Your stay — Mustard Hotel
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The Property — Mustard Hotel
The Mustard Hotel, a compact 3-star in Shintomicho, feels like a well-run youth hostel that grew up. Lobby is all exposed concrete, warm wood and a single long bench where guests tap away on laptops or nurse a filter coffee from the in-house roastery. It’s functional, not fussy: dorm-style rooms and private cabins share spotless bathrooms, and the USP is the ground-floor cafe that opens onto the street. Best for solo travellers or couples who prioritise location and a smart price over privacy and room service.
Chronicles of Tokyo
Tokyo was Edo, a fishing village turned shogun’s capital in 1603. The 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake and WWII firebombing levelled much of it, so the city you walk today is largely post-1960s concrete, bullet trains and neon. What remains are pockets of old: the Senso-ji temple complex in Asakusa, the Meiji Shrine’s forest, and narrow lanes in Yanaka. Now it’s a hyper-efficient metropolis where 1960s office blocks share blocks with glass skyscrapers and hidden alleyway ramen shops.
Best Time to Visit
Full Tokyo guide →Best months
April (cherry blossom, mild 15°C) and October–November (clear skies, low humidity, 18–22°C). Both avoid summer’s suffocating heat and winter’s dry chill.
Peak / festival surge
Late March–early April for cherry blossom (sakura) season. Hotels book out months ahead; prices spike by 50–80%. The crowds are at Shinjuku Gyoen and Ueno Park.
Budget shoulder season
May and September. Both offer decent weather (20–28°C), lower hotel rates, and thinner crowds. September has the bonus of autumn colours starting in the north.
Weather & packing
Tokyo in July is brutally hot and humid (30+°C, 80% humidity). Pack one lightweight, quick-dry long-sleeve shirt for sun protection and air-conditioned trains—and always carry a small folding umbrella for sudden downpours.
Live City Briefing — Tokyo
- The Tsukiji Outer Market remains open but check for temporary closures on Wednesday afternoons; some stalls still close on local holidays.
- JR East is upgrading signalling on the Yamanote Line through July 2026, causing occasional 10–15 minute delays around Shinbashi and Tokyo stations.
- The new ‘Tokyo Night View’ open-top bus service launched from Ginza in May 2026, running hourly until 10pm – book a day ahead.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Mustard Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 6 through 8 at the back of the building (south side). These are high enough to avoid street noise but not so high that lift traffic becomes an issue, and the rear orientation avoids the main road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floor 2 (directly above the entrance and lobby, where street noise and foot traffic are loudest) and any room facing the main street on floors 1-5.
Best views
Best view is from a rear-facing room on floor 8, looking out over low-rise Tokyo rooftops and possibly a patch of skyline — not spectacular, but avoids the street.
Quietest floors
Floors 6 through 8 on the rear side of the building are the quietest — furthest from street and lift traffic.
🔊 Noise notes
The Mustard Hotel is on a main Tokyo street, so road noise from cars, buses, and scooters is constant on lower front-facing rooms. Lift motors can be heard on floors directly adjacent to the single lift shaft.
Insider tips
1) If you have heavy luggage, request a room on floors 3-5 to avoid the slow single lift — stair access is quicker. 2) Check in early (before 3pm) to secure a rear-facing room; they're often the first to go.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Mustard Hotel
Free for all guests, speeds around 50 Mbps down; login via room number and surname, no time limit
One passenger lift serves all 8 floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital access to Japan Times via QR code at reception; building is a 1980s business hotel with no major heritage quirks
Check-in from 15:00; late check-out until 12:00 for 3,000 JPY; early bag drop allowed from 10:00 at reception
Free at front desk on day of arrival and departure; no charge for short-term
Step-free entrance via ramp at side door; wheelchair-accessible rooms available on 1st floor; lift is standard width (80 cm), no braided tactile paving throughout
No on-site parking; nearest public car park (Times Shibuya) is 200 m away, 1,500 JPY per night (15:00-10:00); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 200 JPY per person per night (mandatory for stays over 10,000 JPY per person per night; otherwise 100 JPY)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; 2,000 JPY incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: 真龍寺 (450 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: 日本キリスト教団 代々木上原教会 (741 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: 日本ナザレン教団 下北沢キリスト教会 (747 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: 日本キリスト教団 富士見丘教会 (764 m · ~10 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Recipe SHIMOKITA — 710 m · ~9 min walk
北沢さんきゅう広場 — 11 m · ~1 min walk
日本民藝館 — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
シーター711 — 302 m · ~4 min walk
Kaba-koen / カバ公園 — 1.5 km · ~19 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 644 m · ~8 min walk
みなと薬局 — 335 m · ~4 min walk
ファミリーマート — 160 m · ~2 min walk
東北沢 — 174 m · ~2 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Japanese Yen, JPY
Use ATMs at 7-Eleven, Japan Post Bank, or Mizuho for the best rates. Avoid airport and hotel exchange counters – they give poor rates.
Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are widely accepted in chain stores, restaurants, and hotels. Many smaller shops and eateries are cash-only. Suica/Pasmo contactless is common on transport and at convenience stores.
Not practised – no tipping in restaurants, taxis, or to hotel staff. Good service is standard.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Canned coffee from a vending machine or convenience store – about 120-150 yen.
Rice bowl or set meal (teishoku) at a standing counter – about 700-900 yen.
A bowl of ramen – around 800-1,200 yen.
Ameya-Yokocho (Ameyoko) market near Ueno for takoyaki, yakitori, and crepes from small stalls.
Supermarkets like My Basket, Seiyu, and Don Quijote have good prices. Convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson) are pricier but open 24/7.
Uniqlo for basics, Don Quijote for casual wear, and second-hand shops like Book Off Super Bazaar for bargains.
Suica/Pasmo card (prepaid, refundable deposit) for all trains/subways; a single trip within central Tokyo costs 170-300 yen. From Narita, the Keisei Skyliner (about 2,570 yen) or cheaper Keisei Main Line (1,330 yen). From Haneda, the Keikyu Line (330 yen to Shinagawa).
1. Buy a 24/48/72-hour Tokyo Metro pass (800/1,200/1,500 yen) if you'll use the subway a lot. 2. Eat lunch specials (same food as dinner but cheaper). 3. Fill a water bottle at public water fountains – tap water is safe.
Good to know — Tokyo
Type A/B · 100V
safe
$1 ≈ ¥162.49 · JPY
Emergency Contacts
TokyoIn Japan, dial 110 for police and 119 for ambulance/fire services. English-speaking operators may be available. For tourist assistance, contact the Japan National Tourism Organization hotline or your hotel concierge.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Tokyo, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Mustard Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 644 m · ~8 min walk — pharmacy · みなと薬局 — 335 m · ~4 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Narita International Airport → Palace Hotel Tokyo
💡 Most expensive but fastest during off-peak. Use Nihongo taxi counters or pre-book via hotel for best rates.
Throughout central Tokyo (from Palace Hotel) → All major districts
💡 Get Suica/Pasmo card (¥2,000, ¥1,500 usable). Marunouchi Line platform is directly below hotel. Fastest local transit.
Narita International Airport Terminals 1, 2, 3 → Palace Hotel Tokyo
💡 Direct service to hotel. No transfers needed. Book online for ¥2,600. Luggage handling included.
Narita International Airport → Tokyo Station (5 mins walk to Palace Hotel Tokyo)
💡 Most convenient option. Buy a round-trip ticket for ¥5,070. Hotel concierge can arrange return booking.
About Tokyo
Wikipedia ↗
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and most populous city of Japan. The population of the city proper was over 14 million as of 2023. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of six neighboring prefectures, is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the world, ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Mustard Hotel?
Request a room on floors 6 through 8 at the back of the building (south side). These are high enough to avoid street noise but not so high that lift traffic becomes an issue, and the rear orientation avoids the main road.
Which rooms should I avoid at Mustard Hotel?
Avoid rooms on floor 2 (directly above the entrance and lobby, where street noise and foot traffic are loudest) and any room facing the main street on floors 1-5.
Is Mustard Hotel noisy?
The Mustard Hotel is on a main Tokyo street, so road noise from cars, buses, and scooters is constant on lower front-facing rooms. Lift motors can be heard on floors directly adjacent to the single lift shaft.
Which rooms have the best views at Mustard Hotel?
Best view is from a rear-facing room on floor 8, looking out over low-rise Tokyo rooftops and possibly a patch of skyline — not spectacular, but avoids the street.
What are insider tips for staying at Mustard Hotel?
1) If you have heavy luggage, request a room on floors 3-5 to avoid the slow single lift — stair access is quicker. 2) Check in early (before 3pm) to secure a rear-facing room; they're often the first to go.
What time is check-in at Mustard Hotel?
Check-in at Mustard Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Mustard Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests, speeds around 50 Mbps down; login via room number and surname, no time limit
Is there a city or tourist tax at Mustard Hotel?
200 JPY per person per night (mandatory for stays over 10,000 JPY per person per night; otherwise 100 JPY)
Where can I eat cheaply near Mustard Hotel?
Rice bowl or set meal (teishoku) at a standing counter – about 700-900 yen.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Mustard Hotel?
Suica/Pasmo card (prepaid, refundable deposit) for all trains/subways; a single trip within central Tokyo costs 170-300 yen. From Narita, the Keisei Skyliner (about 2,570 yen) or cheaper Keisei Main Line (1,330 yen). From Haneda, the Keikyu Line (330 yen to Shinagawa).
When is the best time to visit Tokyo?
April (cherry blossom, mild 15°C) and October–November (clear skies, low humidity, 18–22°C). Both avoid summer’s suffocating heat and winter’s dry chill.
Top Attractions in Tokyo
💡 Takeshita Street is extremely crowded on weekends — visit on a weekday morning if you want to actually move through the shops rather than the crowd.
💡 Go on a Sunday when the palace grounds are open for a guided tour (free, first come first served, starts 10:00 and 13:30). Otherwise the gardens are quiet on weekday mornings.
💡 Visit on a Sunday afternoon when Chuo-dori closes to traffic — it becomes a lively street market. The top-floor observation deck of the Itoya stationery store is free and gives great views over the district.
💡 Bring a picnic and sit by Shinobazu Pond. The lotus flowers in July-August are stunning. Free entry to the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum on the first Monday of the month.
💡 Skip the main gate queues. Enter through the side streets off Nakamise-dori for a more local feel. The temple is at its calmest just after sunrise.
💡 Go just before sunset on a weekday. Fewer crowds and the torii gates look fantastic as the light fades. Watch for wedding processions on weekend mornings.
💡 Go on a weekday in late November for incredible autumn colours (the maple trees are unbeatable). The greenhouse is free and often overlooked.