We recently returned from our trip to Tokyo. We stayed at this hotel for 11 days. We chose this boutique-style hotel instead of a larger hotel in the area hoping it would be less crowded. We made the right choice. By the time we left the hotel, we felt like family. Thank you to everyone who made our stay so memorable.
This review is lengthy, but I wanted to be helpful to those considering this hotel. I will talk about a few areas of our experience specifically so you get an idea of why it is the perfect place to stay.
The Location
It is a 10-minute walk to Shinjuku Station East exit where you pick up your JR Pass. I would suggest if you are arriving at Shinjuku Station with luggage, that you take the short Uber/taxi ride as the streets are busy with locals and tourists. We watched many people with their luggage, and phones in the air, trying to maneuver their way to their hotel. The Uber/taxi cost is minimal, and worth it. We took a taxi from Haneda airport. It cost approximately $90CAD. That was also worth it after a 12-hour flight and an hour long line through immigration and customs.
Turn left out of the hotel, it is a 5-minute walk to all the sights, shopping, food and fun in Kabukicho. Turn right, and there is a Family Mart 1 minute away and some great Korean restaurants.
Although close to all the action, the hotel is far enough way that it is a quiet area. The location close to the train stations was a great home base for us to enjoy many of the tourist activities throughout Tokyo. We used Google Maps to find subways and trains. Transportation can be crowded at times, but easy to use if you have a Suica card. Don't forget to buy a Japanese sim card for your phone before you arrive. It worked great as we travelled all over Japan.
The Rooms
We had a family room, Japanese style. We are a family of 4 including 2 young-adult sons. The room was immaculate, with a small refrigerator, and there was plenty of space to store our suitcases behind the door. There were a few hangers and hooks and because we use 'packing cubes', we were able to empty our luggage and store our things on the shelves throughout the room. The bathroom was large and the shower had great pressure. I had read Japanese mattresses were firm, and I love a soft mattress, and to my surprise, the bed was extremely comfortable. The pillows were great too. A great night sleep was no problem. It was perfect.
The Front Desk
We've stayed at many hotels around the world, and the staff at this hotel is the best. They are soft-spoken and thoughtful, multilingual and helpful. They assisted us time and time again with a variety of requests. If you forget anything, they have it. We were offered and received refreshed towels and pajamas each day. Nice touch.
The Onsite Restaurant & Bar
This is where we met some awesome guests from around the world. Masahiro is extremely friendly, professional, and provided excellent service. It was a relaxing place to visit each day to set up our logistics for the next day. The food is good too; we enjoyed the snacks - it was great to have somewhere onsite to rest and have a drink after a long day before we ventured out for the evening.
If you are looking for a personalized experience at reasonable prices in the Shinjuku Kabukicho area - look no further. Don't hesitate - book now.
