Hotel Wing International Ikebukuro (Tokyo, Japan)

To be in Tokyo ...10 minutes walk from the Ikebukuro railway station and even nearer to the world famous Sunshine City and all its attractions ... is a real bonus for visiting tourists. The area is good though ... and at night, you feel completely safe.

Rooms are on the small side - but you expect that. They are, though, cleverly designed and immaculately clean. If not fussed about breakfast; tea and coffee is always free in the lobby.

These days, hotels where you hand your key in as you leave and collect again on your return ... are few and far between. You do that here and it does add to the sense of security. The process is re-assuring, rather than being inconvenient.

Check-in is in the basement and down some steep stairs - so you take all your luggage down in order to check in. There is an intercom system at the top of the stairs but, of course, you can't check in using that. There's a language problem too; some staff members are fluent but, generally, English isn't readily understood.

On arrival, they smell of damp. Obviously unused for some time? Air conditioning has a mind of its own and can't be controlled from within the room. Wi-Fi isn't good.

The breakfast cost is excessive. If you are one of those who must have breakfast; save money, step outside and try some of the much cheaper alternatives in the immediate area.