Finding the Best Asakusa Hotel for Your Tokyo Trip

When discussing the best place to stay during a trip to Tokyo, the name “Asakusa” comes up again and again, and there are a million reasons for this unique neighborhood’s popularity. It’s where you’ll find the oldest temple in Tokyo, Sensoji, surrounded by lively little streets full of shops selling souvenirs and some of Tokyo’s best street food. It’s also where sightseers from around Japan (and beyond) come to dress up in kimono, drink matcha, and enjoy traditional Japanese culture in Tokyo. It’s one of the best parts of Tokyo for visiting travelers, which makes Asakusa hotel rooms some of the most sought-after, too.

So which Asakusa hotel is the best choice for travelers? There are two in particular that stand out. Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku is a newer hotel that celebrates Japanese culture and local Asakusa traditions at every turn, presenting regular on-site cultural performances and Japanese-style rooms. Its predecessor across the street, Asakusa View Hotel, still offers the kinds of views of Asakusa that will stick with you for a lifetime, and the recently renovated Executive Suite rooms offer a truly memorable experience for anyone looking to live the high life in Tokyo. If you’re planning a trip to Tokyo, we’ve put together just some of the reasons why these hotels are worth considering.

New in Asakusa: Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Since its grand opening in spring 2023, Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku has been building a reputation as one of the best hotels in Tokyo for Japanese culture lovers. The hotel name is a reference to its location within the 6th district of Asakusa (“Asakusa Rokku”), but Rokku has historically been seen as a center of theater and light-hearted Japanese entertainment, and the hotel has taken inspiration from its surroundings.

This is a place where guests can get the full modern Japanese experience, from rooms with tatami mat floors to Japanese breakfast options. Each stay is also an opportunity for visitors to dive deep into traditional Japan, from real geisha dances to surprising bits of Japanese cinematic history. If you want to immerse yourself in Japanese culture during your stay in Asakusa, you’ll want to see what Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku is all about.

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku (浅草ビューホテル アネックス 六区)
2-9-10 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo
Check-in / Check-out: 15:00 / 11:00
Official Website (en) ・ Reservations

Unique Japanese Cultural Performances in Asakusa, Free for Hotel Guests!

Multiple times a week, the Broadway Rokku restaurant on the first floor of Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku turns into a performance space, hosting an array of different traditional arts on the restaurant’s raised stage. One of the most popular performances is the easiest to catch: a small troop of real Asakusa geishas performing on stage every Wednesday and Friday evening. Outside of Japan, media representation has made it difficult to truly understand what it means to be a geisha, but if you’re curious, we recommend checking out this performance. After years of intense training, these women are skilled dancers and musicians, icons of elegance whose graceful movements and shimmering outfits are a joy to watch. Tokyo’s geisha are consummate entertainers, and this performance even features an ultra-rare male geisha, whose subtle physical comedy adds a little humor to the evening.

Plan your stay for the third Sunday of the month, and you can catch a Kyoto “geiko,” whose performances are similar to Tokyo’s geisha, with subtle differences. Or come for the first Sunday, and you can see a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage performance with your own eyes. Noh theater is one of Japan’s most venerable performing arts, featuring fabulous costumes and careful movements. The ancient story lines are a little convoluted, but you can rely on the multilingual guide tablets on each table to help you follow the plot!

On the first and third Saturday of each month, you can grab a seat for a performance that requires no Japanese at all. Just let the vibrations of the Kodo to Hibiki musical troop flow through your body, and enjoy the boom of the taiko drums, the whistle of the shakuhachi flute, and the strums of the shamisen! The second and fourth Saturday of the month feature what is probably the rarest performance of all, one which even local Japanese rarely get to see in the modern day. In the days before the “talkies,” Japanese silent films were once narrated by a skilled professional “benshi” for a performance called “katsuben.” On the Broadway Rokku stage, you can watch these enthusiastic performers adding personality and fun to old Japanese silent films and animations, for a performance you won’t find anywhere else. A great experience for film buffs!

Not only are the performances conveniently located on the first floor of your hotel (the ideal place for one last adventure at the end of a long day), but hotel guests can enjoy them all for free! They’re hosted in the Broadway Rokku restaurant, so they just ask you to order a drink, and you can try some of the restaurant’s umami-packed dashi-based food if you’re hungry! Traveling with friends or family staying in another hotel? The performances are actually open to anyone, so they can come too—non-guests simply have to pay the admission fee.

➡︎ Performance Details

Modern Japanese Guest Rooms & Concept Rooms

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku does offer Standard Rooms with standard beds, but if you want to enjoy Japanese culture during your stay, we say go for one of the other options. The Moderate Room has tatami mats and futons placed directly on the floor, just like traditional Japanese homes! At the same time, those futons are extra thick and fluffy, for a restful night of sleep that won’t have you tossing and turning. The Deluxe Room is a similar set-up, but with extra space to stretch out—relax on the floor cushions with a cup of green tea for the full experience.

Just a few of the rooms at the hotel are concept rooms, with walls covered in art inspired by Japanese culture and history. The shoji screens in the Kabuki Room feature traditional illustrations of kabuki actors, stomping their feet in colorful costumes and striking dramatic poses beneath the plum blossoms. The walls are entertaining enough, but don’t worry—open the screens across from the bed, and you’ll find a TV where you can watch your favorite Japanese variety show.

Breakfast, Dinner, & Asakusa Snacks

This hotel is great for travelers visiting Tokyo with a food tour in mind, and there are a couple reasons why. First, the location in the middle of Asakusa makes it easy to access all the famous Asakusa street food spots, trendy neighborhood cafes, and izakaya on Hoppy Street (AKA Hoppy Dori). Second, the hotel itself is a great place to eat and snack, and you can get started as soon as you check in.

Head to the 10th-floor lounge “Furumai” any time from 3 pm until 10 to relax and recharge, with a fantastic view of Tokyo Skytree^® outside, and a selection of Asakusa snacks inside. Even if you’re not much of a snacker, it’s worth checking out, because the snack bar is packed with local Asakusa treats. There are slivers of Tokyo-style red-bean-filled dorayaki cakes, crunchy savory rice crackers, and colorful “Anko Balls” with smooth centers flavored like strawberry or matcha. To go with the food, there’s coffee, tea, matcha lattes, and even classic bottles of ramune—a favorite among kids of all ages. Many of these local snacks are difficult or expensive to buy in small quantities, so this is a unique opportunity to try a taste of Asakusa! If you find a favorite, you can do as the Japanese do, and bring home fancy local snacks as souvenirs. (You’ll find directions on each little sign!)

On nights with traditional Japanese performances, Broadway Rokku is open for dinner, and the dashi-based cuisine is a delicious and convenient option. In the morning, though, you definitely won’t want to miss the restaurant’s breakfast! Japanese hotels take breakfast seriously, and Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku offers a hearty spread. Each guest gets to choose from a selection of main dishes, from seasonal choices to classics, including traditional Japanese options with grilled fish and rice, an Asakusa-themed breakfast burger, custardy-soft French toast with yogurt, and a variety of egg options. Then, there’s also a “half buffet,” with a variety of baked goods, fresh fruits and veggies, and a variety of sides to add to your meal as you please. It’s an easy way to start your day bursting with energy and raring to go! Get out there and enjoy your visit to Asakusa!

An Upgraded Classic: Asakusa View Hotel

Asakusa is a protected historical area, and these days there are height limits on buildings in the neighborhood. But the original Asakusa View Hotel was established during Japan’s Showa period and grandfathered in, giving the building unrivaled views of the area. From east-facing windows throughout the hotel, guests can look out over Sensoji Temple and see straight to the glittering silhouette of Tokyo Skytree^®! To the west, you can see the Tokyo skyline, and Mt. Fuji in the distance. Asakusa View Hotel is an integral part of the neighborhood—one of the portable shrines used for Asakusa’s famous Sanja Festival is even kept in the hotel lobby when not being used for parades.

The hotel certainly isn’t stuck in the past, however, thanks to regular renovations that keep the facilities updated. The most recent upgrades have been focused on the hotel’s Executive Rooms, and the full experience for executive guests.

Asakusa View Hotel (浅草ビューホテル)
3-17-1 Nishiasakusa, Taito City, Tokyo
Check-in / Check-out: 15:00 / 12:00
Official Website (en) ・ Reservations

Renovated Rooms

Chic and minimal, with a little Japanese flair, the newly renovated Executive Rooms are like calm oases above the busy streets of Asakusa. There are a few different options, but if we could choose, we’d go for the Executive Junior Suite. Plush futons sit upon a raised tatami platform (the room sleeps up to 4). A small desk sits in the window nook, complete with a full tea set. A sofa and chair sit in front of floor-to-ceiling glass, with a little guide to help you identify all the landmarks outside. In the bathroom, a ReFa shower head and blow dryer. The cherry blossoms dancing across the wall art and into the design of the carpeting are the cherry on top!

The Executive Experience

It’s not just beautiful sleeping spaces that make the Executive experience at Asakusa View Hotel worth experiencing. Guests can also enjoy the premium experience at the 28th-floor lounge Hanabi! Hanabi is a well-kept secret among Tokyo locals, who come for the hotel’s afternoon tea, or a stylish cocktail after dark.

Book an Executive Room, and you can essentially enjoy the stylish lounge space whenever you want, and order whatever you please off an exclusive free menu: coffee, tea, sake, Japanese whiskey, beer, or wine, plum wine, snacks, desserts, and more. If nothing in particular stands out to you, of course you can order off the standard menu too, perhaps to try one of Hanabi’s original cocktails, like the “Sensoji” or the “Samurai.” Of course, all of this comes with the hotel’s famous views of Asakusa. Hanabi is a convenient place to relax for an afternoon snack while exploring Asakusa, and a luxurious space for a drink or two in the evening—just a few steps away from your room!

➡︎ Hanabi Details

In the morning, guests in Executive Rooms can also visit Hanabi for an exclusive Executive Breakfast, focused on carefully selected, premium organic ingredients, and house-made flavors. The star of the show is the bread baked just downstairs at Honoka, the hotel’s own bakery, which includes croissants, Japanese salt bread, and French pain de campagne stuffed with figs and cashews. To go with it, there’s a spread of premium meats and cheeses, jams and fruit compotes, as well as yogurt and granola. There are also umami-rich Miyabisanroku eggs, soft-boiled and served with Guerande sea salt, and nifty “Clack” egg openers to make the experience fun. Altogether, with the addition of some very fancy cold brew, it’s an elevated breakfast experience, but guests looking for something a little more hearty can also fill up at the hotel’s main breakfast area.

A Break in the “THE LOBBY BAL”

Guests looking for a more casual atmosphere in the evening can also check out the recently renovated Lobby Bal, a relaxed bar with comfortable seating and a big menu. Try a flight of local craft beer, or a Japanese-style plum wine mojito, and order something to eat from the selection of both Japanese and European-style choices. If you’re hungry, you’ll find quite a few substantial choices, but we recommend starting with the “imo kenpi,” a classic Japanese snack of crunchy sweet potato sticks.

➡︎ Bar Details

Make the Most of Your Tokyo Trip With a Stay in Asakusa!

Asakusa is the heart of Tokyo sightseeing, and you could spend days without setting foot outside the neighborhood, which is why it’s such a great place to stay when visiting Japan! So what deserves a spot on your itinerary?

Of course, the 1350-year-old temple of Sensoji is priority number one, but once you’ve explored the grounds and checked your fortune with an “omikuji,” you can also start searching out some of the area’s most famous eats. There’s traditional ningo-yaki cakes and crunchy kaminari okoshi rice snacks (available to try at the Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku lounge), as well as more modern treats like matcha ice cream and melon bread. Asakusa is heaven for anyone with a sweet tooth!

Got more time? Spend an afternoon at the ultra-retro Asakusa Hanayashiki amusement park, walk a few minutes westwards to Kappabashi Dogugai (Kitchen Down) to shop for Japanese knives and beautiful ceramics, or walk ten minutes south to the trendy neighborhood of Kuramae for a cafe tour!

When it comes to souvenir shopping, Asakusa is full of interesting little shops, but steps away from both hotels, you’ll also find the famous Don Quijote, a well-stocked Muji, a flagship Uniqlo (and its sister store GU), and multiple convenient malls.

There are so many reasons to plan a stay in Asakusa. The renovated rooms of Asakusa View Hotel, or the unique cultural experiences at Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku, just make the decision even easier! So when it comes time to book your hotel for your trip to Tokyo, instead of worrying “where should I stay?” You might find yourself thinking “which of these two Asakusa hotels should I choose this time?”

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