Toyoko Inn Yashio Ekimae

“Affordable Base for Exploring Tokyo”

I stayed at this hotel for four days while on holiday in Japan, and it served as my base for exploring Tokyo. As usual, I’ll divide my review into different sections. Location: The hotel is a bit outside central Tokyo, which means you need to take a train to reach the main areas. However, this is … more

I stayed at this hotel for four days while on holiday in Japan, and it served as my base for exploring Tokyo. As usual, I’ll divide my review into different sections. Location: The hotel is a bit outside central Tokyo, which means you need to take a train to reach the main areas. However, this is not really a problem — transport costs are very low (around €1 to €3 per trip), and the trains are extremely fast and efficient. In fact, the proximity to the station is excellent, just about a 1–2 minute walk. The surrounding area is also very convenient, with plenty of infrastructure such as local restaurants, international fast food options, and large supermarkets, offering a wide variety of choices. Overall, the slightly more distant location is more than compensated by the significantly lower price compared to hotels in central Tokyo. Cleanliness and Staff: Nothing negative to point out here. The hotel is clean, well maintained, and housekeeping is done daily to a good standard. Overall, the environment feels hygienic and well cared for. The staff are friendly and helpful. The only downside, for me, is the communication barrier — very few staff members speak English, which means you often have to rely on translation apps. This makes interactions a bit less personal. Rooms: For Japanese standards, the rooms are actually quite spacious — at least the one I stayed in, which was a pleasant surprise. They are not particularly modern and feel a bit outdated, but they are comfortable and functional. For the purpose of the trip, the room worked perfectly well. Breakfast: Breakfast was included, but this was probably the weakest aspect of the stay. The selection is very limited and heavily Japanese-style (e.g., rice and fish in the morning), which can be challenging if you prefer a more Western or vegetarian-oriented breakfast. Another issue was the lack of space — especially on the first day, there were not enough seats for all guests. Additionally, the quantity of food available is limited. Even arriving early, after about 30 minutes certain items such as bread or pastries would run out and were either not replenished or only restocked very slowly and in small quantities. Overall: Despite some drawbacks, especially regarding breakfast and communication, the value for money is excellent. Considering how much more expensive it would be to stay in central Tokyo, this hotel offers a very good balance between cost, comfort, and accessibility. I would definitely consider staying here again for the same purpose.

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