CutiCuti: Japan - Sakura Hostel, Tokyo

Property: Sakura Hostel, Asakusa

Date: 5 Apr 2014 - 8 Apr 2014 (3 nights)

Price: ¥4,650/night per person (~RM 152.00)  

Room Type: 6 Bunks-bed Private Room 

Booked via their website.

We arrive at Tokyo Station from Osaka, hence Tsukuba Express Station is the most convenient.

• Take Exit A1. 
• Turn left to the main road; facing the road take the right side.
• Asakusa View Hotel (landmark I used to locate the hostel) will be on the left side; opposite the road. Take right.
• Turn left after the Panchiko building. 

Wasn't that difficult to locate this hostel. It is quite big & yeah, it's in pink. Dull pink but; still! We got lost upon coming out from the train station, I took the wrong junction. But a good policeman helped us find our way. Albeit the language barrier. 

The lobby are. Desktops with free internet for guests & wifi available at every room for free. This is where we lepak for breakfast & dinner.

Where I met fellow Malaysian on our first night there. I was waiting for the laundry to finish. And that bunches of not-so-bad-looking guys smile at me. One of them wanted to join me at the table but his friends went
"Takyah nak bawa perangai kasanova sampai Jepun kot".  

We arrived just on time for check-in time so yeah we got our room cards (deposit ¥1000 each). Based on my experiences, hostels/motels in Japan are very strict with the check-in time. When they say it's 3pm; then 3pm it is.

Open verandah to the rooms. We got the 1st Floor. Verandah is only covered with thin curtain, so imagine the coldness we encountered every time we came back from the bathroom. Sejuk gigil! 

Our 3 bunks-bed room. They don't have a room that can accommodate exactly five of us. They either have twins room, quadruple room & this. Female dorm consists of 6 beds, but they only has 2 beds available hence I settled with this room instead. 1 empty bed for our belongings. 

Separate bathroom for male & female.

The kitchen. Recycling is a big thing in Japan. So please, throw ur rubbish accordingly.

Laundry room. Detergent is free. But have to pay ¥100 for the washing machine & ¥100 for dryer. Cheap enough for me.

Suggestion by the hostel for guest who wanted to use the subway one-day pass. We didn't pay attention to this as we have the JR Pass & Icoca Card already.

What I like the most about this hostel is its location. Easily accessible through the Tsukuba Express & Asakusa Tokyo Toei Line. Staffs are friendly. They also sell few Halal food at the counter i.e Brahims, Maggi. I bet ada Malaysian buat bisnes while staying as guest. Heater works well too. Both in the room & for the shower. All in all, this hostel has it all. At least for budget travellers like us. In fact, the facilities it has similar to what offered by most hotels. 

Just that I hope they could provide mirror at each room. It's kinda tedious for us (read; ladies) to go back & forth the bathroom just to get ready. Susah mau melawa katanya. 

Would love to recommend this hostel to friends who still searching for a place to crush in Tokyo. BUT untuk yang travel with family i.e budak kecil, aku macam less recommend lah. Unless korang ndak kisah sharing bathroom ni.

p/s Initially, I booked a room at Hanabi Hotel in Shin-Okubo (a Korean town in Tokyo, woot!). It is a family room with ensuite bathroom, kitchen & washing machine. Located merely 5-minutes walking from the JR station. Also very near to a grocery market as well as 7-Eleven next to its building. Alas we have to cancelled the booking as we got a cheaper deal with Sakura Hostel. Kan tight budget, so every Yen counts. Hanabi Hotel looks like a perfect place for those going to Tokyo with family. So, u can check them out. 

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