This is an old-school business hotel... renovated, comfortable, well-located, but old-school.

The building must be around 30-40 years old, but the front looks out over Shinobazunoike (Ueno Park's lotus-covered pond), which is a great view. The lobby is gloomy and a bit cramped, but respectable. Check-in was efficient, and as usual in a business hotel, you pre-pay.

The room was a good size (reflecting the hotel's age), plain, but quite well equipped with cabled internet (free - and free wifi in the lobby), a kettle, and a good sized bathroom with a long bath. I had a twin room that overlooked the park. The bed was a little too soft but I still slept well.

I didn't eat in the hotel, but there are three restaurants attached (and hundreds within a 5 minute walk). I did have a drink in the bar on the top floor, which was like a 1960's period drama - dark, armchairs, bow-tied waiters, bottles of whisky, ashtrays - and a hefty cover charge for a quick beer.

I should mention the neighbourhood. Right behind is Ueno-hirokoji, one of the major nightlife areas in Tokyo, choc-a-bloc with bars both respectable and not, restaurants (from fast food to memorable), as well as soaplands and other pinkish entertainment. The next door area is Yushima, renowed for its hourly rate hotels. This is Japan so it's perfectly safe, even for a single woman, but your business associates may snicker if you tell them where you stayed. However in front is Ueno Park, with the Metropolitan Museum, half a dozen other museums and galleries, the zoo, and avenues of cherry blossoms, and a short walk away is Tokyo University, at the top of Japan's "Ivy League" of universities. It's a great combination of contrasts for a tourist.

There's also the Keisei Skyliner to Narita Airport, faster than the JR Narita Express, so this is very convenient for pre- or post-flight resting.

Check out was very straightforward. I didn't have breakfast - it's a buffet in the attached Italian restaurant and was very crowded - but there were half a dozen options open in the early morning on my way to the train station, all good (and cheaper!).

This is a solid good quality hotel, a little faded, but comfortable and well located.

The hotel is 5 minutes walk from Ueno JR and Keisei station.
We booked a japanese style room. It was clean and wide, compared to Japanese Hotel's standard.
It's a pity it faced the back side of the hotel, with a view over Ueno's roofs and Tokyo's crows, not the Park's pond.
No non-smiking japanese style room were available. Nevertheless there was no smell in the room.

This restaurant is a perfectly pleasant place to stay, and is very convenient, being a block or so away from the Keisei Ueno train station (to catch the express from Narita Airport), the JR Ueno Station (to catch the trains and subways all around Tokyo), the Ameyoko Markets (which are adjacent to Ueno station), as well as Ueno Park itself (including the Ueno Zoo with its famous Panda Bears and many fabulous museums). A perfect spot to base yourself, with plenty to do and see close at hand. We caught the train from the airport straight to Ueno Station and easily rolled our suitcases with the kids to the Hotel.

We chose this hotel for its Tatami Rooms, which accommodated our family of four in one room at a reasonable cost. The hotel does have rooms with a view of Ueno park, but not ours, alas.

The hotel has two restaurants, one which serves a full western and Japanese menu breakfast. But this was quite expensive at ¥1,365 per person. Probably only worth it once, for the experience. Much better options present themselves at Ueno Station, with numerous coffee shops that sell reasonably priced and tasty breakfasts for tourists on the go.

Tea facilities are at hand, but only green tea is provided. I suggest bringing coffee, sugar and a teaspoon with you. We bought milk at a deli and put it in the bar fridge provided, which wasn't overly cold, but it was lovely to be able to relax in the pleasing room with a coffee.

The other restaurant serves quite classy meals for dinner, including Shabu Shabu, which is worth the experience.

Japanese dressing gowns are provided for use during your stay, together with slippers for each occupant, which you are free to take home. We brought ours home and have delighted in them.

The hotel has two exits. One faces Ueno Park, and is quite pretty and safe. The other faces onto a street full of night clubs and bars, with plenty of touts in evidence. Quite safe to walk up and down, but I would only go inside one with a group of people.

The hotel had a free internet cable that we borrowed from reception and plugged our laptop directly into their computer to be charged and to access the free internet.

Easy to get to from Narita Express, 200m walk, excelent service. Nice breakfast. Italian and Shabu Shabu restaurants OK. Good rooms overlooking the park. Plenty of retaurants locally as well as a number of interesting looking clubs!