An old-fashioned ryokan in the heart of the city
A surprise of finding such an old-fashioned Japanese inn in the city. That would be anyone’s first impression of this ryokan. That is how much of the good old Japanese inn has been passed down to the present day at “Edoya” in Yushima.
Yushima is close to popular touristique areas in Tokyo such as Ueno, Akihabara, Shinjuku、 and Omotesando. Edoya is located in the midst of number of fun places to stop by and feel the history of Tokyo University, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Kanda Myojin Shrine, and many other places.
Just like grandma’s place
The interior of this Japanese inn established in 1967, bathed in soft lights, filled with a relaxed atmosphere made me feel as if I had stepped back in time a long time ago, just by stepping inside. After receiving a guest room key from the front desk, I went to my room. There are 49 rooms in total, most of which are traditional Japanese-style rooms. I took off my shoes, stepped onto the tatami mats, and sipped a cup of sencha green tea on the tatami table. After changing into a yukata (Japanese bathrobe), I went to the public bath and went to bed at night on a soft futon. You can spend such a relaxing time that you may forget that you are in central Tokyo.
Soft light lighting up the corridor
Sleeping on tatami mats with futon bedding is a pleasure unique to Japanese ryokan.
The large bathhouse, which also has a sauna and open-air bath, is open from 3PM to 10AM the next day(※The sauna is until 1AM). After returning to the inn late at night, it’s great for us tourists to be able to stretch our legs and relieve our fatigue in the spacious baths. After warming your body in the bath and sauna, you can relax in the relaxation room next to the large bath, cool off in the breeze on the rooftop patio, or play mahjong if you are interested.
Open-air bath
The next day, after a relaxing soak in the large bath and futon, start the day with breakfast to build up your energy. At the restaurant “Kosetsu” attached to Edoya, you can enjoy a buffet featuring both Japanese and Western menus.
During lunch and dinner hours, “Kosetsu” can also be used as a public restaurant. Be sure to try the famous Mizukoshi soba noodles, which are made daily in the restaurant.
Walking around Edoya, you will see many thank-you letters from overseas guests who have stayed at Edoya and many messages posted on the “Where are you from?” board at the front desk. In fact, many of the guests come from overseas, either as repeat guests or by word of recommendation from guests who have stayed at the hotel before.
Messages from overseas guests
There are so many reasons why Edoya is loved: the calm and relaxing Japanese-style interior, the experience of staying at an onsen ryokan, the existence of rooms that are easily sized to accommodate families and groups, and the excellent location. Among them, the most important reason why Edoya is loved by many customers is that “While hotels in the world are pursuing convenience, they value having a connection with their customers. We could introduce automatic teller machines, but we don’t do that because we believe that the human connection is what is important.” I felt that this is the “customer-oriented mindset” of the manager and his staff.
Conclusion
The hotel is located in the heart of the city, but has a calm and quiet atmosphere that makes you forget that you are in the center of the city. It is a place that offers healing not only to tourists, but also to Tokyo residents. Hotel Edoya is a precious place that has inherited the traditional Japanese ryokan, loved by all, to the present day.