The perfect final stop during my trip to Japan, and a MUST for anyone considering — Guest House Toco in Ueno district. A cozy bar where locals from around the area gather, and through the back door is the entrance to the garden and guest rooms.

I made friends with a regular at the bar. We chatted over sake for hours about American vs Japanese politics, films, language & culture. We were the last people there before closing. He promised to treat me to dinner and to take me to a sumo wrestling match the next time I’m in Tokyo.

I was woken this morning to the calming sound of birds chirping and pots rattling faintly in the kitchen. Turns out, the kind staff were making me breakfast — rice balls, brown rice tea, and miso soup. It was delicious.

While eating, I became friends with many of the staff members. We shared laughs as I talked about my experience at the maid cafes and idol concert. Never in all my travels have I met a more friendly staff than the ones at Toco. If you’re looking to meet some genuinely great people, look no further than here.

Toco, I learned, was once a factory manufacturing glass lenses. When an earthquake struck Tokyo in 2001, the surrounding buildings in the area had collapsed — yet this building survived without a scratch. In 2010, it became the Toco guesthouse that I’m at today.

There is an old Confucius phrase that goes, “有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎？In English, it translates as “Isn’t it great to have friends from afar?” Toco’s warm atmosphere and wonderful guests/staff perfectly encapsulate everything about this way of living.

I can’t think of a better place to serve as the endpoint of my experience in Japan. A trip that, when I think about it, has been defined by the wonderful people I’ve met. Before drinking our final sips of sake, my new friend and I both cheered “KANPAI” to Toco, the once eye-glass factory now turned hostel, the sole building that survived a disaster, the place that brought...

This hostel offers a unique opportunity to stay in an old Japanese traditional house, something you don’t often find in the city. From the entrance of the alley, the building doesn’t really stand out, so you might easily pass by without noticing it. But once you step through the main gate, you’ll find a few tables and a small reception area.

When I visited, there happened to be a local youth event going on, which made the atmosphere even more lively. There was also a Korean staff member who was very kind and helpful in Korean, even recommending great nearby restaurants—which made exploring the neighborhood extra enjoyable.

As with most traditional Japanese houses, insulation isn’t great, and because of the wooden floors, you can hear footsteps or even small conversations from the hallway quite clearly. It might wake you up at night, but this is also part of the authentic experience of staying in such a house.

One of my favorite parts of the stay was the garden with old trees spreading freely across the yard. At first it seemed a bit unkempt, but as I walked through, I noticed small paths made with stones set into the ground. On a nice day, just sitting there and listening to the wind brought a real sense of peace and calm.

For comfort, each bed has conveniently placed power outlets, and with the curtain closed you can relax in your own little private space—perfect for watching YouTube or just unwinding.

Another highlight was the simple yet heartfelt breakfast. They served onigiri and miso soup—nothing fancy, but it felt like a real Japanese breakfast, the kind people would actually eat at home, rather than something designed just for travelers. It added an authentic touch to...

I have no words to describe this place. Everything is more than amazing. I have stayed here twice and have nothing to complain about. It is a japanese traditional house with a cute little garden that makes it even more beautiful. The house is in really good conditions and they have all the services one would expect to find in a guest house. It is a few minutes away from Ueno station and next to Iriya station.

Home made japanese breakfast which consists of some rice balls (different flavours everyday), tea and miso soup. It is really good and not expensive at all. You should give it a try.

They have a bar in the entrance where you get a free drink every night. After a long day visiting the city you can chill out there for a while and get to meet really awesome people from around the world. Also many locals come there to have fun.

I believe the people that run the place and the locals that visit the bar made the best of my stay there. They are so good, kind, warm and funny that really make you feel as if you were at home. From the very first moment you realize how nice people they are. The atmosphere in this place is amazing. Something that really surprised me was seing young people hanging out with the elder ones (around their 70s). It was a lot of fun and I got to learn many many things from them. Every night was different and better than the previous one. People would teach some basic japanese, recommend places to go or even go out with you and show you the city.

I can say out of a doubt my stay here is one the best memories I have from Japan. I met awesome people I had loads of fun with and I made some great friends I'm still in touch with (some of then have even come to visit...