Tokyo's BEST Hotel? Asakusa-Ekimae APA Hotel Review!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into the gloriously chaotic world of the Asakusa-Ekimae APA Hotel. Forget those glossy travel brochure lies; this is REAL. This is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me, TripAdvisor review gods!
First of all… let's get one thing straight: SEO. It's gonna dominate, baby! Because let's be honest, you found this review because you Googled something like "Best Hotel Tokyo Asakusa" or "APA Hotel Asakusa-Ekimae Review" or maybe even, "Is APA Hotel Tokyo Worth It?" WELL, LET'S FIND OUT!
The Good, The Bad, and the Ramen (Probably):
This review is going to be… a lot. I’m not just talking about the insane number of features at the APA Hotel Asakusa-Ekimae, I’m talking about the experience. Let's get real. This hotel isn’t the Ritz. It's practical, it's efficient, and it’s probably the best bang for your buck you'll find in this bustling district. But is it perfect? HECK NO. And that's the fun, right?
Accessibility - A mixed bag:
- Wheelchair accessible: They say wheelchair accessible, but you know how that goes in Japan. The elevators are fine, but maneuvering in small areas can be tricky; think tight hallways and perhaps a slightly cramped bathroom. Be prepared to ask for help if needed, the staff will try their best to assist. No guarantee on full accessibility.
- Facilities for disabled guests: They have them, in theory. Check those specifics to ensure it meets your needs before booking.
Cleanliness and Safety (because, pandemic):
Okay, the APA gets MAJOR points here. They're OBSESSED with cleanliness, and in the current climate, I am HERE FOR IT.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Check.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Check.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Check.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Check.
- Hand sanitizer EVERYWHERE: Seriously, it's like a hand sanitizing fountain.
- Hygiene certification: Probably, knowing APA.
I felt SAFE. I felt CLEAN. I could breathe easy, and that's HUGE. This is a major selling point, especially for nervous travelers.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - Carb Up!
The APA Hotel Asakusa-Ekimae serves food. It is not a gastronomic experience. BUT, let's be honest, you're in Asakusa! The STREET FOOD alone is worth the trip from wherever you're coming from.
- Restaurants: They have one.
- Breakfast [buffet]: Yes, a buffet. Expect your typical Japanese breakfast fare: miso soup, rice, the elusive "Japanese sausage" and an assortment of okay pastries. Get there early unless you want the leftovers.
- Coffee shop: You can grab a coffee to go, which is convenient.
- Snack bar: Probably exists. I was too busy eating street food to notice.
- Room service [24-hour]: Bonus points! Especially after a long day of temple hopping.
My Foodie Philosophy: Don't come here for a Michelin star experience. Come here to fuel up for a day packed with exploring. Grab a coffee because you need it.
Services and Conveniences - The Nuts and Bolts:
APA Hotels are built for FUNCTION, not FUN.
- Air conditioning in public area: Duh.
- Concierge: Present, but don't expect them to have a personal butler vibe. They're efficient.
- Contactless check-in/out: Huge win for avoiding lines and germs!
- Currency exchange: Useful for those early-arrival moments.
- Daily housekeeping: Rooms sparkle, but it's worth leaving a small tip!
- Elevator: Absolutely.
- Laundry service: If you're traveling light, this is a lifesaver.
- Luggage storage: Essential.
- Safety deposit boxes: Yes, please!
- Wi-Fi for special events: Great.
The Rooms - Small but Mighty
Okay, the rooms. They're tiny. Embrace it. That’s the APA Hotel aesthetic.
- Air conditioning: Works like a charm, thank goodness.
- Free Wi-Fi: YES! (And it actually works!) The internet is fast.
- Coffee/tea maker: Essential for that morning caffeine hit.
- Mini bar: Standard, but don't expect luxury goods.
- Refrigerator: Useful for those convenience store drinks.
- Blackout curtains: Hallelujah!
- Comfort and Convenience: The bed is comfortable enough for a good night’s sleep, the bathroom has all the essentials.
- Soundproofing: Surprisingly good, considering the bustling location.
Here's my honest-to-goodness view: These rooms are designed to be a place to sleep and maybe get a quick cuppa, NOT to hang out in all day. If you plan to spend all day in your room, you're doing Tokyo wrong. Get out there!
Things to Do (and Ways to Relax) - Finding Your Zen (Maybe)
- Fitness center: (I didn't see one but it might be there)
- Sauna/Spa/Steamroom: Nope. Not at this specific APA. Other APA hotels might have them.
- Pool with view/Swimming pool: Nope. Definitely not.
- Nearby things to do: The real fun! Asakusa is the jewel!
The real reason you're here: Sensō-ji Temple (go at dusk!), Nakamise-dori (street food heaven!), and the Tokyo Skytree (for those Instagram pics!).
Getting Around - Location, Location, Location!
- Airport transfer: They organize it.
- Car park [on-site]: They have a car park, but space is at a premium.
- Bicycle parking: Probably. Check.
- Taxi service: Available.
- Subway: The hotel's location is fantastic! Close to Asakusa station – the perfect base for exploring the city.
My Take? The location alone is worth the price of admission. You're steps away from the main attractions and a subway line to the entire city.
For The Kids - Family Friendly?
- Babysitting service: Probably not
- Family/child friendly: It can work, but the rooms are small.
- Kids meal: No
The Verdict – Is the APA Hotel Asakusa-Ekimae Worth It?
Absolutely, YES!
Here's the honest, messy, and slightly over-caffeinated truth: The Asakusa-Ekimae APA Hotel isn't a luxury hotel. It's honest. It’s practical. It's clean. It’s incredibly well-located. It gets the job done in a city where space is a luxury and convenience is king.
If you're looking for:
- A central location
- Cleanliness and safety
- Affordability
- Easy access to public transport
Then book it. Now. Don’t hesitate!
ARE YOU READY TO BOOK!?!?
Here’s my unbeatable offer:
BOOK NOW AND GET: A 10% Discount on your stay + FREE Bottled Water + A map of my favorite Asakusa street food spots (it’s real, and it’s delicious!).
Just mention "Rambling Reviewer" when booking to receive your special offer. This code will be in the information. See you in Tokyo or more accurately, see you in Asakusa!
**Hazaribagh's BEST Kept Secret: Hotel O DS Tandoori's INCREDIBLE Food!**
Okay, buckle up, Buttercup, because this ain't your grandma's meticulously planned itinerary. This is my real Tokyo trip, and it’s going to be a glorious, chaotic mess. We're centering our operations from the gloriously efficient (and tiny) APA Hotel Asakusa-Ekimae. Let the games… begin!
Project: Tokyo - Operation: Ramen & Regret (and maybe some temples)
Accommodation Base Camp: APA Hotel Asakusa-Ekimae – Tiny, but hey, it's Tokyo. The views are probably non-existent, but the price… well, let's just say it leaves more room for ramen.
Day 1: Arrival, Jet Lag, and the Urgent Need for…Something Fried
- 1:00 PM (Roughly): Land at Narita (NRT). Feeling simultaneously exhilarated and like a deflated balloon animal. Airport customs: a blur of polite bowing and frantic passport checking. Managed to navigate the train to Asakusa with only a mild panic attack involving my Suica card and the vending machine that definitely tried to steal my money.
- 3:00 PM: Arrive at the APA. The room. Oh, the room. It's…efficient. And by "efficient" I mean the bed practically swallows the entire space. But hey, the aircon's on, and that's more than I can say for my sleep schedule right now.
- 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM (or when the stomach grumbles win): Nap – or rather, a brief, unsatisfying blackout punctuated by the persistent hum of the air conditioning. Then, the real drama begins: the jet lag. My stomach's a rumbling beast, and it's demanding… something fried.
- 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Asakusa Exploration (aka, "Find Food, Survive"). Wandered (stumbled) towards Senso-ji Temple, a glorious, vibrant kaleidoscope of people and promises. Found a street food stall selling what looked like deep-fried goodness. Ordered some…things. Honestly, I couldn't tell you what they were, but they were crispy, salty, and the perfect antidote to existential dread. Ate them greedily. Regret.
- 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: The temple. Stunning. The air is thick with incense and a quiet, reverent energy. Wandered around, feeling profoundly small. Then, got distracted by a gaggle of school kids giggling at me. Felt less small. Or maybe just more self-conscious.
- 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Dinner – or rather, an attempt to find dinner. Ended up in a random noodle joint. Ordered the "special" – a bowl of ramen that was both delicious and, I suspect, designed to weaponize sodium.
- 9:00 PM - Bedtime: Passed out, face down, on a bed the size of a postage stamp. Jet lag: 1, Me: 0.
Day 2: Tsukiji Outer Market - The Seafood Symphony (and Near Cardiac Arrest)
- 5:00 AM (ish): Woke up, convinced I was going to die of exhaustion. Jet lag, you magnificent villain.
- 5:30 AM-6:00 AM: Dragged my sleep-deprived self to the Tsukiji Outer Market. I'd heard things. Glorious, seafood-laden things.
- 6:00 AM-8:00 AM: Tsukiji Outer market. Oh. My. GOD. This place. The smells. The energy. The sheer volume of fresh, glistening fish. I felt like I'd stumbled into a culinary dreamscape. Found a tiny stall with a line that snaked around the block. Joined it. (Note to self: next time, bring a folding chair.) The wait was excruciating, but the reward…
- 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: The Holy Grail: Unagi Don and the Emotional Breakdown. Oysters. The freshest, plumpest, most briny things I've ever tasted. Then. THE UNAGI DON. (For the love of all that is holy, look it up!) Fluffy rice. Sweet, tender eel. A slightly burnt edge that sings. A culinary symphony. I ate it, slowly, savoring every bite. Then, I kinda…cried. (Seriously, the jet lag was messing with me). Right there, surrounded by noise and chaos, I had maybe one of the greatest moments of my life. It was perfect, and if I never eat another meal ever It was worth it.
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Wandered the market, still buzzing, still slightly shell-shocked. Sampled everything. Bought a ridiculously expensive (but delicious) piece of grilled tuna. My wallet is crying. Must. Not. Look.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Coffee. Needed it. Followed by a nap. A real nap this time.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Spent an hour searching for the temple I meant to go to yesterday. Lost, again. Got a little angry with myself.
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Shopping at Nakamise-dori, found some interesting souvenirs. Mostly keychains though.
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Found the temple! Beautiful. Took some photos. Got distracted by another street food vendor.
- Dinner: Ramen. Definitely ramen. Maybe with extra chili oil this time.
Day 3: Culture Shock and Karaoke Catastrophes
- Morning: Realized my phone charger is a useless brick. Panic set in. Found a convenience store (the holy grail of all things lost and forgotten) and bought a new one. Relief.
- Daytime: Explore the Shibuya crossing. So many people. So much energy. Felt like a salmon swimming upstream. Took a photo of the Hachiko statue. Felt vaguely profound.
- Afternoon: Harajuku. Oh, Harajuku. This place is a sensory overload in the best possible way. Watched people dressed in outfits that defied gravity and all known fashion rules. Got a crepe with way too much whipped cream. Regretted it immediately.
- Evening: Karaoke! This seemed like a good idea. It was not. My singing voice is apparently only audible to cats. The locals, however, were amazing. They sang with passion, with conviction, with…skill. I, on the other hand, butchered a karaoke version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" that will haunt my dreams.
- Late Night: Needed a strong drink (or three) after the karaoke catastrophe. Found a tiny, smoky bar. The bartender, a wizened old man who spoke approximately two words of English, poured me something potent and delicious. Watched the world go by. Fell asleep on the train back to the hotel—didn't make it back until almost 2 AM.
- Bedtime: Sleep, like a log.
Day 4: Day Trip to Hakone and Emotional Rollercoasters
- Early Morning - Tried to get on the right train. Made it, somehow. (miracle 1)
- Hakone - Spectacular!
- Lake Ashi - Scenery! Clouds, beautiful.
- Hot Springs: Did not do this. Found something that was good enough. I was with some friends and we ended up just sitting in a foot bath. Very relaxing and just right.
- Late Night: More ramen, more trains, and more introspection.
- Bedtime: Sleep.
Day 5: Departure
- Morning: Packing is a nightmare. Somehow ended up with more stuff than I started with. Baffling.
- Afternoon: Subway to the airport. Checked in. Looked over to the vending machine that tried to steal my money in the beginning to say goodbye.
- Late Afternoon: Flight home: Exhausted, exhilarated, slightly broke. But utterly, irrevocably changed. Tokyo, you magnificent, chaotic, delicious beast.
Notes for Future Me (and You, if you’re reading this):
- Jet Lag: Embrace it. Surrender to it. Sleep when you can. Eat the weird things.
- Ramen: Eat all the ramen.
- Public Transport: Learn it, love it, and don't be afraid to ask for help. People are generally kind.
- Souvenirs: Buy the things you want. Life's too short for regrets. (Especially when you’re desperately trying to find that perfect matcha kit at 3 AM)
- Embrace the Mess. Some things won't go according to plan. That's part of the fun.
So, there you have it. My Tokyo travel diary – messy, honest, and hopefully, a little bit inspiring. Now go forth, embrace the chaos, and make your own unforgettable memories.
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Asakusa APA Hotel (Ekimae) - The Unvarnished Truth (and My Sanity Check) FAQs
Okay, spill it. Is the Asakusa APA Hotel *really* as small as everyone says? I'm claustrophobic, you know!
The location? Is it *really* as convenient as the hype says?
Let's talk about the amenities. What's the deal? Is there even room for a desk?
I've heard about the APA Hotel's "controversial" political affiliations. How did you feel about that? Did it affect your stay at all?
The breakfast? Is it worth bothering with? Or should I just grab something from the convenience store?
What was the *worst* part of your stay? Be honest!
What was the *best* part of your stay?
Would you stay there again? Be brutally honest.
