
Re: Places to stay in Tokyo...
If you don't speak Japanese, or very little, here's a friendly, affordable, hotel in Jimbocho, Tokyo (they now have more than one location), which cater almost exclusively to foreigners -- and a lot of toy sellers lodge there -- the Sakura Hotel. It's a modest, but modern hotel with 24-hour desk service, bi-lingual staff (some also speak French), internet service, 24-hour bar, and more:
Here's their English-language website:
http://www.sakura-hotel.co.jp/sakura-hotel_link.html