Kaminarimon Ryokan — Local services in Tokyo

I rarely write negative reviews, but my experience with Kaminarimon Ryokan was deeply disappointing given the circumstances.

This trip to Japan was incredibly special — I was reuniting with son who joined the military only a year ago and I had not seen him in over a year. Unfortunately, my flight from Washington, DC to Tokyo was delayed due to the airline. What should have been a 15-hour trip turned into a grueling 38-hour journey, including 12 hours stranded in Toronto waiting for a rescheduled flight. My son, traveling from Okinawa, also had to rebook his flight at personal cost. This delay cost us the only two days we had planned together in Tokyo and several prepaid events we were looking forward to.

I explained all of this to the hotel, sent them my flight details, and explained that after nearly two days in transit, we would be exhausted and had decided to stay closer to the airport to meet my son as soon as he landed and continue with our itinerary from there. I asked for compassion and requested at least a partial refund of the cancellation fee. They decided to charge 100%.

While they pointed out that check-in is available 24 hours a day, this completely disregards the physical and emotional toll such a long delay takes — and the fact that the purpose of my visit had shifted because of forces outside my control.

Ryokans are supposed to embody omotenashi — the Japanese spirit of wholehearted hospitality, empathy, and anticipating guests’ needs. Instead of compassion or flexibility, I received a scripted policy response that ignored the exceptional nature of the situation and the personal significance of this trip. I had hoped the hotel recognize the exceptional nature of the delay and the personal significance of this trip and have genuine empathy for the situation, rather than relying on a scripted response.

I’m sure their accommodations are beautiful, but their inability to show compassion or flexibility in a once-in-a-lifetime reunion scenario speaks volumes to me. Sadly, this experience has left me with no desire to stay here in the future. My advice to travelers, especially those with meaningful, time-sensitive trips — know what to expect when booking. The Ryokan we stayed at in Kamakura, by the way, was delightful, going out of their way to accommodate us even after the kitchen closed despite our very...

This ryokan is a must stay. The entrance to Kaminarimon Ryokan is tucked to the side and located on the second floor, creating a quiet environment opposite the bustling streets of Sensoji. The front desk staff were welcoming and spoke both English and Japanese, making us feel right at home from the moment we arrived.||During our two-night stay, we experienced two different rooms. The first night, we stayed in the Seigaiha traditional room, which had both western double full beds and a traditional tatami floor futon room. The room had a full amenities bar, a deep Japanese cypress wood bathtub, and a beautiful view of Sensoji. It was the perfect blend of modern comfort and traditional charm.||On the second night, we stayed in the Sakura room, which was a spacious private top floor suite. It included a western and traditional bedroom, a kitchen, a changing and vanity room, and a private wrap-around balcony with breathtaking views of Sensoji, Tokyo Skytree, and the skyline. Waking up to those views was simply magical.||We also enjoyed both a western breakfast and a traditional Japanese breakfast prepared by the hotel chefs, which were delicious and a great way to start our days.||One of the unique aspects of Kaminarimon Ryokan is that the entire ryokan's decorations are curated by the owner and switched to fit every season, adding a special touch to the ambiance and making each visit feel unique. The attention to detail is truly remarkable.||This was my second time staying at Kaminarimon Ryokan, and each visit leaves me feeling refreshed, calm, and renewed. The tranquility and hospitality here are unmatched. I highly recommend this ryokan to anyone visiting Asakusa. Personally, I can't wait to return and experience the serenity and warmth once again. It's like a home...

I experienced an unforgettable stay at the Kaminarimon Ryokan located in Asakusa. We stayed in the Sakura suite, which is the top level suite on the 7th floor. The suite was spacious and could easily fit 6-8 guests with the western style beds and futons provided.

Highlights: The hotel has rooms in the traditional yet modern japanese style with futons provided if preferred, tatami flooring, and a cedarwood bath. The suite was spacious with an entrance area, western bedroom, full bathroom, toilet room, vanity room, kitchen, living room, and balcony. It was so nice coming back from a busy day to lounge around in the cozy and relaxing space. The view from the Sakura suite was breathtaking. The suite comes with a balcony that wraps around two sides, and with this, you receive the most beautiful view of the city (Sky tree) and the temple. -The breakfast service scheduled at 8:15am was delicious. It was a traditional japanese breakfast prepared by a top chef that left us full and satisfied. The hotel employees were respectful, helpful, and kind. Everytime we entered or exited the lobby, they would greet us with a smile on their face. The ryokan is in the best location possible if your intention is to visit the Sensoji temple and the surrounding areas. Two steps out the hotel front door and you will set foot in front of the temple entrance and small shops. It is also a 3 min walk from the Asakusa station and 1 min walk from all surrounding shops and stores in the area of Asakusa. Overall, the hotel stay was relaxing and convenient. With the beautiful rooms and view, it created a once in a...