Tokyo is fantastic! And not as expensive as everyone says it is if you do it on a budget. You can get cheap food everywhere. It would help a lot if you familiarise yourself with as much Japaneese food as you can before you go there so you know what things are and you don't have to ask too much if you don't speak Japaneese.
Tokyo … We recommend to buy the two-day Metro Pass upon arrival at the airport, which is only 1,000 Yen. In the city you can only buy a one-day pass at 700 Yen. Try to book everything in advance, as hostels here are not used to backpackers just turning up and asking for a room. This will be cheaper too, as reservations for budget rooms go first. Prices range around 7,000 Yen for two people in a small room (everything is Bonsai in Japan). We probably spent about the same as whilst traveling in Australia -- no more! And yes, Japan is one of the most exciting countries we have ever seen.
Ayumi Montly Guesthouse in Tokyo … i stayed in backpackers guesthouse. i enjoyed it there. and staff is very kindly. free internet. i want to say just one word -- perfect and cheap.
Khaosan Tokyo Original in Tokyo … This is a good, convenient place to stay. The place is routinely cleaned. I had a room with a pretty view of the river! There is also a rooftop hangout overlooking the river. There's a very comfortable lounge with books and a TV — 59 channels! Also, this hostel has free Internet access, and a nice kitchen area.
This place is definitely recommended. It is a short walk from the Asakusa station, less than five minutes, and about a five-minute walk to the old town area with the shrines. And you can't beat the price.
Khaosan Tokyo Annex in Tokyo … Only three showers for the males and this is a relatively large hostel. There's a strict no shoes policy and if one person has athlete's foot, the whole place is at risk. The fungus got among here and within days I had a nasty itch. Bring shower shoes and small bags. Like many backpackers in Tokyo, space is a premium. As in several hostels I stayed at in Tokyo, Khaosan did not take bookings over the phone, and even booking on the spot is likely to result in a chaotic bed shifting exercise. Now the good news -- this place is modern and fun. Lots of computers for internet junkies, nice living space, and a constant flow of good people. Count the stars. The complaints are simply an opportunity for improvement.
Sakura Hostel Asakusa in Tokyo … Stayed in this hostel for 3 nights in Aug 2006. I enjoyed staying here, because the hostel is in a really good location; Asakusa is a nice suburb of Tokyo to chill out in. In terms of meeting people, this hostel is reasnoable,its more of a chilled out vibe, don't go expecting a party. Staff speak english. Only drawback, rooms are a bit small. Overall recommended.
bAKpAK Tokyo Hostel in Tokyo … Ok, first the good points. The location is great. It's in a nice, quiet area and it's only about a ten minute walk from the Minowa Subway Station. The lounges are great. The people who work there are very helpful and often have stashes of additional maps. Now, the bad. We stayed in a mixed dorm, which meant one shower for the fourteen people staying on the floor. Also, two friends of one of the employees shower there daily and get ready for the day in the big dorm, twice waking me before eight a.m. They play hiphop music loudly at night in the downstairs area, which drove me nuts after a while. The upstairs lounge area was usually quiet. Though, they have a quite a porn collection in thier video library. This is not a place to bring the kids.
Tokyo Backpackers in Tokyo … I stayed here for 2 nights in August 2006. Its situated in a suburb about 10 mins tube ride from the centre of Tokyo. The hostel is quite small with only about 20 beds in 4 or 5 rooms. Its all very modern and clean, the staff are friendly and speak English. However, there is absolutely no atmosphere in this hostel because it is too small and there is only a tiny commual area with a microwave (no plates/cutlery) and no proper kitchen!! If you want just a cheap room to stay in Tokyo, then it is fine; but if you want to have a good time and meet people then stay somewhere else.
Khaosan Tokyo Ninja in Tokyo … The staff -- super-friendly and helpful! The common room -- huge, casual, full kitchen, sofas, movies, even a karaoke machine. Good place to meet people. Free internet on computers and free Wi-Fi. The cabin beds were unique, that's really all I can say about them. Some may love the additional privacy they afford, but personally I found it a bit like sleeping in a box -- kind of claustrophobic and damp. The location is so-so -- there's nothing much around the area of the hostel itself, but it's convenient for the subway and JR for sightseeing around Tokyo and getting to and from Narita, and only one stop away from Tokyo Station. It does feel a bit institutional at times, as it's so large, but it's a pretty good place to stay overall, and a good base for seeing Tokyo and meeting other travelers.
K's House Tokyo in Tokyo … I stayed in this hostel for a couple of weeks, the facilities are great, among the best facilities in Tokyo (every room is air conditioned, the kitchen is clean, there's free wireless -- though the hostel provided internet PCs are coin operated -- and each toilet has a bidet!), also the staff clean the place only as the Japanese can (very thoroughly). The location is good near a metro station and 7/11, but a bit remote from the centre of Tokyo -- twenty minutes by metro. The reason that I give it only three stars however is because what the hostel has in facilities it lacks in charm, the staff, while very polite and helpful, certainly aren't backpackers. They lied about the fact they have mixed dorms, rather, as I discovered, the rooms are, in reality, male or female only unless there is an overbooking. For a few days while I stayed there was a clearly disturbed Japanese woman who was talking to herself in the lounge all day, but the staff would only pay lip service to the complaints…
Khaosan Tokyo Smile in Tokyo … I had many problems with this hostel and could not recommend it to anyone. First, the person at reception could not give me directions to the hostel to save her life. She told me to find the police station at the subway exit and that they would give me a map. Well the police had no map and had to pull out a street atlas to figure out where the place was. Wtf? How hard is it to give simple directions like "exit the subway at gate x, turn right, cross the bridge, go for y lights, then turn right again and walk a few blocks." I tried to get the reception person to do this and she refused. Second, they had trouble finding my reservation and then tried to overcharge me for the room. I booked the room online at a price of 4600yen, with a deposit up front, leaving a remaining balance of 4150yen. The guy tried to charge me 5000yen, and when I told him no, he made me pull up my email to prove the price of the room. Third, they gave me keys to a room with no mattresses, just bed frames, and…
Yadoya Guesthouse in Tokyo … We were given a tatami room for two and we were three, the linen was grey with age, and the futons really thin and dirty. We had to pay for air con, which had never been mentioned in the emails. Funnier, when you do your laundry the dirty water evacuates on the floor of the bathroom so you have to cross that to go to the toilet. We started looking for somewhere else in front of the guy who didn't give a sh*t when we protested about the room. I had paid before my friend so I had to get my money back. they refunded us 300 (yes I mean three hundred) yen each for the aircon and that's all! The staff obviously never cleans the room because we had to hoover the room ourself and they didn't know about the state of the so called "private room" which is not private since everybody leaves the room door open to try to use the air con from the kitchen. Avoid!
Juyoh Hotel in Tokyo … Juyoh hotel is every backpackers dream. it's inexpensive, extremely clean, and I think is the best place I had ever stayed at traveling with a limited budget. You have free internet (there are five computers), nice living room, and almost every service is free or very cheap. The manager was extremely friendly, he is always willing to solve your doubts and help you in every possible manner. There are two convenient stores right at the corners, and the metro station is really close. Five stars for this excellent place, five stars for the manager, and five stars for the cheap beer they sell!
Homeikan in Tokyo … This is the best place I have ever stayed at! I was amazed by the friendliness of the staff. Everybody was extremely helpful and I really felt at home. Besides that, this ryokan is extremely beautiful. The area is great, it does not feel like you are in Tokyo, which is great after a busy day sightseeing. One hundred times better then a hotel, I am sure!
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