I booked this ryokan based on Trip Advisor, and was pleased with it. Friendly, English speaking staff who go out of their way to help you. Location is in a residential neighborhood away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. Rooms are small, but for the price ($79 US), more than fair. Complimentary internet, and a jacuzzi on the 4th floor. Western style shower too. One negative is that if you are not used to the Japanese bedding in a ryokan, it can be hard to get a good night of sleep. I also stayed at Ryokan Sawanoya and enjoyed sampling both properties.

Great find!
The rooms are small but perfectly adequate and spotless (as are all other spaces), the staff is extremely friendly and helpful, and the breakfast is great value and delicious.
While it's not central it is very near a station on the Hibiya line, so getting around was never a problem. The neighbourhood is quiet, which was actually welcome after spending the day in the hustle and bustle.
As for amenities - the jacuzzi on the top floor is a nice end to the day. And the tea ceremony, also open to non-guests, was very special - insightful and fun.
Would definitely recommend it and go back.

We loved Andon - we stayed on two occasions a couple of years ago, and absolutely loved it.

Location-wise it's a little off, but it is in a nice quiet residential area, and we appreciated staying in a neighborhood where people actually live. It's also a short trip away from Ueno, which is a good major hub to be close to with shops and markets and restaurants and parks and temples - just about everything you'd need.

Staff was extremely helpful and the whole place is very traveler/backpacker friendly and welcoming. Breakfast is great, and there's tea available all day. Rooms are TINY (you can touch both walls at the same time if you stretch your arms), and rather cold, but duvets are LOVELY. Make sure you take part in the on site tea ceremony, and do book the upstairs sento bath (hot tub), but beware, it's VERY hot.

If you want to experience Japan and meet other travelers, there is no better place than Andon to do so.

The Andon Ryokan is an inexpensive yet unusual hotel in Taito, Tokyo. Hidden in a quiet residential street just a short walk from Minowa Station the innovative and modern Andon Ryokan is instantly recognisable amongst the hotchpotch of modern concrete towers and old-fashioned wooden structures that surround it. Conceived from the idea of creating traditional Japanese features in modern materials, the hotel was designed by architect Irie Masayuki and featured in a 2005 Architectural Institute of Japan journal. An opaque glass facade, representative of shoji screens, covers the front of the building while metal panels and louvres replace a traditional wooden framework. Just like the paper lantern that the ryokan takes its name from the whole hotel is illuminated at night as guest room lights shine through the translucent green glass. Inside the hotel's sleek black walls, narrow corridors and concrete floors border on the industrial but are interrupted by alcoves filled with brightly coloured Japanese antiques ...

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http://itsumojapan.blogspot.com/2011/06/review-andon-ryokan-tokyo.html