We paid around €400 for four nights at The B Ochanomizu — two adults, two children, in central Tokyo. About €100 a night for the family, three minutes by metro from Tokyo Station.
That location is the reason to book it, and the room size is the reason to think about it first. Here’s the honest version.
The B Ochanomizu – Tokyo, a central family base with good train links.
Quick verdict
- What we paid: around €400 for 4 nights, 2 adults and 2 children, July 2023.
- Best for: families out of the room all day, and anyone whose trip involves leaving Tokyo — you’re minutes from the Shinkansen.
- Not for: toddlers who nap, or anyone who wants space to spend an afternoon in.
- Standout: the location against the price, in a city where central usually means expensive.
- Would we stay again: yes, for the same kind of trip.
Who this hotel is for, and who it isn’t
It’s for you if you’re doing Tokyo properly — out from eight in the morning until late — and you’d rather spend the money on more nights or on the trip itself than on floor space. It’s also a strong choice if your itinerary includes day trips or moving on to Kyoto, because of where it sits.
It isn’t for you if you have a child who naps in the afternoon, if you’re staying long enough that you’ll want to be in the room, or if you want a hotel with a restaurant and a lobby to sit in. This is a compact, functional city hotel and it doesn’t pretend otherwise.
Location: three minutes from Tokyo Station
This is the thing worth paying attention to.
Being three minutes by metro from Tokyo Station means the Shinkansen, the lines out of the city and most of the JR network are effectively on your doorstep. On a trip like ours — Tokyo, then a day trip to Nikko, then the long run down to Osaka — that saved a transfer almost every day. Nikko day trip from Tokyo
Ochanomizu itself is a quieter, more workaday part of central Tokyo than Shinjuku or Shibuya. With children, I’d call that a feature.
Checking in
We arrived late, after visiting teamLab Planet. We were tired and jet lagged as we tried not to sleep till the evening. Once we arrived, the checkin process was quick and easy.
The room
Compact, modern and cleverly laid out — the standard Japanese city hotel trade-off, and one to expect rather than resent.
We had 2 doubles, and even if the room was tiny, we felt great. We left our luggages at the entrance and enjoyed our large beds, which occupies almost the whole room.
Four people in a Tokyo hotel room
It worked, and it worked for a specific reason: we were never in it.
Tokyo rooms are small — smaller than Kyoto’s, generally. As somewhere to sleep, shower and repack, ours was genuinely fine for four. As somewhere to spend a rainy afternoon, it would not have been.
If your children are school age and used to sharing, this is comfortable. With a toddler who naps at two in the afternoon, look for an apartment-style room instead — there’s more on that here: 4 Days in Tokyo with Kids
The bathroom
Compact and clean, as expected in Japan — the standard unit bathroom.
The first thing that caught our attention was the transparent window from the room to the bathroom, and we had to close it as our kids don’t watch us showering ahahaha. Another thing was the toilet, it is something that everyone enjoys once coming to Japan.
Food
Our booking has a room only fare, we usually took breakfasts at 7-eleven that was close by the hotel. So I cannot say anything about breakfasts.
What we liked
- The location against the price. Central Tokyo at around €100 a night for a family is not easy to find.
- Being minutes from Tokyo Station on a trip with day trips in it.
- Cleanliness — the Japanese standard, which makes most European three-stars look careless.
- A quiet neighbourhood, which after a day in Shibuya is worth something.
What it cost
Around €400 for four nights for two adults and two children, in July 2023 — roughly €100 a night for the family, in central Tokyo.
For context, our four nights in Kyoto came to about €250 at a similar kind of hotel. Tokyo is the more expensive of the two cities, and this was still good value for where it is. What our 19 days in Japan cost
That was a 2023 price. Tokyo rates have risen since — treat it as a reference point, not a quote.
Would we stay again?
Yes, for the same kind of trip: Tokyo with school-age children, out all day, with the Shinkansen in the plan.
I’d book something with more space for a slower trip, or one with a toddler in it. That isn’t a criticism of the hotel — it’s a different holiday.
Who I’d recommend it to
- Families with school-age or older children doing a busy Tokyo itinerary.
- Anyone continuing on by Shinkansen, where being near Tokyo Station saves a transfer every time.
- First-time visitors to Japan who want a straightforward, central, modern hotel while everything else is unfamiliar.
Not for toddler families who need daytime quiet, or anyone who wants to spend time in the hotel.
Check current rates for your dates. Tokyo prices move sharply by season and by what’s on in the city.
This review contains affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We paid for this stay ourselves and were not hosted.
Planning the rest of Tokyo
- 4 Days in Tokyo with Kids
- teamLab Planets Tokyo with kids
- Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
- Nikko day trip from Tokyo
- ITA Airways Barcelona to Tokyo review
- Japan with Kids — our 19-day trip
Liked what you saw? Check prices and availability for The B Ochanomizu →
Frequently asked questions about The B Ochanomizu
Is The B Ochanomizu good for families?
Yes, for families with school-age children who plan to be out of the room all day. It is a compact, modern city hotel where the room works well for sleeping, showering and repacking, and less well as somewhere to spend an afternoon. Families with a toddler who naps would be better served by an apartment-style room.
How close is The B Ochanomizu to Tokyo Station?
About three minutes by metro. That proximity is the main reason to book it: the Shinkansen and most of the lines out of the city leave from Tokyo Station, so a trip that includes day trips or moving on to Kyoto saves a transfer almost every day.
How much does The B Ochanomizu cost for a family?
We paid around €400 for four nights for two adults and two children in July 2023, which works out at roughly €100 a night for the family in central Tokyo. Rates have risen since, so check current prices for your dates rather than budgeting from that figure.
Are the rooms at The B Ochanomizu big enough for four people?
They are compact, as Tokyo hotel rooms generally are — smaller than the equivalent in Kyoto. Ours worked for four because we were out from morning until late and only used it to sleep and shower. It would not have suited a family planning to spend time in the room.
Is The B Ochanomizu in a good area of Tokyo?
Ochanomizu is a quieter, more workaday part of central Tokyo than Shinjuku or Shibuya, which with children is a feature rather than a drawback. You are close to the centre without being in the noisiest part of it, and minutes from Tokyo Station by metro.
Would you stay at The B Ochanomizu again?
Yes, for the same kind of trip — Tokyo with school-age children, out all day, with the Shinkansen in the plan. For a slower trip, or one with a toddler, we would book something with more space instead.
Location, Location, Location Convenience is key when exploring a new city, and The B Ochanomizu nailed it with its prime location. Situated just a stone’s throw away from Tokyo Station, the heart of the city’s transportation network, getting around was a breeze. With a mere 3-minute metro ride, we found ourselves at the doorstep of this cozy haven after a day of exploring TeamLab and other Tokyo attractions.
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