Departure06868915383
Family · November 20256/10
This will be a very fair and balanced review of Dai-ichi Hotel Ryogoku, the good and not so good. Location was perfect for our needs. The Oedo subway line is right outside the front door. A leisurely ...This will be a very fair and balanced review of Dai-ichi Hotel Ryogoku, the good and not so good. Location was perfect for our needs. The Oedo subway line is right outside the front door. A leisurely five minute walk gets you to Ryogoku Station with the Sobu (local/yellow) train line (which connects with the, all important, Yamanote loop green line train at Akihabara station).
Dai-ichi Ryogoku is well appointed with fairly spacious, comfortable, well maintained rooms. On the 18th floor there is a room with a microwave and several vending machines for snacks and drinks. There are several restaurants which are overpriced and a cafe on the first floor. There is also a 7 Eleven connected by a side entrance. Based on our experience, eating like locals buying from 7 Eleven is the best option for fast breakfast and late night snacks. Though this 7 Eleven closes at 11pm.
Some of the downsides to Dai-ichi Hotel Ryogoku are. You have no choice of whether your room has air-con or heating. That is determined by the front desk for the entire hotel. They do not give an announcement as to which will be on. Over the course of our week long stay, it was air-con some nights and heating on other nights. You can control whichever is on by selecting OFF, LOW, MEDIUM or HIGH on a control panel.
If you like very firm beds (as we do) you will sleep well, except. The pillows are way to flat and not comfortable on the neck.
Our room, specifically, triggered allergic reactions every day of our stay. Not sure if it was caused by unclean air-con/heating filters, stuffing in the pillows, unclean carpet or drapes, etc. We also smelled cigarette smoke one night after returning from a day of touring. We never figured out where the smell came from, because the room is a non-smoking room. We always had the Do Not Disturb sign on our door and did not have our room made up for our privacy but we suspect that someone entered our room and smoked. Thankfully, the room is furnished with an air purifier.
One night, we intended to eat in the cafe on the first floor but when we entered, we were told the whole cafe was reserved for a company group ONLY. The problem with that is the following.
1. These people were not guests of the hotel. They came in on a bus.
2. Hotel guests were denied access to a hotel restaurant.
3. Three quarters of the cafe was empty.
4. There were two couples eating in the cafe away from the company group.
5. They would not let us (hotel guests) order food take out.
Despite Dai-ichi Hotel Ryogoku having some shortcomings, our overall stay was pleasant but we will look elsewhere for our next visit.Show More
