UPDATE: Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel has ceased operations. I am keeping this Hostel of the Day feature to give tribute to such excellent accommodation.
Hello & welcome to the newest Hostel Of The Day feature. Last time, I shared with you some information about Dot Hostel Nagano, the hostel I stayed with in Nagano. I also narrated my 36-hour adventure around Tokyo with my siblings & relatives. My stay in Tokyo was relatively short but I made the most out of it.
In my previous trips to Tokyo, I’ve always stayed with Oak Hostel Zen – my favorite hostel in Tokyo. Unfortunately, Oak Hostel Zen was already booked out on our dates. I only had 1 night in the city plus I was travelling with a toddler; I had a hard time looking for the best possible accommodation. Bigger room space (bigger than Tokyo standards) & cost were our top 2 factors in looking for the place to stay. I’m happy I came across today’s hostel feature – Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel. Yes, this hostel provides bigger room space at an affordable price. Apparently, this hostel is the biggest Khaosan hostel in Japan.
Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel is part of the Khaosan Group – a chain of affordable accommodation operating around 3 major cities in Japan. I will talk about this hostel group in a future post. In the meantime, allow me to share with you some information about the former love hotel turned hostel plus let you know how our stay went.
Note: I was with my toddler cousin during this trip. Don’t expect the usual cheap accommodation. We looked for the best affordable accommodation available during our dates.
Location & Access
Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel is located in the heart of Asakusa in Tokyo. Asakusa is one of the busiest areas in the city – it is where Senso-ji, the famous red temple, & Kaminarimon are located. The hostel is within a very vibrant neighborhood. There are a number of convenience stores, restaurants, bars & cafes nearby. Asakusa’s Don Quijote is less than 5 minutes walk away. Khaosan World’s location is very central – a perfect place to stay in Tokyo.
The hostel is accessible to all modes of public transportation. The nearest station is Asakusa Station on the Tsukuba Express Line. The hostel staff advised me that this train line doesn’t pass by the usual sightseeing places in Tokyo. The nearest station that takes you to most places to visit in Tokyo is Tawaramachi Station on the Tokyo Metro Subway Line. It takes about 8-10 minutes by foot to reach this station from the hostel doors. The JR line & airport link are about 20 minutes walk & you pass by Senso-ji to & from this station.
Ryokans, Double & Dormitory Rooms
Khaosan World Asakusa offers various rooms to choose from. Those who are travelling on a budget can opt to stay in the female or mixed dormitory rooms. Couples travelling can get a double room while families & groups can book Japanese-style rooms perfect for 3 to 6 people. Some rooms have private toilets while the others have access to shared toilets. Bed configuration & rates vary from one room to the other. Feel free to check the hostel’s website for the complete list of rooms & its inclusions.
Our group got the Deluxe Japanese-style Quadruple Room good for 4 people. It is a 30 sq m room which has 4 futon beds. The room includes a separate toilet & shower rooms, a preparation area, an entry foyer, a small storage area with closet & a small dining area. The room is complete with air conditioning / heater, water heater & toiletries. Towels are available for rent in the reception area. The hostel also provided a free phone with mobile internet to use whilst in Tokyo. The hostel adds a small touch by providing free & simple breakfast to all 4 guests. We booked our stay via Booking.com & got our room for ¥16,200 per night. That’s ¥4,050 per person per night; around ₱2,000 per person per night.
It may be a bit expensive but this room fits our requirements mentioned above. Also, experience a Japanese-style accommodation with futon beds at this rate is already a good choice
PerKS OF BEING A KHAOSAN WORLD GUEST
Japan hostels in general provide its guests with a long list of perks to enjoy. I don’t know if it’s a norm in their country; but maybe because of the high rates the visitors pay, they provide as much facilities, amenities & perks to all guests. Check out these perks which guests can enjoy in Khaosan World Asakusa.
Free Wi-Fi – Guests have access to free wireless internet connection. This connection is available throughout the building. Usernames & passwords can be obtained from the receptionist.
Free Breakfast – The hostel provides a simple breakfast of toast, butter & jam plus drinks to all its guests. Breakfast time is from 6:00 am to 10:00 am.
Free Coffee, Regular Tea & Japanese Tea – Guests can make their own coffee or tea 24 hours a day. The hostel provides free coffee & tea for everyone.
Shared Kitchen & Dining Area – Guests are allowed to cook their own food in the shared kitchen. Refrigerator & cooking materials are provided. Don’t forget to wash all the equipment you used. Everyone is also welcome to use the dining area for meals. It’s the perfect place to meet people who are also travelling in Tokyo.
In-house Vending Machines – If you don’t have time to prepare your food or you feel lazy about cooking, the in-house vending machines are perfect for you. These machines are located in the kitchen & dining area.
Communal Lounge & Games Area – Guests have access to a spacious communal lounge & games area on the ground floor. This is another place where you can meet other guests.
Kids Play Room – Khaosan World Asakusa is a kid-friendly accommodation. They have a separate room for kid guests who want to play.
Long Reception Hours – Reception is open from 6:00 am to 2:00 am of the following day. There is always a person in the reception booth. Check-in time is from 3:00 pm to 2:00 am while check-out is until 11:00 am.
Friendly English Speaking Staff – The hostel people are very friendly & accommodating. They even give recommendations on where to go or what to do. They also speak very good English. You won’t have any problems talking to them.
Shared Toilet & Shower Areas – Guests staying in dormitory rooms have access to well-maintained toilets & shower areas. These areas are available per floor & are cleaned every single day.
Free Luggage Storage – The hostel provides free luggage storage to guests on the day of check-in from 6 am to 3pm & check-out up to 10:00 pm.
Lift Access – The hostel building provides lift access to all floors. No need to carry luggage up to the topmost floor; just use the lift.
Laundry Facilities – The hostel has laundry facilities open to all guests. The washing machine can be used for only ¥200. The use of dryer costs ¥100 for every 20 minutes. Don’t worry folks, they provide detergent for free.
Smoking Room – The hostel provides a smoking room for those who want to puff a cigarette whilst in the building. The smoking room is located on the 1st floor & is open to all guests who smoke.
My Experience
Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel is not your typical cheap hostel but also not the 5-star type of hotel accommodation. It lies somewhere in between those 2 where guests get to enjoy a long list of perks for an affordable fee. My stay in this accommodation was very pleasant. It was my first time staying in a traditional Japanese tatami room & I’ll definitely say it won’t be the last.
While it may be a bit of a walk from the airport express, the property is still very accessible to everything. Most of the needs of the guests are provided or can be found in the hostel. If not, there’s always a place nearby to get or buy it. The staff were very friendly & always there to help. I have nothing but praises to this hostel.
This ryokan & hostel is budget, family & kid-friendly. It is one the best accommodations to stay when travelling with a toddler or kids in general.
Do you have any questions about Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel? Interested to know if they have rooms on your preferred dates of trip? Feel free to contact them on the details below.
Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel
Address: 3-15-1 Nishi-Asakusa, Taito-ku, Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan 111-0035
Phone Number: +81 3 3843 0153
Email Address: world@khaosan-tokyo.com
Website: world.khaosan-tokyo.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/khaosanworldasakusa
Instagram: www.instagram.com/khaosan_world_asakusa
Have you been to Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel? How was your stay? I am constantly looking for new hostels to try. If you know some, feel free to post them in the comments below. You can also send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com if you’re shy enough to comment. Make sure to follow me & please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.