APA Hotel Higashi-Shinjuku-Kabukicho

Well positioned hotel Very clean BUT Tiny rooms No amenities No lobby to speak of Poor english at reception Wake up call that didn’t arrive 1 lift to service the entire hotel Prepare for long waiting times No daily room service Breakfast is ok but can be very busy in the small room Reasonable price for the middle of tokyo but that’s all

This hotel had the smallest room I have ever been in, almost claustrophobic. And I never cared about room size in the past but you might not have room to keep your luggage in the room. Probably this is all part of the Japanese experience. Beware that this is a big hotel chain in Japan, and there are two other hotels of the same chain a few minutes away with a very similar name that is easy to get confused.

I am always struck by how incredibly busy Tokyo is, but nothing in Tokyo could have prepared me for check-in! A 50 minute queue just to get to an automated machine to check you in. After a long flight, standing in small, hot room packed with tourists felt an awful way to start a holiday. Almost like an awful ferry service in a developing country. Got to the room and realised there is no space to lay your suitcase down (the hotel says to put it under your bed…… which is ridiculous). There is no view from the room either. I know space is a premium in Japan and Tokyo, but you can spend half this much and get the same quality elsewhere, so save yourself the trouble. Oh, they don’t clean your room either, every three days for “eco” reasons. Only plus point were the staff, who were really helpful and friendly