[D. Goodnuts]

Sakura Hotel in Ikebukuro (Tokyo)

[Vacancier Permanent]

Thanks for suggesting that hotel, have you stayed there? Can you tell us more about your experience there? How much did they charge? How was the staff? Friendly and knowledgeable?

I also stayed the first 2 nights in Tokyo in Ikebukuro, at Kimi Ryokan. Good experience to stay at a typical J type of accommodation. Staff were friendly, knowledgeable and spoke fluent English. I paid about 50/night. Then, I moved to the Hilton in Shinjuku, which is right in the heart of the action. It's a 5 star, rooms are I'd say big for Japan but smaller than other rooms at top hotels elsewhere, but very adequate for a comfortable stay. There's a free gym and swimming pool as well as a free shuttle from the hotel to the Shinjuku station back and forth leaving every 30 minutes until midnight or so. Normal rate is about 300/night but I got a sweet deal at only 100/night, very worth it.

[D. Goodnuts]

I stayed there for 4 nights...during the earthquake. They are pretty cool and pretty cheap. $80 a night for a single room. It's small but they have heat/ac, a desk, small flat tv, free internet (lan line) window that opens and a refrigerator. It's a step above staying at a hostel and two steps above a love hotel.