Andon Ryokan

Our stay at Andon Ryokan was a great experience for all of us (two grownups + one teenager). Sleeping on tatami mats was surprisingly comfortable, and we all enjoyed the relaxing top floor bath. (So can you, if you are OK with four flights of stairs...) |The rooms and the common areas are all thoughtfully furnished and laid out with attention to detail. We especially liked the manga style illustrations in the shared bathrooms. |Breakfasts were plentiful, tasty and beautiful (both the japanese and western style choices) and the orange juice straight from the peel was especially delicious. Staff were helpful, patient and knowledgeable. We would love to come back for another stay and recommend this family run ryokan to everyone!|PS! the airconditioning was a necessity as Tokyo enjoyed + 33 degrees celsius all through our stay...

Had a pleasant stay. 8 minutes by foot from subway station. Liked the breakfast which I could opt-in for one day. The washing machine and dryer including detergent (provided at reception) cost around 500 yen per load. Note that the rooms are small and you will have to manage around that with a lot of luggage.

Although the room was rather small, it accomodated beautifully my daughter and me including our belongings. Due to its peaceful surrounding and considerate guests we slept very well at Andon Ryokan and enjoyed the delicious breakfast immensely. The staff is friendly and attentive and has fantastic English skills. The shared rooms like bathrooms and toilets were very clean, as were the rooms. We enjoyed our stay at Andon Ryokan and recommend it warmly to fellow travellers!

Wonderful experience! For me lodging in cities can be hit or miss. Andon Ryokan was exactly what I needed! Due to Tokyo's metro awesome system the distance from popular tourist areas was more of a plus than anything. Absolute best part of my Tokyo stay was the breakfast at Andon Ryokan! The kitchen staff was so kind, even helped us practice speaking Japanese. It really started the day of right (: I got the Japanese fish set every morning and it was a different fish, carefully prepared, and the staff took the time to tell me in English and Japanese what fish I was looking at. P.s. Didn't see other guests take advantage of these two things so I'll shout them out. Eat at the Kotatsu in the morning if you can! Rooftop sunrise! Thanks for everything!

This place has potential but upgrades are definitely needed either way regards to sound proof walls and sound proof doors. The experience of a “Ryokan” was there but for the value, it was not worth being so far away from the main city. We tried the experience but was a bit disappointed. You had to book the spa out in the mornings, but we were out super early by the time we actually got to book, so by the time we got back there was no slots for us. Upon entry it should be noted to be mindful of other guests after 10pm. We had two guests at 3am in the morning using the bathroom right outside our room and were so rude and loud with no care about anyone else. If there was a note or something we had to read before we got to our rooms about noise policy at least the place went out of their way to make that extra effort. It was very hard for us to sleep. Very thankful the place was clean. A bit too far away from the train, and the bus schedule was close but for me, I would stay beside a train station instead. Appreciate the hospitality of course.

We stayed at Andon Ryokan in Tokyo for four days and had a wonderful experience. The staff was exceptionally kind and helpful, always ready to assist with anything we needed. The breakfast was very good, and the entire place was spotless, well-maintained, and beautifully cared for. Highly recommended!

I could not have asked for a better first night in Tokyo. At check-in, I was offered the option to sign up for a private timeslot for the jacuzzi, which was a perfect introduction to onsen. The food is, hands down, amazing. I had the vegan breakfast and it was filled with fresh local vegetables and I got a latte from their cafe. The only downside was that the rooms are tiny and I had to wait a few minutes in the morning for the shower, but that was hardly an inconvenience. I absolutly loved it and wish I could have stayed longer. Thank you for the amazing stay!

I had a great time staying at Andon Ryokan. It’s very clean, quiet, and modern, while still giving that authentic ryokan experience. The family that runs the business is amazing. They’re helpful with info about the area and public transit, and offer a fresh and delicious breakfast each morning. I would absolutely go back here for another stay.

The design of this ryokan looks to be an effort to help revive the idea, however it doesn't prove adept in it's execution. The bedrooms, bathrooms and shower are just too small for comfort, and apparently some ideas such as a lighted soffit in each room were just not completed. The neighborhood is also less than appealing, and there is a storehouse across the street that uses a forklift that emits gas fumes, however, if you're up for the good old hostel with character type of experience, and appreciate food made in-house, this is probably the place for you, otherwise you should probably look for a hotel room in some other part of Tokyo.

Sad to say, but there's currently an extinction of ryokans taking place as we speak. LUCKILY, Andon Ryokan is the first designer hotel in Tokyo attempting to revive this dying tradition. If you don't know what a ryokan is, it's a traditional Japanese hotel with tatami mats, futons, and getas: the works, where you sleep on the floor, much like the conventional Japanese lifestyle. If you're gonna do something, you should do it right. Andon Ryokan offers the authenticity most travelers seek. And don't worry, the futons themselves are incredibly thick, they weren't much different from my mattress at home. My pikachu plush I bought from the Pokemon Center seemed to enjoy it. If you find yourself with extra downtime, the hotel itself has a range of cultural activities to participate in. As I was checking in, there was a couple enjoying a tea ceremony. If only I had checked in an hour earlier, than that could've been me. The ceremony was actually taped and uploaded on youtube. Unfortunately, I'm not in it, but just know my presence was there. Side note: That video was edited and uploaded within 4 hours of taping. Gives you a sense of Japan's work ethic. Anyways, the activities mentioned include tea ceremonies, a tour of a sake brewery, and (I think) indigo dyeing. There's also a jacuzzi you can reserve for free on your downtime. You're on vacation, treat yourself. The hotel is littered with historical paraphernalia that I'm a little too uncultured to really appreciate but they're there. Some other important information include: I. An 8 minute walk from the Hibiki Line II. The workers are extremely proficient in English a. Some of the more meaningful conversations I had in Japan was with the younger female employee. b. The barbecue restaurant she recommended (that's walking distance) was one of my favorite places throughout my entire trip: Ushitora. III. The bathroom facilities are shared a. The shower is soundproof (for people who enjoy listening to music, like me) I'm bad with conclusions. Good-bye.

It comes as a great surprise that I am the first person to write a review for Andon Ryokan. This place is a hidden gem and thoroughly deserves all the positive attention it can get. The owner, Toshiko-san, has a wonderful eye for design, and with the assistance of an architect, has created a lovely, comfortable blend of traditional and Modern space. In true Japanese style, the place is compact and uses its space well. It doesn't feel cramped, but just right. The rooms are cozy. The futons comfortable. Andon Ryokan has been featured in Ulf Meyer's book, Architectural Guide: Tokyo. The toilet facilities, like many places, are shared. The word 'clean' is ubiquitous with Japanese, I'm learning, and Andon fits firmly in this norm. Like many places, they provide a free toothbrush and other necessities you might have forgotten. You will want to reserve their private hot bath, or jacuzzi, while you are staying there. It is well worth it, and it's popular. We were able to reserve it every day, but not always at a convenient time for us due to its popularity. It's a fun, quiet space to relax in. I love the tiled mural there. The staff is very friendly, and immediately you feel you are among friends. Toshi-san and one of her staff live in an abatement, which is part of the ryokan space. Perhaps a little too dark for me. I prefer a brightly light place. Many mornings when you awake, you may find Toshi-san greeting you at the front desk or from the small kitchen area ready to take your breakfast order, which she might prepare. The breakfast is good, and quite a bit of food depending on what you order. It's a truly Western style meal. They have free wifi and a couple of laptops if you need to use one. If you have time, join one of their free evening classes. We had time to participate in their Japanese language class. We've been studying Japanese, so much of this was review, but we definitely learned new words and some grammar, too. During our stay, they also had classes in sushi and miso cooking, origami making, sake tasting tour and a traditional tea ceremony.

Stayed for one night at a cheap price. This place is amazing! The modern details mixed with traditional Japanese ryokan style is beautiful. Architecture or design people will absolutely adore this place. The bedding is actually quite comfortable for those who like harder beds. The staff is very helpful and speak enough English to get by. I opted for breakfast included which is cooked by order at the communal breakfast lounge. So cute! It gives a very homey feeling. Only 2 cons. This place is dim, it could use a little more lighting overall. I felt like I needed to turn on my phone light when navigating the room and halls at night. #2 If you are a light sleeper beware. The metal doors are loud and you can hear your neighbors talking in the hallway.

Absolutely lovely, cool, inviting, and relaxing. The exterior is cool and sleek, there are 5 floors (3 for rooms, 1 for the spa, and 1 for laundry) and there are beautiful artifacts and pieces of art everywhere. We are staying in a 4.5 tatami room, roughly the width of a queen size bed and about twice as deep. Certainly different from western sized hotels, however my husband and I are embracing the adventure and are enjoying it! Showers and toilets are communal but not limited (there's several on the premises) and are very clean. They provide you with soft geta-like sandals to wear around the ryokan, and you can borrow a yukata to wear while you're here for free! Way cool. There's also free tea and snacks downstairs as well as some beer for sale (as well as a few vending machines downstairs and a 7 Eleven near by!), as well as recommendations on places nearby to eat (we had the udon place a few doors down... It was bomb!) which is really nice. The bath is first-come-first-served done via sign up sheet, also very clean and pleasant. People are quiet and respectful, a really lovely way to spend a few days in Tokyo. It's our first night here of three and I am so happy we are staying here!

Not exactly "central" (what's central in Tokyo anyway?), tucked away in a back alley in a pleasant neighbourhood in Ueno, this place is small but pretty. It is a modern/design version of a traditional Japanese inn (Ryokan). The rooms, all with tatami mats, are cozy (albeit tiny), so are the spa area and the communal breakfast room. Book in advance cause rooms go fast.