Looking at some hotels in Ueno for May of 2026, on Booking a lot are sold out, not sure if they aren't posted yet or if there is a big festival. Either way looking for recommendations for a reasonably priced hotel fairly close to the station.
Thanks

I do not know what reasonably priced means to you or your exact dates. I found a lot of availability at all price ranges for May 2026, but maybe not for your dates?

If I were to stay in Ueno, I would definitely eat at this himono-ya:

上野アメ横のひもの屋

Japan, 〒110-0005 Tokyo, Taito City, Ueno, 4 Chome−6−9 大徳ビル B1F

>> aren't posted yet

If you found a place and it shows sold out far in advance (10 months for you right now) then search for a date that is 6 months from now. That would be January. If you find availability, then try February. If not, then try December.

If they have an availability calendar, then use that

The point is to find out how far in advance they take reservations. It could be stated on their homepage.

Shelemm - Will keep our eye out for the restaurant. Right now we are leaning toward Ueno.

mrwnrfl - I'll keep working on the calendar. I think I put in May 15 - 21 or something like that. I was surprised that so many things were sold out. There were availabilities, I'm also going to try Agoda. Do you have a place you stay at if you go to Ueno? I've been reading your posts and you have a lot of experience with Japan. This is our first time to Japan.

I often stay at the MyStays hotel chain and there are two near the Ueno Station.

I have never stayed in Ueno. I noticed there is a Mitsui Garden Hotel. Have read good things about MG hotels, not necessarily that location.

You mentioned wanting a location near the station. The question is which one?

I noticed one hotel name, APA Hotel Keisei Ueno-Ekimae, that reminded me that there are two railway stations. The ekimai in that name means "in front of the station". That hotel is "in front of" Keisei Ueno Station, not JR Ueno Station.

Keisei operates the Keisei Skyliner between their Ueno station and Narita Airport, among other trains.
JR Ueno is a shinkansen stop.

(I did like the MyStays in Aomori. I have stayed at a couple of APA hotels, tiny but adequate for the price)

The hotel I stayed at no longer exists, but FWIW, I found staying in Ueno well suited to my purposes.

shelemm asked about reasonable prices.

If you are looking for a budget hotel then you should look for info about room size and bed size. They are made for Japanse-sized people.

For example, one of the MyStays near Ueno offers:
Room size: 11 m2
Semi-double '
120(cm) 1 bed

but they also offer 140 cm beds, and 20 cm is about 8 inches.
also 14 m2 rooms

Mitsui Garden hotels are a good mid-range option. I stayed at the Higashi Ginza Gochome branch and thought it was a nice choice. Some of their hotels have sento (Japanese baths) as did the Gochome property. Rooms are typically small as they are at Japanese chains but clean and perfectly functional as a place to sleep.

JR Blossom hotels are also very nice, a bit more expensive than the Mitsui’s depending on location.

I just went on Google Maps and put in your dates for 6 nights starting the 15th of May. I see some possibilities depending on what you deem reasonable and what you decide is acceptable. Hotel Marutani is available, very inexpensive, good sized, but smoking room, two beds. Also APA Hotel Ueno Ekikita, very small room but with a queen bed. You can always book something now and cancel later if something better shows up. I limited the search to Ueno.

APA Hotel Ueno Ekikita would be north (kita) of the train station (eki), presumably the JR Ueno station.

According to Google Maps, the hotel is a 4 minute walk to the Iriya Exit of JR Ueno Station. Not sure if that is accurate or if it's close enough for the OP. Right now I am seeing availability at many different price ranges around Ueno Station. This is not an endorsement of the hotel or even choosing this are to stay.

I am not that picky about which neighborhood to stay in nor do I like having to go through train stations if I can help it. I find them time consuming to traverse.

I would think that depends on the relative placement of the exits. That, at least, was my experience.

We have stayed in Ueno a couple of times and found it v convenient . Last time was at the And on Ryokan - https://www.andon.co.jp/en/stay . It is a modern Ryokan with small rooms (futons not beds) but good breakfasts, hot tubs. Perfect for a short stay. I had quick look at dates and it seems they are only open for reservations for date to 31 Dec 25. assume that is the issue with a lot of places?

Yep. I was just commenting how the hotel name indicated the location. I don't think I have seen ekikita before but ekimae is common. I think I saw minami (south) in one name. Others are higashi (east) but none are nishi (west) because that is where Ueno Park is located. So much for the lesson in Japanese directions.

\
Much appreciated! I once stayed in a hotel in nishi kasei, but did not know that it meant west.

We will check that, thanks Mara

Thanks for all of your great recommendations. Reasonable for us is around $150 - $175 per night, don't need luxury. I have already learned so much from your posts. The names indicate where the station exit is was new info here. Also are there really two Ueno Stations, one for JR and the other for Keisei? I can see the JR one on Google Maps but don't see the Keisei Station.

Me again, I think I found the Ueno Keisei station, by inputting the APA Hotel Keisei Ueno- Ekimae it popped up. I looks like a much smaller station then the other Ueno Station. So that raises the question of any preference of what line to take from the Narita airport? Do we take the Skyliner into town? Can you go to the JR Ueno Station from Narita?

Try this web page with its maps and transportation info:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2017.html