Top Business Hotels in Ichikawa

I know this area very well as I lived there for years with my Japanese wife and had to return to Japan for the sale of a property so thought it would be good to stay here for 8 days as the location was good for what we were doing. So let's be positive and get the good bits out of the way first. The location is very convenient as it is a one minute walk from Ichikawa Station and from there you can take a train directly to Narita Airport (85 minutes) or into the centre of Tokyo (30 minutes). It is not in the centre of Tokyo but Ichikawa is a busy area with everything you will need for your stay, lots of shops, banks, supermarkets, convenience stores, a short walk from temples; I certainly recommend a walk to Shimosa-Nakayama and the temple there which is not touristy at all. The chamber maids are friendly and do an excellent job of keeping the rooms of this old wreck in good condition. I didn't hang the 'Clean my room' notice on my door each day but they did it anyway and the sheets and towels (small towels) were clean, bed comfortable and bathroom very clean. I left my laptop out when I wasn't there and didn't feel uneasy about it. In each corridor is a shelf of all the toiletry items you may need, razors, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner etc etc. It is all free and can be taken for use in your room. There are also drink vending machines, including beer which I think is on the 8th floor. At night the hotel is very quiet, you can't hear the traffic below unless you open the windows but it is very near Route 14, a police station, a fire station and an ambulance station so you may hear sirens but not normal traffic or other guests. There is a very cheap laundry 'room' on the 8th floor with shelves of (Japanese) books for you to read while you wait for your washing. There is also meant to be free coffee on this floor but I just saw a sign saying it wasn't available that day (every day). OK, niceties over. The reception is on the 6th floor but you won't know this unless you read Japanese as the building is shared with other businesses. There are two entrances and the nearest to the station is harder to find but more convenient. You need to come out of Ichikawa station ticket wickets and turn right down the steps. You will see Mizuho bank and Daily Yamazaki in front to the right. Walk towards them and turn right along the street past the KFC. Go straight up the pedestrian street on your left at the little crossroads until you see the Veloce coffee shop on your right. Go up the steps by the right side of the coffee shop and you enter a lobby. Take the glass doors in front of you but slightly on the left and follow the corridor around to another lobby. Take the lift to the 6th floor for a unique greeting. You could also come out of the station and walk straight ahead to the main road, turn right about 50 metres and the entrance is clearly marked but it's a longer walk. Once in the hotel reception you will be met with a strong smell of stale cigarett

It was very easy because it was almost directly connected to the station. There are no restaurants and restaurants around, but there is a convenience store in the hotel. I'm glad that the shower room and toilet are different, but I was troubled that there was no place to put a bath towel in the shower room. Free breakfast was available from two restaurants. I chose Chinese food, but honestly, I was disappointed with the taste of ”free, so I can't help it”. Check-in and check-out are almost self-service. My room was not at all concerned about the sound of the train. I booked the day in a hurry, so I didn't have time to search a lot. I chose it at a price close to the station, but these two are clear hotels.