Located a few blocks from Ueno Station, the Ueno Hotel is a comfortable LITTLE place to use as base camp for Tokyo travels. Ms. Kae, Ms. Guo and Ms. Takana checked me in quick and friendly. Clean and comfortable, the brightly lit lobby has tables and chairs where one can sit and have complimentary coffee, green tea and/or water. For those of us who love ice in our drinks, a container of cubes is kept on the counter. A self-serve breakfast is available for a fee, but I didn't try it.
The room has a mini refrigerator with 2 complimentary bottles of water.
Amenities in the bathroom include a packaged toothbrush and tiny tube of toothpaste. Robes and slippers are supplied for use during your stay.
Without sounding gross, I have to say my favorite bathroom amenity was the 'washlet', otherwise known as a bidet! Throughout the property, soft harp music plays. There are also those famous Japanese vending machines on each of its 13 floors.
The Uneo Hotel is situated very conveniently to LOTS of shopping, dining and transportation options. Asakusa, Nakamise, Kappabashi, Ameyayokocho and Akihabara are all great for purchasing a HUGE variety of items. I ended up with THREE Sukajan jackets (the satin ones with embroidered items on them; dragons, koi, tigers)
Very basic, the Ueno Hotel is a great place to stay if you don't need/want all the bells and whistles of some fancy chain.
For a fee, early check in/late check out is available.
I plan to re-visit this hotel for when I take another trip on the Shinkansen. I'll get a good night's sleep and then hop down the street to travel - well rested - on another bullet train adventure!
