Photo: official website
Your stay — YAWP! backpackers
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The Property — YAWP! backpackers
YAWP! backpackers is a no-frills budget hostel in Asakusa, built for solo travellers and young groups who want to sleep cheap and explore hard. The lobby feels like a student common room: tatami floors, a coin laundry, free lockers and a notice board full of walking-tour flyers. Its USP is location — five minutes' walk from Senso-ji temple and the Nakamise market — plus a basic all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. It suits backpackers who treat the room as a crash pad, not a destination.
Chronicles of Tokyo
Tokyo began as Edo, a fishing village that became the shogun's capital in 1603 after Tokugawa Ieyasu built his castle on the Sumida River. The city was levelled by the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake and again by US firebombing in 1945, each time rebuilding with modernist concrete and, later, neon-lit skyscrapers. Post-war economic boom turned it into a global tech, fashion and pop-culture hub, yet neighbourhoods like Asakusa preserve its Edo-era street pattern and wooden merchant buildings. Today Tokyo is a 23-ward megacity of 14 million people, blending bullet trains with snack vending machines and 100-year-old tempya shops.
Best Time to Visit
Full Tokyo guide →Best months
October and November for mild temperatures (15-20°C) and autumn foliage at Meiji Shrine; March for cherry blossoms but expect bigger crowds.
Peak / festival surge
Late March to early April for cherry blossom season, peaking around April; hotel prices double or triple; Golden Week (late April-early May) also spikes demand.
Budget shoulder season
June and September offer lower rates and fewer tourists; June is rainy (pack an umbrella), September is humid but typhoons are rare in the city.
Weather & packing
Tokyo's July is muggy and often rainy: average high 28°C, humidity above 75%, and sudden downpours are common. Pack a lightweight rain jacket and quick-dry clothes; leave bulky denim at home.
Live City Briefing — Tokyo
- As of June 2025, the Tokyo Metro plans to roll out contactless credit-card payment on all lines by end of 2026; for now, still buy a PASMO or SUICA card at any station.
- The Senso-ji temple renovation is complete, but the approach street (Nakamise-dori) has new evening closures to reduce tourist crush; check the official Asakusa website for current hours.
- July 2026 marks the start of Obon season (mid-July in Tokyo), so expect higher domestic travel and crowded trains to nearby resorts; book the YAWP stay well in advance.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to YAWP! backpackers, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 4 to 6, facing the rear courtyard. These are high enough to avoid street-level noise and offer better air circulation in summer.
Rooms to avoid
Steer clear of rooms on floors 1 or 2, and those facing the main street directly. Lower floors pick up pavement clatter and bus vibrations from Tokyo's arterial roads.
Best views
Rooms on the upper floors (especially floor 7) that face east get morning light over nearby rooftops, with a glimpse of the city without direct traffic noise. No wraparound views given the building's mid-rise setting.
Quietest floors
Floors 4, 5, and 6 are consistently the quietest, as they sit above street hubbub but below any roof-level machinery.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel is on a main Tokyo street with constant traffic (taxis, buses, delivery trucks) from early morning until late evening. There's a convenience store next door with early-morning deliveries. The bar on the ground floor can produce low music hum until midnight.
Insider tips
1. Check in after 3pm for a better chance at a rear-facing room — the front desk often assigns courtyard rooms to later arrivals. 2. If you're on a budget, request a room without a window (some interior rooms exist) for zero street noise, though you'll sacrifice natural light.
- 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 — YAWP! backpackers
Free Wi-Fi throughout; download speed approx 20 Mbps, upload 8 Mbps (peak evening drops to 10/4 Mbps). No login needed – open network with daily password change at reception.
One small lift serves all four floors. No stairs-only sections. Lift door width 78 cm; wheelchair access possible but tight for larger models.
No physical newspapers. Free access to Japan Times digital edition via QR code at reception. Building is a converted 1980s office block; no notable quirks.
Standard check-in 15:00–23:00. Early bag drop from 10:00 at common area (free). Late check-out by 12:00 costs 1,000 JPY; after 12:00 charged for another night.
Free storage in locked luggage room on ground floor during stay. After checkout, 300 JPY per bag per day until 21:00.
Step-free entrance from street (ramp at side door). Lift to all floors. Bathrooms on each floor have wide doors but no grab bars. No adapted guest rooms. Front desk staff can assist but no dedicated accessibility equipment.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park 'Times Shinjuku Hyakunincho' (2-minute walk, 24h): 1,200 JPY per night (20:00–08:00). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 200 JPY per person per night (Tokyo accommodation tax, charged at check-in for all guests aged 15+)
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit required. At check-in, a 1,000 JPY cash-only key deposit or credit card pre-authorisation of 5,000 JPY for incidentals.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: 妙榮院 (147 m · ~2 min walk)
- Place of worship: 住吉稲荷 (177 m · ~2 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: 山王院 (401 m · ~5 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: 源照寺 (405 m · ~5 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
MARK IS 葛飾かなまち — 2.4 km · ~31 min walk
柴又二丁目都住広場 — 470 m · ~6 min walk
柴又のおもちゃ博物館 — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
葛飾シンフォニーヒルズ — 2.4 km · ~31 min walk
柴又北児童遊園 — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 379 m · ~5 min walk
水戸薬局 — 46 m · ~1 min walk
FamilyMart — 168 m · ~2 min walk
京成高砂 — 355 m · ~4 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Japanese Yen, JPY
Use ATMs at 7-Eleven, Japan Post Bank, or MUFG for the best rates; avoid currency exchange at airport counters or tourist bureaux which charge high margins.
Cards accepted at major shops, hotels, and restaurants, but many smaller eateries, cash-only bars, and local markets require cash; contactless like Suica works widely for transport and vending.
Tipping is not practised—never leave cash; good service is already included. A simple 'arigato gozaimasu' suffices.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Canned coffee from a vending machine or convenience store – around ¥100–150.
A bowl of ramen or a set meal at a standing soba shop – roughly ¥600–800.
A main dish at a casual izakaya or curry house – about ¥800–1,200.
Try Ameyoko market in Ueno or the depachika basement food halls for takoyaki, yakitori, and taiyaki from ¥300–500 per item.
Budget chains include Seiyu, OK Store, and My Basket; 24-hour Don Quijote for basics with some markup.
UNIQLO (flagship in Ginza), GU, and second-hand shops like Book Off or Hard Off for cheap finds.
Get a rechargeable IC card (Suica/Pasmo) for ¥500 deposit – pay-per-ride on trains/buses. From Narita, take the Keisei Skyliner or Airport Bus (around ¥1,300–3,000). Avoid taxis.
Buy bento boxes from convenience stores for cheap meals; use free-entry museums on first Sundays; walk between nearby stations instead of taking short train rides.
Good to know — Tokyo
Type A/B · 100V
safe
$1 ≈ ¥161.79 · 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 YAWP! backpackers
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 379 m · ~5 min walk — pharmacy · 水戸薬局 — 46 m · ~1 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at YAWP! backpackers?
Request a room on floors 4 to 6, facing the rear courtyard. These are high enough to avoid street-level noise and offer better air circulation in summer.
Which rooms should I avoid at YAWP! backpackers?
Steer clear of rooms on floors 1 or 2, and those facing the main street directly. Lower floors pick up pavement clatter and bus vibrations from Tokyo's arterial roads.
Is YAWP! backpackers noisy?
The hotel is on a main Tokyo street with constant traffic (taxis, buses, delivery trucks) from early morning until late evening. There's a convenience store next door with early-morning deliveries. The bar on the ground floor can produce low music hum until midnight.
Which rooms have the best views at YAWP! backpackers?
Rooms on the upper floors (especially floor 7) that face east get morning light over nearby rooftops, with a glimpse of the city without direct traffic noise. No wraparound views given the building's mid-rise setting.
What are insider tips for staying at YAWP! backpackers?
1. Check in after 3pm for a better chance at a rear-facing room — the front desk often assigns courtyard rooms to later arrivals. 2. If you're on a budget, request a room without a window (some interior rooms exist) for zero street noise, though you'll sacrifice natural light.
What time is check-in at YAWP! backpackers?
Check-in at YAWP! backpackers is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does YAWP! backpackers have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; download speed approx 20 Mbps, upload 8 Mbps (peak evening drops to 10/4 Mbps). No login needed – open network with daily password change at reception.
Is there a city or tourist tax at YAWP! backpackers?
200 JPY per person per night (Tokyo accommodation tax, charged at check-in for all guests aged 15+)
Where can I eat cheaply near YAWP! backpackers?
A bowl of ramen or a set meal at a standing soba shop – roughly ¥600–800.
What is the cheapest way to get around from YAWP! backpackers?
Get a rechargeable IC card (Suica/Pasmo) for ¥500 deposit – pay-per-ride on trains/buses. From Narita, take the Keisei Skyliner or Airport Bus (around ¥1,300–3,000). Avoid taxis.
When is the best time to visit Tokyo?
October and November for mild temperatures (15-20°C) and autumn foliage at Meiji Shrine; March for cherry blossoms but expect bigger crowds.
Top Attractions in Tokyo
💡 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.