This was our first time staying at an APA Hotel, and our experience was great. APA is a well-known hotel chain across Japan—you can even find 2–3 APA hotels in a single area! Make sure you double-check which APA you're booking if you're staying in a popular district. Our stay at APA Hotel Ueno Ekimae was awesome. The best part and our main reason for booking this hotel was the location. It is situated in the Ueno area, just a very short walk from Tokyo Metro Ueno Station (Exit 3). It is also within walking distance of many attractions, such as Ameyoko Market, Ueno Park & Zoo, the Asakusa area, and many more. The nearby Ueno Station will take you anywhere thanks to its many train lines, including the Keisei Line which connects you straight to Narita Airport. The check-in procedure was smooth thanks to self-check-in machines that feature English options. Don't worry, though—helpful staff with a good command of English are ready to assist if you need it. The room was pretty small (which is common in Tokyo), but it was enough for the two of us with two pieces of luggage. Once you're done unpacking, you can slide your luggage under the bed to save space. Everything in the room worked perfectly and accommodated our needs well. The cleanliness of the room was also top-notch. Bonus points for the fabric disinfectant provided in the room, which you can use on your clothes or bed linens! Check-out was incredibly quick since you can use the self-checkout system. Just drop your key card into the machine, and voila, you're good to go. A few things to note: you have to place your trash bin and hang your used towels outside your room to have them cleared and replaced by the staff. Room cleaning is also by request, so if you want your room made up, just hang the sign on your door. Overall, we had a great experience during our stay at APA Hotel Ueno Ekimae. I hope they maintain this level of standardized service and quality across all their locations!
