Residential Hotel B: CONTE Asakusa

As its name implies, this hotel works quite well for long-stay guests looking for modern digs in a fairly prime location. With the atmosphere of a contemporary apartment building, and in-room features meant to make stays as independent as possible, the hotel is geared for those in town for a while, though it's a handy place for tourists to stay as well. It has views of Tokyo Skytree from its upper floors, but the street is closed in by other buildings that block views from lower floors. The small lobby, with large-tile gray floors, blond wood, and a recessed ceiling that's accented by a wall section of rough-cut stone and highlighted for full effect. Opposite the front desk is a floating-style staircase that adds to the hotel's overall modern vibe, though don't come here expecting a bevy of hotel-like services or much in the way of socializing -- there's no common areas aside from the lobby and everyone generally keeps to themselves.

Residential Hotel B: Conte Asakusa is on a narrow, cobbled street, across from the complex housing the historic Senso-ji Temple. It's a five-minute walk to the temple, and the area around the hotel has plenty of restaurants, bars, and supermarkets within walking distance. The hotel is near good transportation links -- it's a seven-minute walk to Asakusa Station and an eight-minute walk to Tawaramachi Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Lines. Tokyo Skytree, a skyscraper with fabulous views of the city, is 11-minutes away by metro, and it's 30 minutes by metro to the famous Shibuya crossing. Haneda Airport is about a 27-minute drive away, or 52-minutes away by metro, and Narita International Airport is a little more than an hour away by car, or 68-minutes via high-speed rail.

The 46 studios and suites at the Residential Hotel B: Conte Asakusa are a sharp and modern option for a just few nights or several weeks. All have white-and-black decor with light-wood furniture and beige carpets, while a bit of colorful floral art hangs on the walls in most rooms. The wood-floor entryways pack in a washer/dryer in an alcove alongside kitchenettes with mid-size fridges, microwaves, and electric stovetops. They're also fully stocked with dishware, utensils, and small appliances like rice cookers, toasters, and electric kettles. The studios have carpeted bedrooms with Serta mattresses and 32-inch flat-screen TVs, along with iPod docks and free Wi-Fi. All units have work desks with ergonomic roller chairs. Most of the black-tiled bathrooms have walk-in showers, though Suites and some Studios have separate soaking tubs. Suites add dining tables and living rooms with couches, coffee tables, and larger 40-inch flat-screen TVs. Housekeeping is available on daily, weekly, or monthly schedules, depending on the rate.

Consisting of largely self-catering apartments, the building has no typical hotel facilities, but breakfast is available (for a fee) at a cafe next door. The menu consists of mostly French items like croque-monsieurs and baguette sandwiches. Numerous items can be rented from the front desk (some for an extra fee), including air cleaners, humidifiers, folding tables, coffeemakers, additional cooking equipment, and bicycles. Concierge services are provided, which can include reservations for tours, restaurants, taxis, and limousines, but keep in mind that the front desk isn't staffed around the clock. There's also a bilingual information hotline for guests. Laundry services are available -- laundry can be left at the front desk or picked up. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.