APA Hotel Asakusa Shin Okachimachi Ekimae

"We stayed at this hotel in Tokyo for a week and had a good overall experience. The location is excellent — not far from Ueno Station and with a metro stop literally around the corner. There are plenty of convenience stores, a large supermarket, and many cafes within walking distance, which made everything very easy and accessible.\n\nThe staff were pleasant and helpful throughout our stay. We booked a Double Room, which was extremely compact — even by Tokyo standards — but the space was well organized and thoughtfully laid out to make the most of it.\n\nThe entire hotel is very compact, with minimal common areas. There’s no lounge, gym, or other facilities — just a small lobby with two seats. That’s something to be aware of if you’re looking for a place to relax outside your room.\n\nOverall, it was a good stay for what it is: a simple, efficient place to sleep and explore the city from. Just keep in mind the very limited space when booking."

"I wish I could give this hotel a negative rating. The only advantage is its convenient location, but I’m confident there are many other hotels nearby that offer the same access with far better quality and service.\n\nHere are the main issues we faced:\n• Room Size: The double room (11 m²) was unbelievably small — suitable for just one person with a small carry-on. As a couple with 2–4 pieces of luggage, we could barely move around. It made the stay quite uncomfortable.\n• Breakfast: Honestly, the breakfast was awful. It came with a fixed menu that was bland and unappetising. The staff member in charge was visibly irritated and not approachable. While I respect local culture, it’s reasonable to expect someone with basic English skills in a hospitality role — I couldn’t even ask to warm my tea. After the first morning, I requested to cancel the breakfast for the rest of our stay, but they refused.\n• Elevators: During peak hours (especially between 9–10 a.m.), waiting for the elevator took 4–10 minutes, and it was often too full to get in. On our last day, it took me 10 minutes just to catch a lift.\n• Cleanliness in Common Areas: Housekeeping left rubbish bags piled up in the hallways during morning hours, which created an unpleasant smell. Not something you expect in a decent hotel.\n• Amenities: There was no safe in the room, which felt like a basic security oversight.\n• In-Room Literature: Each room had a book written by the hotel president, Fumiko Motoya, titled “The Secret of APA Hotels.” Frankly, I’m not sure what “secret” she’s referring to. It should be retitled “How to Overcharge Guests for Tiny Rooms and Serve Terrible Breakfasts.”\n\nOverall, my stay at this hotel can be summed up in one word: rubbish. I would definitely not recommend it to anyone."

"Clean, professional staff, so close to the Oeda line subway entrances which will take you to the main Yamanote line. I loved my stay and I can't wait to return! Thank you for making my trip to Japan so easy! I will definitely stay here again!"