Message: Anyone stayed at one of the following hotels in Asakusa area:

Asakusa Plaza
Asakusa Vista
New Gyominso
Sunroute Asakusa

All are business hotels, close to each other, about the same price, 12.500 yen for a twin. I currently have a reservation at Ryokan Shigetsu for 15,700 a night, which seems a bit pricey. We are staying for 6 nights and probably won't be in the hotel all that much. Is Shigetsu worth the extra $?
Susie

Try the Toyoko Inn Chain- the hotels are quite cheap.The Australian pilots who fly with the local airlines use them - they are a business hotel chain. The rooms are compact but if you are not planning to use them much they are fine. They also have internet access in their front foyer and a coffee and bun for breakfast included.We stayed at the Asakusa and walked to the temple and shopping area. It was also relatively close to the subway.

We stayed at Ryokan Shigetsu and it was nice, but the double room was very tiny. We were climbing over our luggage to get in and out of the door. I don't know how much smaller the business hotels could be.
The Asakusa neighborhood was great -- the temple area and the shopping arcade. There are good restaurants on the top floor of the dept. store near the train station.

I've tentatively switched to the Asakusa Vista Hotel. I've asked them how big a twin room is-I think they said 17 square meters. I'm trying to figure out what that is in square feet. They wany only 9450 yen for the room, giving me a long stay discount (6 nights). I'll use the money I save on breakfast and sightseeing.

That's 183 square feet. Looks like you got a good deal.
http://www2.famille.ne.jp/~hotekyo/e...sa/avhotel.htm

I had received a reply from Hotel New Gyominso that their rate was 14.700 yen. I e-mailed them back that it was too expensive for my budget. They took 20% off and offered the room at 11,760 yen. I accepted. This hotel has a Japanese bath on the 9th floor overlooking the river. It appears to be a very nice business hotel. It is right across the street from the Asakusa subway stop.

No one in Japan ever used to bargain or offer discounts-I guess the economy there sucks so bad they are desperate for business.
Susie