Ryokan Katsutaro

It is the best night's sleep I have ever had. I was here for the first time 17 years ago and have vowed to go back ever since. I was not disappointed. Futons on tatami are the ONLY way people should sleep. I wish I could sleep that way at home!

Nope, nothing.

Was a little bit nervous about the futon on the floor but it was surprisingly very comfortable. Heaters in room were also very comfortable during winter. Lastly I was also nervous about sharing a communal bathroom as I have medical concerns that cause me to use the bathroom frequently but there was actually never any issue with this in regards to having to wait for the bathroom or holding up a line or anything. Overall it does feel rather "quaint" which has certain kinds of drawbacks yet also makes it feel very cozy and "home"like which I enjoyed.

In winter, takes quite some time for the sink and shower water to get hot - I know this isn't really anyone's fault, but it did make stuff like washing hands, washing face, showering etc. somewhat difficult. Also, the stairs are very steep and somewhat dangerous if you have any mobility issues, I would not recommend this inn if you have any difficulty at all using stairs.

It's located in a very quiet neighborhood about a 15 minute walk away from Ueno Park and Ueno Station (one of the options when you take the Skyline from the airport), which made it very nice for morning walks. It's also located just 5 minutes away from Nezu Station if you don't want to walk all the way to Ueno Station. The rooms were very traditional with tatami flooring and incredibly fluffy futon beds. If it rains, they have umbrella's to lend. Since you have to take your shoes off at the door, they also offer deodorant so you don't have to worry about stinking up the place. There's also a convenience store right in front that you can even use to ship your luggage to your next destination (this service is cash only, though).

No big complaints, other than the stairs to the second floor being quite steep, so if you're traveling with big, heavy luggage it can be a bit of a struggle to get it up there.

Lovely traditional ryokan style, great location , good value for Tokyo

Be careful of your head if you’re tall!

Really great, quiet location. Staff was very accommodating and kind, the room was clean and comfortable. I loved it, I wish I stayed for more than one night.

The toilet didn’t have a bidet, which surprised me after getting so used to them.

The owners were very friendly and warm, the location was excellent (close to subway, very good restaurants close by, quiet and interesting neighborhood. We had a great visit to Tokyo!

This is a very good ryokan, and we enjoyed ourselves very much-- but there were no frills. It worked out very well for us, and I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again! Thank you!

It was very comfortable, clean and located in a beautiful area that was very quiet. Convenient to walk to many of the Tokyo sites we wanted to see. The host was kind, attentive and welcoming. Altogether a perfect place to stay in Tokyo.

Nice traditional ryokan. Very friendly owner and very helpful. Nice location close to everything. Many nice cafes and convenience stores close by as well as Ueno park and zoo.

A bit small, but only because I’m American and big lol. Really nothing to complain about ☺️?

Loved the traditional style, staff was super nice and always there if you need them. Awesome experience! No noise whatsoever…We slept like babies!

Stairs are a bit steep. Not a problem for us busy just saying.

*Great host family! Very nice and accommodating.*Location is perfect for a more authentic local Japanese experience.*Close to Nezu Subway Station (5 minute walk)*Close to Ueno Park which has multiple National Museums, Zoo, Temple, Shrine for a cultural experience.*Konbini across the street makes it convenient for grabbing a quick bite, drink or other necessities.

It’s an older property and the furnishings could use a little updating. This is a very minor gripe and does not take away from the great experience of staying here.

Spacious room!

I don’t recommend for people with small kids, we weren’t comfortable and were mostly worrying about the noise that our kid could make. I was trying so hard to ensure he had no tantrums and wasn’t able to relax. We had stayed in the past with only adults and it was a great experience that’s why we came back. Also, although a nice residential location, I realized the metro doesn’t take you to many tourist places so you need to change lines constantly. We stayed there for the time we wanted to explore that area of Tokyo.

Around a quiet neighbourhood with some convenience stores not too far away. Room gets cleaned daily aswell.

We stayed for two weeks and enjoyed the entire stay. It was our first proper vacation, and we couldn't have asked for more. We picked a room with communal facilities. The staff are incredibly kind and helpful people who provided us with recommendations and even some snacks and small keepsakes. On the final day, the owner even drove us and our luggage to the nearby station in his own car! Facilities were convenient and cleaned daily and despite being communal, there were no points where I felt that things were dirty or that I didn't want to use them. You have basically everything you need in the ryokan, including a fridge, freezer, microwave, and laundry, and are even provided with a comfortable yukata and slippers to wear around communal areas. There aren't so many rooms that we ever felt that we were waiting to use the facilities, or were being disturbed by other guests beyond enjoyment. Also, the Wi-Fi was incredible. The area is really unparalleled. It's close to Ueno station which can connect you to all of Tokyo, as well as Keisei-Ueno which has express service to and from Narita airport. Ueno park itself is a beautiful place to walk through and takes you right to Ameyoko shopping street and Asakusa, so you'll never get bored even at night. Despite all this, the neighbourhood itself is very quiet and filled with small local cafes of all types. There's also easy access to a 7/11 where you can grab some food whenever you want. Opting for communal facilities definitely offers a bit more of the hostel experience, but it was exactly what my spouse and I were looking for with our budget, and of course the rooms are all completely private. It's important to remember to be quiet and mindful of other guests at night.We saw many friendly people come and go, both Japanese and English-speaking, and all were able to communicate with the hosts and enjoy their stay.I hope we can come back soon!

clean room, excellent location, quiet

Very comfy ryokan with ample space for 3 adults. The owners are very nice and accommodating. The facilities were clean and housekeeping was very good. Location is quiet, clean, and has nice scenery for walking.

Shared common spaces with other rooms was troublesome during our stay but there is little that can be done on the property owners side of that.

Very kind and helpful owner.Clean and comfortable.Well located near Ueno Park.

Staff were very friendly and location was ideal near ueno station and metro.

Sharing of bathroom and toilet is ok, but the toilet was not always clean.

Hospitality from the owner was great, also providing free water and coffee. Comfortable beds

Room on the second floor, a bit difficult with big luggage. Location was a bit far from train station

Great check in and very friendly staff. The ryokan is located in a lovely residential area near Ueno park. There are several nice restaurants in route 319 nearby. The room is small, but there is a living room with sofas that you can use. Overall great place to stay.

The curfew rule is a bit confusing. We are asked to close the door after 9pm when entering the ryokan, and we are given a code to enter the ryokan after 9pm. But it is not clear how to close the door when leaving the ryokan.

Very friendly staff and comfortable rooms! Very flexible with check-in.

Sometimes got a little bit cold in the winter.