Ikebukuro

This friendly if very tourist-oriented minshuku no, it's not a ryokan is an excellent option for first time travelers to Tokyo. It is reasonably priced 4500 yen and has English speaking staff. A nice way to spend your first night on a tatami.

Various rooms are good for groups and private. All staff speak English.

A 1 minute walk from the station take East Exit, right across from the back of Parco. In-room broadband internet, massage service, 24-hour convenience store, and many other amenities. TV channel list includes CNN. Some of the staff speak near-fluent English, others not so much. Internet reservations can greatly reduce room rates.

The staff don't speak English very well.