If you only stay in ordinary hotels in Japan, you miss part of the experience. If you want to experience authentic traditional Japanese culture, we recommend staying at a traditional Japanese inn, known as a ryokan. It offers tatami-mat rooms and shared baths, and guests wear yukata to suit the atmosphere. Ryokan are generally more expensive than ordinary hotels. This time we looked for ryokan in the capital, Tokyo, most of which are clustered in old town areas that still keep an old-fashioned Japanese feel, such as Asakusa. We focused on ryokan with a good atmosphere and reasonable prices, so that anyone who wants a different kind of stay and a real taste of Japan can afford it.
1. Ryokan Asakusa Shigetsu
Ryokan Asakusa Shigetsu has stylish decor and is located in Asakusa. It's easy to reach: just 5 minutes' walk from Asakusa Station and about 5 minutes' walk from Tawaramachi subway station. It's also close to popular attractions such as Sensoji Temple, Nakamise-dori, and the Asakusa area. The ryokan has 22 rooms in total and offers plenty of amenities, including a flat-screen TV, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a heater, free yukata, and a travel guide, plus various activities for guests to enjoy. A highlight not to be missed is the onsen on the 6th floor, where guests can relax while enjoying beautiful views and the night lights at the same time.
Price
Japanese-style room for 1-2 people.
Access
- Take the Keisei Line from Narita Airport to Ueno Station (about 60 minutes), then walk about 10 minutes.
- From Haneda Airport, take a taxi (about 30 minutes).
- Take the Keihin Kyuko Line to Asakusa Station, then a taxi for about 10 minutes.
2. Kimi Ryokan
Kimi Ryokan is a Japanese-style business hotel with an old-warehouse design. Guests who are sensitive to cigarette smoke can relax, since every room here is non-smoking. It's located near JR Ikebukuro Station, about 6 minutes' walk away, and it's not far from popular shopping areas such as Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, and Ueno. Flowers are arranged in several spots inside. The rooms are decorated in traditional Japanese style with tatami mats and futon bedding. It may be a little inconvenient that rooms don't have a private bathroom, but the shared bathrooms are unusually well designed and are one of the highlights of this ryokan. It also offers basic amenities such as air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, Wi-Fi, a free internet corner, a refrigerator, a microwave, and coin-operated laundry.
Price
Japanese-style room for 1-2 people.
Access
- From Ikebukuro Station (JR Yamanote Line), about 6 minutes on foot, or 3 minutes by taxi.
- From Ikebukuro Station (Tobu Tojo Line, Seibu Ikebukuro Line, Tokyo Metro lines), West Exit, about 6 minutes on foot.
3. Sakura Ryokan
Sakura Ryokan has a simple, traditional Japanese style. It's located in the Iriya area, near Asakusa and Ueno, about 5 minutes' walk from Iriya Station on the subway, and it's easy to reach many attractions around Tokyo from here. The ryokan has 17 rooms in total, both Japanese-style and Western-style. The owner takes care of guests personally, giving the place a warm, homely atmosphere. There's a good-sized onsen, and rooms are available with either a shared bathroom or a private bathroom. Other amenities include a flat-screen TV, air conditioning, coin-operated laundry, free Wi-Fi in every room, facilities for guests with disabilities, free tea, linens, yukata, and slippers for use in the room. This makes it another good-value option, comfortable and affordable for both leisure and business travel.
Price
Japanese-style room for 1-2 people.
Access
- From Iriya Station, about 5 minutes on foot.
- From Tawaramachi Station, about 20 minutes on foot, or 6 minutes by taxi.
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4. Ryokan Asakusa Mikawaya Honten
Ryokan Asakusa Mikawaya Honten is a small ryokan with charming decor, located near Sensoji Temple, right along Nakamise-dori. It's easy to reach: just 2 minutes' walk from Asakusa Station and about 5 minutes' walk from Tawaramachi subway station. It's not far from popular attractions and shopping spots, and you can walk over to take night-view photos of Sensoji Temple comfortably, without the crowds. It offers 15 rooms in total. Although the rooms are small and simply decorated, they are very clean, and every room has a bathroom with a bathtub. It is also fully equipped, with laundry service, mail service, a fireplace, luggage storage, Wi-Fi in public areas, non-smoking rooms, air conditioning, a heater, a writing desk, and relaxing massage service.
Price
Japanese-style room for 1-2 people.
Access
- From Asakusa Station (Ginza Line), about 3 minutes on foot.
- From Tobu Asakusa Station, about 3 minutes on foot.
- From Tawaramachi Station, about 5 minutes on foot.
5. Ryokan Fuji
Ryokan Fuji is an authentic Japanese house-style inn in Edogawa, near the relaxed Sun Road shopping street. It has just 6 rooms in total. Although it's a small ryokan, it has everything you need, including a bathroom with a bathtub, a refrigerator, a tea and coffee maker, free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV, air conditioning, a safe, and coin-operated laundry. Importantly, the entire property is non-smoking. There's also a relaxed dining room. The staff are attentive, and they can communicate fluently in English.
Price
Japanese-style room for 1-3 people.
Access
From JR Shin-Koiwa Station, South Exit, you'll see the Sun Road shopping street on the left side of the station. After passing two traffic lights, turn left at the corner by the liquor and drinks shop, and the ryokan will be on your right. Alternatively, take a taxi (about 10-15 minutes). The distance from the station to the ryokan is about 3 kilometers.
6. Andon Ryokan
Andon Ryokan stands out with its modern exterior and contemporary Japanese interior, seamlessly blending modern style with Japanese character. It's located near Minowa subway station, about 5 minutes on foot, and not far from several major attractions. It's a 5-story building with 24 rooms. The atmosphere is relaxed and quiet, and the staff are attentive, giving a homely feeling. It is fully equipped, with a TV, a DVD player, free Wi-Fi in every room, non-smoking rooms, air conditioning, a heater, luggage storage, bicycle rental, and laundry service. There are also activities for guests to enjoy on various occasions, such as folding paper cranes (origami) during the Tanabata festival.
Price
Japanese-style room for 1-2 people.
Access
- From Minowa Station, about 3 minutes on foot.
- From Minami-Senju Station, about 6 minutes on foot.