“Great place to stay and discover Tokyo!”
5 of 5 bubbles
This is a great little hidden gem of a place for backpackers and travellers to stay, especially if it's your first time in Tokyo, as it was for me.
It's a small converted property with shared bathroom facilities, and it has a wonderfully cozy, homely style. Japanese books, ornaments and trinkets adorn the stairways and the bookshelves in the living room area. There a small kitchenette with free tea & coffee, with a fridge, kitchen utensils, plates etc. for those who wish to cook themselves up something. Conveniently, there's also a 24-hour Family Mart store right around the corner for you to purchase snacks whenever you feel like it.
The host I met, Kayo, was amazing in the fact that I arrived much later than anticipated, yet she stayed back to ensure I received a warm welcome and gave me a short tour around the house so could get my bearings. She was very gracious, her English was of a good standard so there were no issues communicating, and she made sure I was comfortable about where I was going the next day to explore Tokyo.
The property has a small rooftop garden, surrounded by other taller building in a nice, quiet area off the main street. The toilets had heated seats(!), and the bathroom sinks and basic shower facilities were always clean.
They have a board in the lounge area where they display you name next to the flag(s) per your nationality/country of origin, which is a lovely touch. There's a also a Guestbook you can sign - even the artwork in it from some former guests sums up how much others appreciated their stay.
I loved my stay at the Tokyo Candlehouse and I'm glad I chose it instead of a soulless modern hotel in the centre of the city. It's located right near the river and at the time of year I went there was cherry blossoms lining it all the way down to the subway station (Ichigaya), which was only a short walk away (about 10 mins).
It's clear to me the hosts of this place really care about their guest enjoying their stay, and it surpassed my own expectations. I would most definitely stay here again.