HOTEL PLUS HOSTEL TOKYO ASAKUSA 2
by the TopOfHotel team
A bare-bones budget hostel from $23 a night whose real selling point is the 15-minute walk to Tokyo Skytree along the Sumida River.
A bare-bones budget hostel from $23 a night whose real selling point is the 15-minute walk to Tokyo Skytree along the Sumida River.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The 6-bed dorm runs $23 a night and keeps things simple: single-tier steel beds spaced about 70 cm apart, a thick fabric curtain, a reading light, one power outlet and one USB port per bunk. The lockable box under each bed swallows a 24-inch suitcase, which is bigger than what most places make you hand over to luggage storage. The shared bathrooms are split by gender, kept clean, and come with steady hot-water showers and a TOTO Washlet in every one. There is also a 2-person private room from $43 at around 8 sqm — small, as Tokyo rooms go.
Food and amenities
This is a beds-and-bathrooms operation, not a hangout. Check-in runs through a tablet at the counter with one staff member on hand if you get stuck, and the setup is deliberately no-frills. There is no big common area, so anyone hoping for the kind of pretty lounge you get higher up this list will come away short. What you do get is fast free Wi-Fi at over 50 Mbps — enough for a video call — plus free luggage storage. For food, there is a 7-Eleven three minutes away and the ramen shop Asakusa Yoroiya about five minutes off.
Location and getting there
The big draw is the 15-minute walk (about 1.2 km) to Tokyo Skytree, crossing the Azuma-bashi bridge over the Sumida River. After dark the Skytree glows blue and purple and throws its reflection across the water — the kind of view you keep coming back to in your camera roll. Asakusa Station is a 12-minute walk away; from there the Toei Asakusa Line reaches Ueno in 5 minutes for about $1.50, or the Ginza Line gets you there one stop on in 3 minutes for around $1.20.
Things to know before booking
The trade-off is distance: you are about 15 minutes by train from Ueno proper, so this works best if Asakusa and the Skytree are your anchor. There is no lounge, bar or large common area to speak of, and staff English is basic rather than fluent. The flip side is the price — at $23 a night with a clean 8.8 rating, you are paying for a tidy bed in a good spot, not for atmosphere.
Our take
HOTEL PLUS HOSTEL TOKYO ASAKUSA 2 is built for backpackers on the tightest budget and Tokyo Skytree fans who want to wander the Sumida River at night. At $23 a night the value holds up because the cleanliness score is high (8.8) and the location is hard to argue with — just don't expect a social scene.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Rooms start at around $23 a night, which is genuinely cheap for the Asakusa area.
- It is a 15-minute walk to Tokyo Skytree (about 1.2 km) across the Azuma-bashi bridge over the Sumida River, which is lovely after dark.
- Part of the Hotel Plus Hostel chain, with branches in Asakusa 1, Asakusa 2 (this one) and Akihabara, so you get consistent standards rather than the lottery of a tiny family-run place.
- Rooms are clean and score 8.8/10, with TOTO Washlets and steady hot-water showers in every shared bathroom.
- Free Wi-Fi runs over 50 Mbps, fast enough for video calls, and luggage storage is free.
- It sits well away from Ueno proper, about 15 minutes by train.
- There is no lounge, bar or large common area; the focus is beds, bathrooms and Wi-Fi, so anyone after a social hangout space will be disappointed.
- Staff English is basic rather than fluent.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Insider Tips
- Walk to Tokyo Skytree (15 minutes) after dark, when it lights up blue and purple over the Sumida River.
- Take the Toei Asakusa Line from Asakusa Station to reach Ueno in about 5 minutes for around $1.50.
- Book a private room if you are staying longer than three nights.