Only ¥9,700 / $66!? 🏨 Hidden Gem Hotel in Tokyo’s Ueno ✨ 2-Min Walk + Shrine & Café Tour ☕🌸

Only ¥9,700 / $66!? 🏨 Hidden Gem Hotel in Tokyo’s Ueno ✨ 2-Min Walk + Shrine & Café Tour ☕🌸

This time, I’m staying at Centurion Hotel Ueno. The Yushima–Ueno area has lots of must-see spots like Ueno Park, art museums, and shrines. There are also big shopping complexes and restaurants everywhere, and Ameyoko is a great place to enjoy street food. Today, I’ll also share a relaxing walking route that really calmed my mind. Hope you’ll enjoy watching till the end! I started from JR Okachimachi Station on the Yamanote Line. When I exited the North Gate, I could see Ameyoko just across the crosswalk. The Ameyoko shopping street is super popular with tourists. Around here, there are arcades and shops like UNIQLO too. Right now, I’m in Ueno 5-chome. As the address suggests, Okachimachi Station is located between Ueno and Akihabara. So maybe this anime-themed vending machine is influenced by Akihabara? This sign at the seafood market “Yoshiike” is surprisingly cute too! On this channel, I share hotel stays in Tokyo, sightseeing spots, and Japanese food. If you’re interested, I’d really appreciate it if you subscribed! There’s also a movie theater inside Parco_ya. It’s perfect if you have some free time. Since it’s near Ueno Station, I saw panda statues all around! Hello there! This waving panda apparently moves around to different spots depending on the day. Right in front of the South Exit of Okachimachi Station, there’s a spot called “Okachimachi Panda Plaza”—great for meeting up. They even hold markets and events here on weekends. To get to the hotel, I walked toward Yushima along Kasuga Street. I’ve just arrived at Centurion Hotel Ueno, where I’ll be staying tonight. It was just a 3-minute walk—about 300 meters—from Okachimachi Station’s North Exit. Super easy access! This is the price for a Casual Semi-Double Room (main building), without breakfast. Huh? I can’t get in…?! When I turned around… wait, is that also a Centurion Hotel? Looks like this older building is actually the main building. Check-in is on the second floor of the main building. The mix of bamboo decorations and Halloween props gave the place a pretty unique vibe. I couldn’t help wondering… would a Princess Kaguya costume be OK for Halloween? (lol) Check-in starts at 3 PM, and check-out is by 11 AM. There’s no breakfast venue inside the hotel. Even the colorful lobby was being taken over by Halloween decor. Sit on the sofa, and you might just lock eyes with a skeleton! Toward the back, I found a spacious kids’ play area too. Actually, there was a really nice surprise at check-in! The hotel kindly upgraded me from a Semi-Double Room to a Superior King Room—how lucky! And instead of staying in the main building, I was moved to the annex. Only guests with a key card can enter the annex—nice and secure. The vibe changed completely once I got here. Next to the entrance was an amenity bar. Toothbrush sets, body towels… Hairbrushes too. I picked out what I needed and headed to my room. The elevator doors were decorated with a traditional kasumi (mist) pattern. This annex is actually pretty new—it opened in 2017. The design here blends modern and Japanese styles, and they offer Queen Rooms, family rooms with bunk beds, and even rooms with open-air baths. The hallway carpet was purple. I wondered for a second if it was a Halloween theme too… but nope, just coincidence! (lol) I tapped my key card and headed in. Let’s see what the Superior King Room looks like! Wow, the king-size bed really stands out—180 cm wide! Looks like I’ll sleep well tonight. The room is about 14 square meters, but the clean layout makes it feel spacious. The bed is made by Slumberland, a British mattress brand. Just knowing it’s a royal warrant holder makes me feel fancy. Kind of makes me want to sip some tea! ☕ There’s a sofa placed perpendicular to the TV. This room can sleep up to three people, and the sofa turns into a bed—that’s why it’s set up that way! The built-in climate control makes it easy to keep the room comfortable. The bed has a solid, high-quality feel with a double spring layer. There’s no storage space under the bed, but the room’s big enough to open a suitcase with no problem. Sometimes king-size beds have a seam in the middle, but this one looks fine! Here’s the view from the 7th floor. The view isn’t amazing since there aren’t many tall buildings around—but I’m just happy to have such a comfy bed! The headboard has outlets and light switches—super handy. And two types of pillows with different firmness—love that. Most rooms in the annex are more spacious than average. The Japanese-modern interior gives off a high-end feel too. I heard the top-floor rooms are decorated with glamorous themes like “Kabuki” or “Murasaki Shikibu.” There’s a mini fridge as well. They even provide a free bottle of water—let’s chill that for later! It felt a bit warm, so I set the room temperature to 23°C for now. I love that I can adjust the brightness of the entire room—such a nice touch. There’s also a soft-shaded desk lamp that gently lights up the workspace. A deodorizing spray and hand sanitizer were provided right on the desk. Surrounded by soft, calming colors, I have a feeling this stay is going to be a comfortable one♪ The room even comes with an air purifier—super helpful during allergy season. The large TV looks perfect for watching from the bed. Here’s a coat hanger space built right into the wall. Disposable slippers were also provided. The emergency stairs are located right in front of the room. I always make sure to check the evacuation route—just in case. This transparent-framed switch is pretty unique. Let’s check out the bathroom and shower area next. It’s a standard unit bath with the tub, shower, and toilet all in one space. Of course, the toilet comes with a washlet function. You don’t often see this abroad—folded toilet paper into a neat triangle. It’s a sign from the cleaning staff that the bathroom has been freshly cleaned. The cleansing oil and toner are from POLA. Usually these amenities are in the lobby area, but this time they were already provided in the room. The faucet pressure was strong and satisfying. Shampoo, conditioner, and body soap were all fully stocked. Alright, time to check the shower pressure… I remember staying at a slightly fancy hotel once where the water pressure was so weak I gave up on using the bathtub. Even if it’s just a quick shower, good water pressure makes a big difference in comfort. This unit bath was super clean and well-maintained. Here’s tonight’s room wear… It’s a gown-style outfit with a tie around the waist. It’s easier to put on than a one-piece, but the downside is it can come open easily. The fabric is also a bit on the thin side. Alright, time to explore the hotel! Ah, here’s the emergency stairwell I saw earlier on the evacuation map. Fire doors with smoke-blocking features often look dull, but I like that you can see outside through this one. Let’s head to the 2nd floor where the coin laundry and vending machines are. The hallway here has a cool black-and-white design. Here we are. The vending machine is a bit compact, but it has water, soft drinks, and a few kinds of alcohol. Having a microwave and ice machine is super convenient when you want a little snack in your room. There are two coin laundry machines available. They accept coins only. If you need change, stop by the front desk in the main building. The facilities in the annex are pretty simple. There’s a kids’ play area next to the front desk in the main building, so if you’re traveling with children, I recommend staying in the family rooms there. It’s about time for dinner—let’s head out and see what’s around. There are plenty of restaurants and convenience stores near the hotel, so food is no problem. After walking through Ameyoko, I ended up at “Monster Grill Ueno.” I was originally looking for a ramen place… but I couldn’t ignore the giant bull crashing through the wall—so I stepped in. 😆 I thought the upper body of the bull might actually be bursting out of the wall inside, but… nope, it wasn’t there. For a moment, it reminded me of Hulk from the Marvel comics. So what’s on this comic-book-style menu? Meat, meat, and more meat! I was planning to grab a quick bowl of ramen, but now I’m totally craving a juicy steak. I ordered the signature Monster Steak, which comes with salad and soup. The sizzling sound made it even more appetizing—here comes the 200g steak! You can choose the meat size from 150g up to 900g. The over-1-pound steak and steak + hamburger combos are also popular. You get two sauce options: green onion salt or “OZ sauce.” I went with the OZ sauce. It looked a bit tough at first, but had just the right amount of bite—felt like a proper steak experience! The restaurant has a casual vibe with both counter and table seating. It was really tasty. I walked back to the hotel along Kasuga Street. The main building is beautifully lit up—easy to find, even at night. I’m full and getting sleepy now… Good night. Good morning! Sunlight was streaming through the emergency stairwell door—what a nice way to start the day. Looks like breakfast used to be served on the 2nd floor of the main building, but it’s currently closed. I’ll check out first and grab breakfast somewhere else. Just drop the key card in the return box inside the elevator—easy checkout! The hotel I stayed at—Centurion Hotel Ueno—is super convenient, close to JR Okachimachi, Ueno-hirokoji, and Yushima stations. Ueno is within walking distance, so it’s a great spot for sightseeing too. Plus, I was lucky to get an upgrade to a room in the annex—it was clean and very comfortable! Room design and amenities vary between the main and annex buildings, so it’s good to check in advance when booking. For my morning walk, I headed over to Yushima Tenjin Shrine. This shrine honors Sugawara no Michizane, the god of learning, and is one of the top three Tenjin shrines in the Kanto region. Yushima Tenjin, Kameido Tenjin, and Yabo Tenmangu all attract many visitors praying for academic success. When Yushima Tenjin was first founded, it enshrined the deity Ameno-tajikarao. Ameno-tajikarao appears in ancient Japanese mythology. He’s known as the strong god who pulled Amaterasu, the sun goddess, out of her cave and brought back the light. So this shrine actually honors both Ameno-tajikarao, the god of strength, and Michizane, the god of learning! If you’re visiting, I definitely recommend getting a goshuin (temple stamp) to mark the occasion. First, I purified my hands and mouth at the chozuya (water basin). When you think of Tenjin shrines… you think of cows! You’ll also find them at Dazaifu Tenmangu. Why are cows associated with Tenjin shrines? It’s said to be because Michizane was born in the Year of the Ox, and legend says his body was buried where an ox stopped moving. The main hall, built entirely from Japanese cypress, is truly stunning. I offered a prayer to the gods. As you’d expect from a learning shrine—so many ema (votive plaques) with wishes written on them! After praying, I headed to the shrine office. There are three types of omikuji (fortunes): Love, Dragon, and Zodiac. It’s the Year of the Snake, so I chose the Zodiac one. I dropped 500 yen into the wooden box… Let’s do this! The floral pattern and the snake’s expression were both super cute. On the left side of the shrine grounds, there’s a beautifully maintained plum garden. Plum blossoms were said to be Michizane’s favorite flower. Since the Edo period, this has been a beloved spot for viewing plum blossoms. In February, during the Plum Festival, around 450,000 people visit! In November, the Chrysanthemum Festival is held here too. While Michizane is famous for his love of plum blossoms, he also wrote many poems about chrysanthemums. I got another hand-written goshuin added to my collection! My goshuin book is filling up nicely. I really feel a deeper connection with the deities each time. With my heart feeling refreshed, it’s finally time for a relaxing breakfast. I stopped by a coffee shop called “Mijinco,” located between Yushima and Ochanomizu Stations. It’s been a while since I’ve heard the word “mijinco” (which means plankton in Japanese)! Despite the name, the café has no plankton vibes at all—just a cozy, calming atmosphere. Wait, is that… a cat festival? Their limited-time menu features paw print latte art—so tempting! (I actually have two cats at home!) Like many Japanese people, I have a weakness for the word “limited” (haha). The shop’s concept is a space where women can enjoy coffee solo, and they even have a great selection of sweets. Beyond coffee, they serve premium toast sandwiches and hot desserts made with carefully selected ingredients. Everything looked so good—it was hard to choose! While waiting, I decided to open the omikuji I pulled earlier♪ I peeled off the sticker at the bottom and pulled the string… My heart was pounding… I got “Daikichi”—the best fortune! Looks like great luck is heading my way. Under “Travel,” it said: “Choose an auspicious day.” I’ll try to plan my next trip on a lucky day. I still couldn’t stop thinking about the cat festival… So I looked it up—turns out it’s an event featuring restaurants and shops around Yushima, all with a cat theme! During the festival, Tsuma-koi Shrine offers a special cat-themed *goshuin* on Saturdays only. The shrine is said to bless people with love and good relationships. Apparently, the cat stamp design changes each time—so cat lovers might end up collecting them all! While I was busy researching the cat festival, my lemon chicken sandwich with black olive sauce arrived! I paired it with an iced coffee and dug in. It was such a grown-up flavor—delicious! Can I just say… it tasted fancy? Thanks for the meal! This place usually has long lines on weekends, so I was lucky to get in so easily today♪ After that, I switched gears and walked toward Ueno. I arrived at Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park. Around Shinobazu Pond, you can enjoy beautiful seasonal scenery—cherry blossoms in spring and golden ginkgo leaves in autumn. In summer, pink lotus flowers bloom across the pond. Lotus flowers actually close up during the day. They slowly start to bloom in the early morning, so if you visit in summer, try to come early! The contrast between the lotus leaves and city buildings really makes this place feel like an oasis in the middle of Tokyo. The octagonal building you see in the distance is Benten-do Temple. It’s dedicated to Benzaiten, a goddess of music and the performing arts—often just called “Benten.” Seeing the pond completely covered in lush green lotus leaves was absolutely breathtaking! This is the Lotus Viewing Deck—when the flowers are in full bloom, it’s the perfect spot. It really feels like a scene straight out of paradise. The pond is actually 2.7 km all the way around… so I’ll stop here for today (haha). Dancing Queen…? The acoustic version isn’t bad either. What a peaceful and relaxing walk that was♪ Thanks so much for watching until the end! I’ll be sharing more hotel reviews and sightseeing spots, so please don’t forget to subscribe to the channel!

This time, I stayed at Centurion Hotel Ueno, a hidden gem just steps from Ueno Station!✨
It’s a perfect base for #TokyoTravel and #UenoSightseeing — close to Yushima Tenjin Shrine, Shinobazu Pond, and the famous café “Mijinko”☕.

Located in the heart of Ueno, it’s ideal for both travelers and business guests.
Enjoy local food, morning café hopping, and easy access to Ueno Park and Akihabara! 🍣🌸

📍 Hotel: Centurion Hotel Ueno
https://www.centurion-hotel.com/ueno/

💴 Price: Around ¥9,700 / $66
🚉 2-min walk from Ueno Station – excellent access!
🍣 Local spots: Yushima Tenjin Shrine, Mijinko Café, and nearby Shimbashi sushi

Perfect stay for anyone looking for #TokyoHotel #UenoHotel #JapanTravel 🐼

Watch more Tokyo hotel reviews here 👇