AKIHABARA NAKAGAWA INN — Local services in Tokyo

This hotel was a letdown at the end of our three-week Japan trip. Despite its convenient location near metro stations and Akihabara, the building was old, with visible stains and constant noise from passing metros. The bedding sheets were old and stiff, the pillows totally not comfortable.

Most disappointed was the not helpful and unfriendly staff, they accusing us of smoking when we reported an alarm issue, despite the fact that we are non-smokers. The lady at the front desk continued to lecture us about smoking outside, even after we clearly explained that we don’t smoke.

We also had booked an extra night last minute and inquired multiple times about the possibility to stay in the same room or checking in earlier in different room, we had to come back every time the next day. There was no effort to accommodate our request or provide a solution. On the last day, the staff questioned the number of guests in our room as there was only 1 person booked for the family room, he rudely suggested that if more people stayed, we’d have to pay extra. Even after explaining that we only needed the room for our luggage and to freshen up before our evening flight, we don’t need any beds as there was even a taxi booked for 6pm, they sarcastically remarked that there is no any room with beds they only have tatami…..

We left the accommodation and the night for what is was and booked another hotel for the day with much beter experience and hospitality.

This was not the way we wanted to end our trip.

Overall, this experience left us disappointed, and we wouldn’t...

Our family of four stayed at this hotel during part of our vacation to Japan. At first, I was on the fence at staying in a traditional Japanese hotel, but after comparing prices, I booked the Akihabara Nakagawa Inn. The hotel is well situated in the side skirts of the Akihabara area within a comfortable walking distance to a handful of metro stations. Along with a Lawson that is caddy corner to the hotel, there are many eateries and convenience stores close by. Our room was on the larger side of a lot of hotel rooms in Japan, but not as spacious at depicted on the website. The room consisted of two areas divided by a sliding screen wall, small entry way for shoes and a bathroom with a bathtub. The room had four foldable futon mats that were not too friendly on the back and a traditional Japanese floor table that we used to hold luggage. Other amenities included toothbrushes, mini fridge, tea set, blow drier, bidet, shampoo, conditioner and body wash. There are no actual curtains in the room, only a tissue paper like sliding screen - mind you the sun comes up around 4 a.m. I will say that the room was exceptionally clean! Albeit very tiny, the restroom was spotless. I really can't find anything wrong with the hotel, it was just too...

Gotta say - I rarely leave bad reviews but after the seventh time violently slamming my head on the sharp bathroom door jam I'm pissed off. They made the doorway to the bathroom a whole 6 inches shorter than the standard universal door frame (used in all the hallways, entrances, main entrance, etc in every building). And they did it for NO REASON AT ALL - there's nothing but drywall above the frame, they could have easily just made it a normal door. I understand the average Japanese person is shorter than the average caucasian, but this is a hotel in Tokyo. Isn't it reasonable to expect that you will get tall caucasian customers in your establishment? Why does the bathroom entrance have to be so comically small? It's easy for a customer to forget, especially when jet lagged in an unfamiliar building. Extremely painful and I have three separate lumps on my head from their decision to design it this way.

Again - it would have cost them NOTHING to just use standard doorframes. Senseless decision for a hotel in a major hub like Tokyo. Wish I picked another hotel.

Furthermore - the bathroom plumbing...