It's tough to stay in Tokyo on a budget, and tougher still to do so while getting the real Japanese hotel experience. There are a few budget-priced ryokans in Tokyo, however, and even if you can't conceive of sleeping on the floor, the definitively Japanese experience of staying at a ryokan is something that simply must be experienced.
Ryokan Kangetsu is one of these; located on a little train line in Kamata, for the price of a short commute to this residential area, you can stay very affordably in the big city. Kangetsu offers tatami rooms of various sizes to suit different groups, and gives you the option of paying slightly more for the privilege of having a toilet/shower attached to your room, instead of a shared one.
I never felt the need to pay for a room with all the frills, as my favourite feature at Kangetsu is their fabulous public baths. Segregated by gender, there is an indoor and an outdoor bath for each. This is a great opportunity for newcomers to try out the Japanese bathing customs; because of the location, Kangetsu is usually quiet and it isn't uncommon to have the baths all to yourself. The small size of the outdoor baths also makes the experience less intimidating. If you're shy, just peek into the dressing room and make sure you have privacy!
The grounds of Kangetsu are beautiful and traditional, giving visitors a sense that it is much larger than in reality. The buildings are connected by stone walkways, so that you have to leave your room's building to reach the lounge, laundry or the vending machines, but you still have the sense that you are contained within the inn's little world. Visit the Small Space to use their computers or watch TV, listen to music or relax in massage chairs.
The rooms are small and very no-frills, but a teapot and the white-and-blue yukata provided to each guest are enough to put you in tune with the simplistic feeling Kangetsu aims to provide. You can rent a number of items from the front desk, such as hair dryers or mini-fridges, but after a few hours spent at Kangetsu, you may even feel you don't need or want the extras anymore!
