It is located in a very nice area (quiet and safe, Japan is very safe in overall) but for JRP holder, it is a bid of disadvatage as the nearest subway station is Tokyo Metro which can't use JRP. We booked a small room without attach bathroom due to other rooms are fully booked. The room is actually for single... more

This ryokan gave us a good insight into may Japanese customs. The baths were excellent and were very relaxing after a day out walking. The owner is very nice and accomodating, adding special touches like having umbrellas ready for guests if it rained. The laundry facilities and internet were also a welcome conveniance that came in handy as we stayed... more

I stayed at Ryokan Sawanoya for 5 nights in early August 2008. I booked a single Japanese-style room (no en suite bathroom) months in advance -- it is not a big place and very reasonably priced especially by Tokyo standards (I paid less than $80 per night). There are two shared baths available for around 4 hours in the morning... more

Our first stay in Japan at this accommodation, and although the room was small it was a great experience, the room had its own sink, slippers & yahata, loved the Japanese style bathroom, great cheap breakfast, lovely family running this place, polite and pleasant, ever helpful, we stayed for 4 nights and were extremely impressed with all this inn had... more

Six of us stayed at the Sawanoya in early August, including three children under 16. We had two rooms, one ensuite and one not. My two sons and I stayed in the room without the bathroom. While it was certainly a wonderful experience to stay in a ryokan I would not call it overly roomy. There were three futons on... more

The ryokan as a whole was fine. Our room was beautiful and very clean. Based on the other reviews here I was really expecting something above and beyond, but it was fine for what it was. We did not feel it was very centrally located. The closest subway line, Nezu, means you have to transfer a few times to get... more

Air conditioning was not turned on. So when we got to the room, it felt like it was 90 degrees. It took 70 minutes before the room even felt cool. They make copies of your passport. When I asked why they made copies, the man at the counter became loud and said "If I didn't want my passport copied then... more

Stayed here with my husband and family (teenagers) for a few days in July and this was our first trip to Tokyo. We caught the Keisei Limited Express from Narita Airport which cost about $10 to Ueno Station. From the station we caught a taxi which cost about $7. The ryokan supplied a map to hand to the taxi driver... more

We spent a week at the Ryokan Sawanoya in June 2008 and loved it. We were travelling with two children aged 1 and 6 and while a kitchen would have made it perfect, it was so family friendly I highly recommend it. Ryokan Sawanoya is a traditional Japanese Inn, so when you book a room you basically get a pretty... more