APA HOTEL HIGASHI SHINJUKU KABUKICHO HIGASHI, Tokyo

The hotel is a 2-minute walk from Higashi-Shinjuku Station (Toei Oedo and Fukutoshin lines), providing easy access to Shibuya (9-minute subway ride) and other major districts without the crowds of Shinjuku Station itself. JR Shinjuku Station is a 15-minute walk away, and Haneda International Airport is 17 km from the property. The neighbourhood is lively, with numerous restaurants, convenience stores (Family Mart, 7-Eleven), and a 24-hour Don Quijote within a short walk. The immediate area sits on the edge of Kabukicho, the entertainment and nightlife district, making it ideal for evening exploration but also a busy, sometimes noisy environment, especially on lower floors. For airport transfer, a shuttle bus runs from Haneda/Narita to Shinjuku Station, but a taxi is recommended if travelling with large luggage due to the 10-minute walk from Shinjuku Station.

All rooms are non-smoking and include a private bathroom with a bath, shower, bidet, hairdryer, slippers, and free toiletries. In-room amenities also feature yukata (provided as pyjamas), a tea and coffee maker, carpeted floors, and a video-on-demand service. Double rooms have one double bed suitable for two adults; twin rooms offer two single beds. No extra beds are available, but one preschool child can share a double bed with two adults. The rooms are notably compact - large suitcases may be difficult to open fully inside, and some travellers find the double room cramped for two people with luggage. The bathroom is very small. Rooms on higher floors are quieter, while lower floors can pick up street noise from traffic and sirens. The heating/cooling system is centralized and not individually controllable. The single-room option works well for solo travellers, while the twin room offers more practical sleeping and luggage arrangement.

Breakfast is charged at ¥1200 per person if booked in advance, or ¥1400 on the day. A couple pays ¥2400 (advance) or ¥2800 (day-of). The buffet includes 2 main courses and more than 20 different dishes, plus side dishes. Note that breakfast is served off-site at another APA Hotel about 50-100 metres away. The hotel has no on-site restaurant or bar, but the surrounding area offers many dining options, including ramen shops, sushi, yakiniku, and a 24-hour convenience store across the street. There is also a small Japanese restaurant on the ground floor serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, but its hours may vary.

The hotel does not have a gym, spa, or swimming pool. A massage service is available by request at the 24-hour front desk. For fitness, a gym is located within a 7-minute walk. The hotel also has a drinks vending machine, ice maker, and microwave for guest convenience.

Services include a 24-hour front desk with multilingual staff (though English proficiency may be limited), free luggage storage on the day of check-in and check-out (no multi-day storage), and the ability to receive packages at the front desk (but not deliver them to rooms). Daily housekeeping provides fresh towels and amenity refills (toothbrushes, razors, etc.) left outside the door; full room cleaning and sheet changes occur every three days. Wi-Fi is free of charge and available in all rooms. The hotel has one elevator serving 14 floors, which can be slow during peak periods. No laundry machines are available; the nearest laundromat is about a 5-minute walk. Ironing facilities can be borrowed for limited periods. The property is secured with CCTV, key card access, fire extinguishers, security alarms, and smoke detectors. Payment is accepted via American Express, Visa, Diners Club, JCB, UC, and MasterCard.