The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon by Hulic

The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon sits a moment's walk from the great lantern gate of Senso-ji, giving it one of the most convenient addresses in Asakusa. It is a contemporary hotel run by Hulic, a Japanese property company, and it combines a modern, design-conscious interior with views over one of the most traditional neighbourhoods in Tokyo. The reception and restaurant are on an upper floor, so the hotel feels calm despite the crowds in the streets below.

Rooms come in several categories, including The Gate, Balcony, Classy, Scenic, Essential, Authentic and Modest rooms, and it is worth paying a little more for a scenic or balcony room if the view of Tokyo Skytree and the rooftops of Asakusa is part of the appeal. Interiors are calm and comfortable, with natural tones and good beds, and rooms are a reasonable size for the area.

The R Restaurant & Bar is a good reason to stay in for a drink, even if you are dining elsewhere. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a menu mixing Western and Japanese influences, and its terrace looks out towards Tokyo Skytree, which is lit in different colours each evening. There is also a separate bar. Hotel guests can use the restaurant space at any time of day or night as a lounge.

Staying here means you can visit Senso-ji early in the morning or late at night, when the temple is quiet and the buildings are lit, before the day-trippers arrive. It suits couples, first-time visitors and anyone who wants to be in the old part of the city, and the price sits in the upper mid-range. Families should check room sizes before booking, as most rooms are designed for two.

The hotel is about two minutes' walk from Exit 2 of Asakusa Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, three minutes from Exit A4 on the Toei Asakusa Line, four minutes from the Tobu Skytree Line and around eight minutes from the Tsukuba Express. The Asakusa Line runs direct trains to both Haneda and Narita airports, and the Ginza Line reaches Ueno and Ginza without changing. The Sumida River and its water bus pier are a short walk away.