the Sawanoya is peaceful, clean, well organized and, especially, has great character. Live in traditional Japanese rooms, take a bath while gazing out at a beautiful garden, and base yourself in a great location. Near Nezu station, you are in one of the last really traditional Tokyo neighborhoods, with strong community spirit and little alleyways too small for cars, but perfect for cafes and restaurants where people are so friendly that even if you don't speak a word of Japanese you'll find yourself being looked after royally. From the area you can metro to anywhere in Tokyo within 30-45 minutes. You can also walk through the characterful streets to completely different areas -- parks, an outdoor market or the anime district. The family running the Sawanoya are kind, courteous and honest. The price is unbeatable for a major city.…
For almost 20 years Sawanoya Ryokan has been my home away from home when I travel to Japan. I’ve sometimes tried other guesthouses but for my money I’ve not found one that’s better. The location, in a charming, residential part of old fashioned Yanaka, is fantastic. Not only does it feel like I’ve stepped back in time (in the best way possible) but it’s a short walk to Nezu metro that can get me anywhere quickly and easily. It’s also a few minutes to lovely Nezu Shrine and a longer but pleasant walk to Tokyo’s massive Ueno Park which houses the zoo and great museums. If you stay at Sawanoya, please take all the back streets because they’re so lovely and photogenic. Make sure you visit Yanaka Ginza too, which is really fun! I’ve only ever rented Japanese style rooms and they’ve been extremely comfortable and immaculate, with plenty of out of sight storage and hangers for my bags and clothes. (All of Sawanoya is incredibly well kept.) To save money I prefer a room with a shared bathroom but my room still had a sink, which is so handy. (By the way, I’ve never felt I was sharing the bathroom even though I was. And bonus: the toilet seat is heated!) The futon and memory foam pillow were warm and comfy and on arriving to my room each night I’d find someone had folded my yukuta (light cotton robe) and made my small room look better than I left it. The hallways are very wide and accessible if you’re travelling with large luggage (which you shouldn’t do anyway :-). Ahhh the Japanese bath! When they renovated a few years ago Sawanoya put in 2 gorgeous Japanese bath rooms on the 1st floor. Unless you suffer from real germophobia, I can’t recommend enough this wonderful way to end a busy day! Each room is for personal use and can accommodate up to 2 people. You set the sign to Occupied and enter a lovely, soothing space where you undress before stepping into the steamy shower and bath room. Here there’s soap, shampoo and everything you need to become squeaky clean. Through a small window you’ll see a fountain and sculpture in the tiny private yard that’s there only for your viewing pleasure! Once you’re clean you remove the wood panels covering the deep wooden or ceramic tub beside the washing area and slip into the very hot water. Yes, the bath water is shared (you don’t fill it or drain it) which is why washing well before is so essential. The effect of being in the steamy bath is like a cross between a sauna and a Japanese-style hot tub. I can’t think of a better reason to choose Sawanoya than this fantastic bedtime ritual that feels like a gift. Sawanoya Ryokan is family run and the service is warm and patient. You want to know where to go, what to do, in Japan? They’ll hook you up! They also offer good breakfasts if you don’t want to wing it like I do. The lounge has a wall of pamphlets and maps covering many regions of Japan, a great resource if you’re travelling through the country. Don’t miss an opportunity to see a part of Tokyo most never do and to experience budget Japanese hospitality and comfort at its finest!…
While staying at the Ryokan Sawanoya, I stayed at two rooms: both beautiful, with the futon made up and an origami crane on the pillow (which I loved!) and a water boiler and tea sets ready to make tea. And when I needed to change the room, the Ryokan also transferred my luggage, so I did not have to drag it down and leave it at the reception for one day. My rooms were also quiet and with good airco, so I slept well. I also enjoyed the public spaces of the rest of the Ryokan: the common room where I could chat with other travelers, the small exhibition of 'girls day' dolls, and most of all, soaking in the bath in the evening, with a view on the lantern-lit garden. The only thing of the Ryokan that I did not consider great was the breakfast, as the offering seemed limited to Japanse-style white bread possibly with (somewhat runny) eggs, which I personally do not greatly enjoy, but to be fair Sawanoya at the first day of arrival handed me a map of nearby places where Japanese and other alternative breakfasts can be found, and I do appreciate Sawanoya's option to at least order some (and very affordable, especially for hotel terms!) breakfast in cases that I was a bit lazy or time-strapped. And definitely, the price of the rooms was very good, especially given their quality; I've also been to a 'cabin hotel' which was only barely cheaper, but the experience at Sawanoya was for me infinitely better. In summary: while I'd warn my taller friends to be mindful of Ryokan Sawanoya being an old-style Japanese building, I definitely would recommend it for anyone who wants to stay in Tokyo. It may not be spectacular, but I found it to be great and very enjoyable, not the most luxurious place I visited, but likely the lodging where I felt happiest.…
This was my third stay at Sawanoya and this time I brought my mother with me. Everything is always lovely from the check-in, to the baths, to further exploring the adorable surrounding neighborhood. I cannot express enough how special this place is, and how much I enjoy staying here. It is an oasis within the craziness that is Tokyo and perfect for travelers looking for an authentic experience a bit off the beaten path and away from the craziness of Shinjuku and Shibuya. Thank you again!
Charming, quiet, comfortable, family run Ryokan. In a quiet neighbourhood, but close to transit. Loved it here: in fact we cancelled on another place to stay an extra night. Appreciated the fact that it is an LGBT friendly space. Japanese style rooms are lovely, and the hosts made us feel very welcome. The baths are small but nice and it was a nice perk to have them the morning we checked out. Highly recommend!
There is a reason why SR continue to impress travellers who keep coming back. They are helpful, warm and friendly in a low key manner; the tatami rooms are lovely - clean and comfortable as are all the other amenities such as bathroom and common room. The bathroom is a traditional style with helpful instructions for first time users. The location is very convenient and nice walk from the subway through the backstreets; they also provide helpful maps and brochures as well as Subway passes. Also the neighbourhood is lovely and quiet which is surprising considering how close it is to the centre and the prices are very reasonable considering that it is Tokyo! I will return again next year and really appreciate the discreet efforts they make to ensure the comfort and convenience of their guests.…
We stayed at Sawanoya in January of 2020. It is a lovely, quiet traditional japanese inn in a quiet residential area, but with great access to public transportation. It's great value for money and a perfect base from which to explore Tokyo. The hot bath downstairs was a great highlight and lovely at the end of a long and chilly day. The owners are very welcoming and helpful. Rooms are immaculately clean. There is tea in the room, free wifi, and a western breakfast downstairs (but we recommend going out for a japanese breakfast, there are so many options nearby!!!).
Ryokan Sawanoya is a traditional Japanese inn that's been run by the same family for many years. It's in a quiet neighbourhood a 5-minute walk from Nezu train station. The rooms are beautifully decorated - and if you're concerned about a futon mattress being too hard, then this is a good place to try one out as the owners put an extra mattress underneath for we Westerners who are used to more padding. There are toilets on each floor, with gorgeous traditional Japanese bathrooms (which look out on to a tranquil, private courtyard garden) on the ground floor (you can take a simple shower if you'd prefer). Each room has a small, low table with everything you need (including instructions) to make yourself some Japanese tea each morning. Mr Sawa and his family are lovely hosts, and you'll get a map of the local area on arrival which points out local temples, places to eat etc. This is a wonderfully warm, calm place to return to each day - there are no TVs (hooray!) but instead you come back to a soak in the amazing Japanese bath. Ryokan Sawanoya was by far our favourite place to stay during our two-week trip and we can't wait to return. Modern hotels seem soulless in comparison. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality.…
We stayed six nights at this Ryokan and it has been our favourite accommodation during our stay in Japan. It is great value for money, peaceful and clean and offers a traditional stay in a quiet area of Tokyo. The staff are friendly and welcoming and this would be our first place to stay should we visit Tokyo again. We highly recommend this accommodation.
We stayed in Ryokan Sawanoya in early December. We loved the ryokan and the staff. Our room felt very authentic with tatami matting and futons. I was worried I wouldn't be comfortable on a futon, but it was amazingly comfy and cozy and I slept better than I normally do which was a big help with the jet lag! The ryokan is in a nice quiet area, but with easy links into central tokyo by metro and ueno and ueno zoo a short walk away. If you wander round the back streets there are lots of small temples you can visit. There was also a good variety of restaurants within easy walking distance and some lovely little bars - there is one just few metres from the hotel that does craft beer and good bar food, another one that did amazing gin and tonics and we found a little whisky bar in the back streets which we loved. If you're after something a little bit different from your standard western hotel then this is perfect…
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