Houshi-kaikan Hotel

Memo Access to the building is good. Note that the elevator is unavailable between 10:30 PM and 5:00 AM, and you will have to take the stairs at the night entrance up to the 5th floor. Toilets and shower rooms are shared, so be aware of this if it bothers you. There is a water dispenser, so water, hot water, tea, and coffee are available free of charge. Amenities are not individually packaged; they are more like shared items, so be aware of this if it bothers you.

The location is excellent and transportation is very convenient. The male receptionist was helpful. The downsides are that the rooms aren't very soundproof, and the elevator closes after 10:30 PM, so you have to use the stairs next to it to go up.

Come here, you poor souls. If I'm in Tokyo, I'm definitely going here. The restroom isn't bad. The shower isn't bad. The cleanliness isn't bad. The smoking area isn't bad. I highly recommend this, especially if you always arrive late. I had the shower room all to myself. Since everyone was asleep when I arrived late, there wasn't much noise, and I guess I was lucky because I didn't hear any snoring. Good. You have to compromise on certain things because it's cheap (like laundry or other amenities), but everything makes sense given the price. At 110,000 won for a stay from April 14 to 17 (Tuesday to Friday), it seems cheaper than a capsule hotel.

I wouldn't have even considered it in the past, but with hotel prices soaring, this is one of the few reasonably priced hotels available. However, the downside is that the walls are incredibly thin, and if you get a poorly laid-out room, you might be able to hear the TV from the next room at full volume and not be able to sleep. The next day, I went to investigate why it was so noisy and realized that the TV from the next room was placed right above my head, just through the wall to my bed, so I was hearing the sound directly. It seems like they didn't put any soundproofing material between the walls—just a single sheet of wall (lol). Another room, for some reason, had a massage chair for the same price. However, it was only separated from the next room by a sliding door, so again, you could hear the sounds of people blowing their noses and snoring directly from the next room. None of the rooms have refrigerators. Those who are sensitive to noise probably won't be able to sleep. Plus, it's a neighbor lottery.

The rooms aren't spacious, and the shower and toilet are shared, but it's quiet and you can stay there for a reasonable price.

​I recently stayed at Houshi Kaikan for 8 days and overall, I am very satisfied with my experience. ​The Good: First of all, the cleanliness of both the rooms and the shared common areas was excellent. The location is fantastic, especially if you don't mind walking a bit—popular spots like Ueno and Akihabara are within a short walking distance. There is also a train station very close to the hotel, making it incredibly easy to reach most major destinations across the city with just one or two transfers. The surrounding neighborhood has plenty of convenience stores, which is a big plus. I also really appreciated the convenience of being able to grab daily amenities directly from the lobby whenever needed. ​Things to Note: There are a few minor downsides to keep in mind. The walls aren't very soundproof, so noise can easily travel between rooms. Luckily, I didn't encounter any loud or bothersome guests during my stay, so it wasn't an issue for me. Also, the hallway lights stay on, and a bit of light seeps in through the door. If you are someone who needs pitch-black darkness to fall asleep, I highly recommend bringing an eye mask. Lastly, regarding the shared shower area, adding even just one private shower cabin/cubicle would be a huge improvement. ​Overall, despite the minor drawbacks, I had a great stay and would definitely recommend it to travelers looking for a clean, convenient, and well-located base!