Taito Ryokan

Taito Ryokan is a charming Japanese-style house, located on the corner of a residential street. The two-story facade is quite simple with traditional details like wooden balconies and sliding screen doors. Inside, the rustic interiors feature wooden floorboards and ceilings, sliding-screen doors, bamboo blinds, paper lanterns, and a narrow wooden staircase. Built in 1950 and renovated in 2011, the floorboards are noticeably worn, but the house has a cozy, intimate atmosphere. The small lounge is lined with tatami mats, and walls are covered in tourist posters, notices, and brochures. This traditional-style inn appeals to budget travelers looking for a place to stay with an authentic atmosphere rather than a generic hotel. 

Taito Ryokan Tokyo is located in a residential area, surrounded by homes and small businesses like restaurants, shops, and hotels. Senso-ji Temple is a few minutes' walk away. Tawaramachi subway station is a three-minute walk away, located on the Ginza line with direct access to the Ginza and Shibuya districts.

• Three-minute walk to Tawaramachi subway station
• Nine-minute walk to Senso-ji temple
• Seven minutes to Ueno station by public transit
• 15 minutes to Ueno Park by public transit
• 18 minutes to Ginza by public transit
• 20 minutes to Tokyo station by public transit
• 30 minutes to Tokyo Imperial Palace by public transit
• 37 minutes to Shibuya by public transit
• 44 minutes to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden by public transit
• 46 minutes to Meiji Shrine by public transit
• 48 minutes to Tokyo Haneda International Airport by public transit
• 57 minutes to Narita International Airport by public transit

The guest rooms at Taito Ryokan are decorated in the rustic, traditional style found in ryokans (traditional inns) across Japan. Floors are covered in tatami mats, and beds are made up of thin futon mattresses that are folded up during the day. Rooms are minimalist and tend to be small, and some don't have windows. Bamboo blinds and paper lampshades are other traditional details, and furniture is limited to low wooden tables. Some of the bigger rooms have cupboards to store the futons during the day, while street-facing rooms on the second floor have balconies. Rooms do not have en-suite bathrooms, but shared facilities are located in the hallway. Also, apart from air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi, the rooms have no other amenities (no TVs), and towels and robes are not provided, which is unusual for a ryokan. Other downsides include thin walls and poor soundproofing, plus the Wi-Fi connection can be weak in some rooms.  

There is no breakfast service on offer at Taito Ryokan, but free coffee and tea as well as a microwave oven are available in the common room. Here guests can also watch television, read a book from the small library, or play one of the video games. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the entire building, but use of the computer connected to the Internet is charged extra. A laundry machine is available for guest use, and bicycles can be rented for free (with payment of a deposit). There's also a small courtyard garden.