Affordable Hotel in Tokyo: Koraku Garden Hotel

Koraku Garden Hotel is an affordable business hotel. Located in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Koraku Garden Hotel is an ideal hotel for business people looking for a quiet yet an accessible hotel. It's in the center of important business districts and near JR Line Stations. 

For almost a month, I stayed in Koraku Garden Hotel in Tokyo while waiting for a permanent teaching position in Japan. For that entire time, the staff had been very accommodating even if they don't understand me sometimes. (Their understanding of English is quite limited.) They cater to my needs and were generous of their help. Rooms are cleaned thoroughly from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. It usually takes 20 to 30 minutes for the cleaner to finish my room even if it's not really messy. 

A regular room is ideal for 2 medium-built people. The rooms sizes are mainly ideal for Asian people so Westerners may feel cramped. Even the bed size can be a problem for 2 people if you're largely built. On a personal note, however, I found the bed just tight with enough room for me toss and turn. The hotel only provides a single pillow if they know only one guest is occupying the room. You can request for one more should you want another pillow. The mattress is firm enough without being hard on the back. 

Koraku Garden Hotel Room

The toilet is average. Everything is made of stainless so when you use cold water, it tends to get really cold and the same for hot water. The hotel provides shampoo, body soap, toothbrush, toothpaste and towels. 

There's TV but it's not cabled. All programs are in Japanese and the remote doesn't have English subtitle button. There's also a water heater with daily supply of tea bags. Internet connection is available but you have to borrow an internet cable from the front desk. There's a mini fridge but there's no closet. There's just a small open space with three hangers for your clothes. There's a phone that you can use even for international calls. 

view from my room at Koraku Garden Hotel

Other notable areas are the laundry area on the 6th floor. You can borrow iron from the front desk without charge. Computer stations are also on the lobby but they're not free. Free buffet breakfast are served in the basement from 7:00 to 10:00 am. There's no swimming pool or gym but they have parking areas. 

laundry area at Koraku Garden Hotel

The best thing about this hotel for business people is its accessibility to nearby stations. For more info: http://bitsandpieces-fvitz.blogspot.jp/2012/08/tokyo-hotel-with-ideal-location-koraku.html.

So if you're planning a business trip, try staying at Koraku Garden Hotel. 

Tokyo Hotel with Ideal Location: Koraku Garden Hotel

Looking for an accessible business hotel in Tokyo? Try the Koraku Garden Hotel located in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo. It's around the Japanese-Chinese Friendship Center just beside the historical Koraku Garden (hence the hotel's name).

Koraku Garden's facade
photo credit:  http://www.travelpod.com/hotel/Hotel_Takebe_No_Mori-Okayama.html

With the price of commuting in Tokyo, it's important to choose a hotel that can be accessed by JR Trains. The JR Lines are the cheapest, next to biking, mode of transportation in Japan.

1. Nearest Train Stations

Iidabashi Station
photo credit:  http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Iidabashi_Station-West_Exit.jpg

Koraku Garden Hotel is about 10 minutes away from JR Iidabashi Station if you walk to the right side. There's also another Iidabashi Station which is a stopping point of the TOEI Subway Line. Walking to the left leads to the Suidobashi Station just in front of Tokyo Dome. 

The good thing about Koraku Garden is that even if the stations are walking-distance, you wouldn't hear the passing trains. It's located behind another building and is not directly on the main street so guests can still quietly rest at night. 

2. Surrounding Areas by Walking

Ramla Pathwalk
http://www.panoramio.com/user/5114571

Iidabashi

photo credit:  http://tokyo.blog.lemonde.fr/2008/05/20/aiguiser-lacuite-du-present/iidabashi1211261632jpg/

a street in Iidabashi, across Ramla
photo credit:  http://www.tokyoluv.com/a-walk-in-iidabashi/

A 10-minute walk to the left from the hotel will lead you to Iidabashi Station. In front of this Station is the Ramla mall or plaza where you can find Daiso, some cafes, shops and restaurants. Across the street where Ramla is are more shops, cafes, convenience stores. You can buy almost anything you need at this area. The street is lovely decorated with hanging red lamps. There's also a Y100 shop up on the street. 

Tokyo Dome rollercoaster

On the other side, a 10-minute walk from the hotel will lead you to Tokyo Dome. It's hard to miss to miss this place since the dome can be seen from the hotel. You can watch baseball games here. There's also an amusement park in this place with a big-looped roller coaster. You can choose from a wide array of shops and restaurants that they have there. 

McDonalds, Starbucks and 7 Eleven can be found on both sides. 

3. Surrounding  Areas by Trains

JR Line Map
http://sleepswithstrangers.tumblr.com/post/29416623180/japan-jr-train-line-map-tokyo-looks 

Koraku Garden Hotel is also near important areas in Tokyo such as Shinjuku,  Tokyo, Shinagawa, Akihabara, Ueno and Ginza. 

Shinjuku is a yuppie-filled business district in Tokyo. It's about 10 minutes  and 2 stations away from Iidabashi Station. Ride the Chuo Line (the yellow one) going to Shinkjuku. 

Akihabara is the anime and electronics center of Tokyo. Hundreds of electronic shops can be found there. It's about 10 minutes from Iidabashi Station. Just get on the Chuo Line. 

Ueno, if I'm not mistaken, is the next stop after Akihabara. Cheap clothes, shoes, bags and accessories can be found here. There's also a park, a zoo and a museum just outside the station. Just ride the Chuo Line then Transfer to Yamanote Line at Akihabara Station. 

Shinagawa is the home of the Immigration Office so it's an important area for foreigners. It's about 30 minutes away from Iidabashi Station. Ride the Chuo Line going to Ueno. Transfer to Yamanote Line (the green one) at Akihabara Station. This will stop at Shinagawa. 

For accessibility coupled with a quiet location, book at Koraku Garden Hotel!

Witches: The Powerful Side of Women

Photo Credit:  http://kelly2sim.blogspot.jp/

Patrick said I was a witch but I did not take offense. I thought, I’d rather be a witch who has powers and go after what she wants than a helpless princess waiting for her prince to rescue her. I think witches are the ancient “women-power” incarnate.  And I realize that they’re not necessarily evil just like how those fairy tales portray them. They’re just people who know their powers and are not afraid to use them. Unlike with princesses, witches don’t wait for things to happen. They make things happen not only for themselves but also for a lot of people. In Snow White, the stepmother used her powers to get what she wanted- to be the most beautiful woman in the world. Maybe it didn’t really happen because Snow White did not die but at least she tried. I’d rather be her than Snow White who seems idiotic singing with the birds and the bees. She didn’t have a drive or a goal in her life. 

Photo Credit:  http://www.aroundcrownsville.com/category/for-children/

Witches are also products of how people treated them. They seem to be evil because the other people think of them as such. In Sleeping Beauty, the “evil” fairy put a curse on Princess Aurora because she was actually bullied. She was not invited in a very important event when all other fairies were invited. If I were her, I would also feel isolated. When you come to think about it, her curse was not that bad. She just put a sleeping curse and she made sure that her curse will happen. She showed up on Aurora’s 16^th or 18^th birthday sewing with a needle. If she didn’t show up in the story, Aurora’s life would be boring and she wouldn’t have met her Prince Charming. The witch in Beauty and the Beast had also the same issue. She was mauled by Beast so she retaliated. She wasn’t still that cruel. She still gave Beast a chance to find someone to love him no matter how ugly he was. He should be thankful because he met Belle who saw past his appearance.

Photo Credit:  http://www.fanpop.com/spots/beauty-and-the-beast/images/6260125/title/beauty-beast-wallpaper-wallpaper 

And then there’s Ursula in the Little Mermaid. She wanted to be the ruler of the sea and I think she was pretty straightforward about it for a woman. She did not try to seduce or manipulate the king. She has always been open about her ambitions which the king did not like. Maybe she would not be a good ruler because she seems cruel. But I think the king is afraid of her because she has powers that he didn’t have. He should have placated her and won her support or at least try. The thing is the king is not exactly decisive about her. If Ursula is that evil, she should have been banished. But for some reason, the king kept her in a forbidden place of the sea which is stupid I think.

Photo Credit:  http://www.fanpop.com/spots/disney-villains/images/9586464/title/ursula-wallpaper 

These things about witches and princesses make me realize that when I’ll have a daughter in the future, I won’t encourage her to be a fairy tale princess. Sure I would encourage beauty, elegance and finesse but not helplessness and passiveness. Women should be beautiful but strong, elegant but firm. Women should be able to take care of themselves and be able to help their men. Women should make things happen not only in their lives but also to the lives of others- in a good way.