Mustachioventures: Tokyo Accommodations: Oak Hostel Fuji, Hostel Owl Tokyo Nippori, Centurion Ladies Hostel

When choosing an accommodation, the first thing I look at is location. Here are three hostels in very good locations in Tokyo that my friends and I have stayed in...

Oak Hostel Fuji

Sumida-ku Higashi Komagata 2-13-3

Tokyo 130-0005

+81 3 6658 8864

Why stay at Oak Hostel Fuji?

Near Asakusa Station – Asakusa Station (Tobu Railway, Toei Subway, Tokyo Metro, Keisei) is just 550m from Oak Hostel Fuji.
Direct access to Narita Airport (Asakusa Station) – Though Asakusa Station is not served by the Keisei Skyliner, it can still be reached without transfers using the Keisei Access Express (1310 yen, 1 hour 10 minutes).
Direct access to Nikko (Asakusa Station) – From Asakusa Station, Nikko is just 1 hour and 50 minutes away via the Tobu-Nikko Limited Express.
Near subway stations – Honjo-Azumabashi Station (Toei) is a 5-minute walk (450m) away; Asakusa Station (Toei / Tokyo Metro) is a 7-minute walk (550m) away.
Near Asakusa – Senso-ji in Asakusa is just a 10-minute walk from Oak Hostel Fuji.
Near Tokyo Skytree – Tokyo Skytree is just a 15-minute walk from Oak Hostel Fuji.

My friends and I booked Oak Hostel Fuji's Deluxe Group Room. It had two bunk beds, a sofa bed, a hammock, a little sala (where the sofa bed is), refrigerator, electric kettle, full length mirror, rack with hangers, and large lockers. Towels, toothbrush, and cotton set were provided for each occupant. Although it was a private room, it did not have its own toilet and shower. But the shared toilets and shower rooms (separate for each gender) were just on the same floor. The room is on the topmost floor, accessible by elevator. (I think I was too fat for the elevator—it would sound in alarm whenever I'd get on it with my friend. It would only take one of us at a time.)

On the ground floor is the reception area, common room, kitchen, and vending machine.

Deluxe Group Room

Little sala with a sofa bed, hammock, refrigerator, and electric kettle

Bunk beds in the Deluxe Group Room

Dorm beds start at 2,400 yen
Deluxe Group Room (good for 5 persons) 13,000 yen (less if fewer number of people)
Book Oak Hostel Fuji through booking.com

Hotel Owl Tokyo Nippori

Arakawa-ku Higashi Nippori 6-59-3

Tokyo 116-0014

+81 3 6321 0011

Why stay at Hotel Owl Tokyo Nippori?

Near Nippori Station – Nippori Station (JR Railway, Toei Subway, Keisei) is just 400m from Hotel Owl Tokyo Nippori.
Direct access to Narita Airport (Nippori Station) – Nippori Station is one of the two stops of the Keisei Skyliner (2520 yen, 40 minutes).
Near Yanaka – On the other side of the tracks of Nippori Station is Yanaka district, a neighborhood worth exploring for its old town feel.

My friends and I stayed in this hostel a total of five nights. The first two nights in a private 4-person room, the next three nights in the dorm.

We were a group of three, and for the first two nights we booked a private room of 4 capsules with an ensuite shower room (soap and shampoo are provided). This room is on the ground floor. In the private room is a shelf for shoes (slippers are provided), a sink with mirror, and four capsules. Each of the four capsules had space near the wall for small luggage, but only the bottom capsules had a shelf. Each capsule had a light, one power outlet, two hangers, and a curtain for privacy. The room is quite small, but didn't really cause a problem. The shared toilet is just across the hallway.

On the 2nd and 3rd floors (there is an elevator to go to these floors) are the dorm rooms. A dorm room consists of 24 beds. Like the capsules in the private room, each capsule in the dorm had a light, one power outlet, two hangers, a curtain for privacy, and space near the wall for small luggage. The bottom capsules had shelf space, while the upper capsules don't. There is a shelf for shoes when you enter the 24-bed dorm and some space for large luggage. Slippers are provided for each capsule. There are three shower rooms (two of the shower rooms are available from 630am; and one is available 24 hours) and toilets at the far end of the dorm.

Towels can be rented for 200 yen.

On the 4th floor (accessible by stairs from the 3rd floor) are two coin washing machines (200 yen) and two dryers (100 yen per 40 minutes).

On the ground floor is the reception area, common room, two private rooms, and toilets. The common room has a TV, some laptops (for guests to use), a free hot/cold drinks dispenser (apple juice, coffee, tea, water) for guests, and a resident owl—a real owl!

Hotel Owl Tokyo Nippori's resident owl!

Big plus: We were allowed to leave our luggage in the reception area when we had to go to another city in between stays.

Dorm room

Upper capsule

Dorm beds start at 1500 yen
Hotel Owl Tokyo Nippori has a mixed dorm, female only dorm, 4-bed / 6-bed private room with shower but shared toilet
Book Hotel Owl Tokyo Nippori through booking.com

Bonus! For females, especially solo female travelers, who would feel more comfortable staying in an all-female hotel, I found one while searching for a hostel near Ueno...

Centurion Ladies Hostel Ueno Park

Taito-ku Ueno 2-11-13

Tokyo 110-0005

+81 3 6803 0711

Why stay at Centurion Ladies Hostel Ueno Park?

Safety for female travelers – For female travelers who feel safer in all-female hostels, this hostel is for you.
Near Ueno Station – Ueno Station (JR Railway, Tokyo Metro, Keisei) is just 700m from Centurion Ladies Hostel Ueno Park.
Direct access to Narita Airport (Ueno Station) – Ueno Station is one of the two stops of the Keisei Skyliner (2520 yen, 40 minutes).
Near Ueno Park –You can spend an entire day in Ueno Park and you still would not be able to visit all the sites in it: Shitamachi Museum, Bentendo Temple, The Ueno Royal Museum, National Museum of Western Art, National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Ueno Zoo, and Tokyo National Museum.
Near Ameyoko (Ameya Yokocho) – Ameya Yokocho, or Ameyoko for short, is an open-air market where you can do a bit of shopping and eating.

The 7-storey hostel (there is an elevator) is located near Ueno Station and Ueno Park, but far enough for it to be less busy. Reception is open 24 hours and access to rooms is keyless (just enter the code provided).

The dorm room, though with many pods (capsules), provides privacy with a curtain for each pod. Each pod has a power outlet, light, and TV. A small locker with a shoe tray for each pod is provided. A towel and toothbrush are also provided.

The dorm has shower rooms and toilets. Shampoo, conditioner, body soap, and facial wash are provided.