Tokyo Travel Forum

Hi I'm heading to Tokyo in June with my husband and would like to stay in a budget hotel priced like Toyoko Inn. Could anyone recommend me a hotel within walking distance to a JR station along the Keisei-Ueno line preferable nearer the Ueno end in the city? I don't like the idea of changing trains when on hurry back to the airport.

Oops adding to the post, I'm looking at around US$75 per King or Double room.. I'm not sure if King sized rooms are available, and if rates are per person or per room or per night?

Have you been to Tokyo before? I'm wondering why you would want to stay around Ueno... I find the Skyliner inconvenient for any area I want to go to. I usually use the Friendly Limousine Bus (which picks up from hotels)service or take the NEX. If you insist on Ueno, however, and you want cheap, then you can't beat:
http://www.superhotel.co.jp/en/s_hotels/ueno.html

Your criteria, King size room, don't apply to Japanese hotels. Hotels usually charge per person, and the number of beds in a room, single or double. If you expect any more you will have to go to a large International hotel chain, and you should expect to pay a lot more.

If you really want my advice to have a nice stay, try my current favourite hotel - Park Hotel Shiodome - or across the street, the basic business hotel - Villa Fontaine Shiodome.

Keep in mind that any money you save on a hotel will wind up being spent on transportation to and from that hotel. The cheaper a hotel is the further away from the "it" areas it will be. The Shiodome area is great for tourists as there is a lot to do within WALKING distance.

Thanks all for the links, I'll look into them in a little bit, meanwhile replies to you:

Pupulainen:
King sized because Japanese rooms are tinier than usual, we'll have plenty of luggage because we're arriving from yet another country. I try to spend as little $ on accommodation as possible because I'm spending the rest of the $ on shopping, sightseeing, food and maybe a little on pachinko.

SfumatoPants:
I've been to Tokyo once before, when I had a little pocket of time between flights, instead of counting wall tiles in the airport we decided to hit town for a few hours so took the Skyliner to Ueno and walked around the park, shops, and stuff. I thought Ueno is a good location because it's within close proximity to Asakusa and other city areas. Trying to keep travel back to airport in one mode of transport. When I did Hokkaido, rushing here and there and switching trains was a nightmare. I plan to buy the multiple day JR ticket for unlimited travel I don't know if they still have it. Also trying to spend as little $ on accommodation as possible because all I'm going to do there is sleep and shower. Rather spend the $ on food, shopping, and roaming around. If not on a budget or time limit I'd chosen to stay near Harajuku :D

If it's shopping you want (I had a feeling) then you would want to be in Shiodome. Ginza is walkable as is Tokyo Midtown. Ginza is the current (as in right now) "in" spot for ladies on the shopping prowl. With the arrival of midtown, the area is going through a resurgence from the older ladies who do lunch set, to the younger hipper office professional set. This is a result of Roppongi hills reaching 5 years (the leases ran out and no one wanted to renew) and boredom with Omoetsosando (Harajuku). Just FYI.

Your Right, Ueno is a great location with lots of local shopping and resturants and easy train access. I stayed at the Ueno Terminal Hotel (http://www.jpny.com/2005/reserve.htm). Its an average business hotel but very clean and reasonably priced.

I'll be staying at Tokiwa hotel during my two-day stop over in Tokyo. I can't tell you what the hotel is like since I haven't stayed there yet, but the location right next to Nippori station seems to be super convenient for my short stay in Tokyo. http://www.tokiwahotel.com/access/index_e.htm