Pros
- Central Shinjuku location, near entertainment, restaurants, and shopping
- Contemporary rooms have big flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and kettles
- Many rooms have expansive city views
- Common Cafe with ample breakfast spread, plus lunch and dinner menus
- Asahi Beer Front serves drinks and small bites; outdoor seating available
- Indoor and outdoor public Japanese baths on the property
- Vending machine and microwave for guest use
- Coin-operated laundry facilities and currency exchange machine
- Elevators have key card security access
- Free Wi-Fi throughout
Cons
- Some non-smoking rooms still smell like cigarettes
- Pancake-flat pillows; limited supply of regular ones on request
- Some may find this part of the neighborhood somewhat seedy
Bottom Line
Located right in the busy Shinjuku neighborhood near public transit, APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower is a mid-range property built to accommodate the influx of tourists expected for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The 620 rooms here are simple but nicely furnished, with 50-inch flat-screen TVs, kettles, robes, and mini-fridges. On-site amenities include a vending machine, a microwave, coin-operated laundry facilities, and a lovely public bath (onsen) with indoor and outdoor tubs. There's also a restaurant, Common Cafe, with a decent buffet spread (but it's on the expensive side), plus a bar serving small bites. However, there are no gym or business facilities beyond free Wi-Fi. Travelers shopping around may want to consider the nearby Shinjuku Prince Hotel, which offers similarly furnished rooms along with meeting facilities.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Amenities
- Internet
Scene
Huge, budget-friendly property that attracts tourists and business travelers alike
APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower is a gargantuan, budget-friendly property that opened in September 2015 in anticipation of the 2020 Olympics. It's housed in a 28-story, modern structure with black and orange siding that looks out over a small public square surrounded by shops, with a movie theater off to one side. The lobby features a blend of dark marble tiling and columns, with a few glass lamp fixtures on the ceilings and a stately front desk with a few guest registration stations. Automatic check-in and checkout machines in the lobby help streamline things -- useful given the massive size of this property. Rooms are situated in open halls around a large interior courtyard and are connected to the lobby via key card-controlled elevators. The hotel attracts a mix of guests on a budget, including business travelers, young partiers, and some couples with children.
Location
In the heart of Shinjuku, near shops, restaurants, entertainment, and multiple public transit stations
This property is situated in busy Shinjuku, an area that's particularly popular with young people, owing to lots of shops and restaurants, as well as karaoke parlors and gaming spots. It's particularly busy during the daytime, but quieter come evening, and some guests have found it a tad seedy after dark. The area is well-connected to public transit -- Seibu-Shinjuku Station is a three-minute walk from the hotel, while Shinjuku Station takes around 10 minutes to reach. From Shinjuku Station, it's a 12-minute ride plus a 10-minute walk to the Tokyo Tower, while getting to Ueno Park, a sprawling garden full of some of Tokyo's most important museums, takes around 30 to 35 minutes to get to. Haneda Airport takes 45 minutes to an hour to reach on public transportation from APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower, while getting to Narita Airport can take anywhere from an hour and 15 minutes to two hours.
Rooms
Simple, contemporary rooms with solid amenities but uncomfortable pillows and cigarette smells
There are a range of rooms at APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower, all with a similarly simple but modern aesthetic that goes beyond what one would expect of a value property. Decor features include dark striped carpets, off-white walls, and dark wood-finish desks, but little in the way of artwork. Smaller units lack cabinets and instead just have racks for hanging clothes, while larger rooms, such as the Deluxe Twin Rooms, have proper wardrobes with mirrored siding and additional decor touches such as large ceiling light fixtures and egg yolk-yellow throw cushions. Bedding is soft enough and beds have pillow-top mattresses, but pillows are pancake-flat and not very comfy. That said, the hotel does have a limited supply of regular pillows available upon request. Windows can't be opened, but most offer expansive views of the neighborhood and beyond that are particularly striking at night.
All units have work desks, 50-inch flat-screen TVs with a few international channels, mini-fridges, and electric kettles with free coffee and tea. Wi-Fi is available free of charge throughout the hotel. Yukata robes are also provided in all rooms along with slippers. Bathrooms are basic and clean, and come with shower/tub combos with deep tubs, hairdryers, and full-size pump toiletries along with extras such as toothbrushes and razors.
Smoking is allowed in some rooms, and even some of the non-smoking units smell like cigarettes.
Features
Indoor-outdoor public baths, laundry facilities, cafe, and bar with sidewalk seating
APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower doesn't offer a ton of amenities, lacking a gym and business center. The loveliest features of this hotel are its on-site onsens, or public bath houses, with indoor and outdoor bathing facilities, and vanity stations with hairdryers for post-bath primping. There's also an area with vending machines and a microwave for guest use, along with coin-operated laundry facilities and a trouser press for guests to use. A currency exchange machine is available in the lobby. Located on the second floor of the property, Common Cafe has big windows with city views. It offers a solid Western and Japanese breakfast buffet available for a fee, but it's on the pricey side. Western and Japanese fare is also offered for lunch and dinner, and the menu includes lots of organic and healthy items. Alternatively, travelers can grab a bite and a drink at Asahi Beer Front, which offers a few tables and chairs for those who want to sit outdoors.
Related Hotels
Scene
Huge, budget-friendly property that attracts tourists and business travelers alike
APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower is a gargantuan, budget-friendly property that opened in September 2015 in anticipation of the 2020 Olympics. It's housed in a 28-story, modern structure with black and orange siding that looks out over a small public square surrounded by shops, with a movie theater off to one side. The lobby features a blend of dark marble tiling and columns, with a few glass lamp fixtures on the ceilings and a stately front desk with a few guest registration stations. Automatic check-in and checkout machines in the lobby help streamline things -- useful given the massive size of this property. Rooms are situated in open halls around a large interior courtyard and are connected to the lobby via key card-controlled elevators. The hotel attracts a mix of guests on a budget, including business travelers, young partiers, and some couples with children.
Location
In the heart of Shinjuku, near shops, restaurants, entertainment, and multiple public transit stations
This property is situated in busy Shinjuku, an area that's particularly popular with young people, owing to lots of shops and restaurants, as well as karaoke parlors and gaming spots. It's particularly busy during the daytime, but quieter come evening, and some guests have found it a tad seedy after dark. The area is well-connected to public transit -- Seibu-Shinjuku Station is a three-minute walk from the hotel, while Shinjuku Station takes around 10 minutes to reach. From Shinjuku Station, it's a 12-minute ride plus a 10-minute walk to the Tokyo Tower, while getting to Ueno Park, a sprawling garden full of some of Tokyo's most important museums, takes around 30 to 35 minutes to get to. Haneda Airport takes 45 minutes to an hour to reach on public transportation from APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower, while getting to Narita Airport can take anywhere from an hour and 15 minutes to two hours.
Rooms
Simple, contemporary rooms with solid amenities but uncomfortable pillows and cigarette smells
There are a range of rooms at APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower, all with a similarly simple but modern aesthetic that goes beyond what one would expect of a value property. Decor features include dark striped carpets, off-white walls, and dark wood-finish desks, but little in the way of artwork. Smaller units lack cabinets and instead just have racks for hanging clothes, while larger rooms, such as the Deluxe Twin Rooms, have proper wardrobes with mirrored siding and additional decor touches such as large ceiling light fixtures and egg yolk-yellow throw cushions. Bedding is soft enough and beds have pillow-top mattresses, but pillows are pancake-flat and not very comfy. That said, the hotel does have a limited supply of regular pillows available upon request. Windows can't be opened, but most offer expansive views of the neighborhood and beyond that are particularly striking at night.
All units have work desks, 50-inch flat-screen TVs with a few international channels, mini-fridges, and electric kettles with free coffee and tea. Wi-Fi is available free of charge throughout the hotel. Yukata robes are also provided in all rooms along with slippers. Bathrooms are basic and clean, and come with shower/tub combos with deep tubs, hairdryers, and full-size pump toiletries along with extras such as toothbrushes and razors.
Smoking is allowed in some rooms, and even some of the non-smoking units smell like cigarettes.
Features
Indoor-outdoor public baths, laundry facilities, cafe, and bar with sidewalk seating
APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower doesn't offer a ton of amenities, lacking a gym and business center. The loveliest features of this hotel are its on-site onsens, or public bath houses, with indoor and outdoor bathing facilities, and vanity stations with hairdryers for post-bath primping. There's also an area with vending machines and a microwave for guest use, along with coin-operated laundry facilities and a trouser press for guests to use. A currency exchange machine is available in the lobby. Located on the second floor of the property, Common Cafe has big windows with city views. It offers a solid Western and Japanese breakfast buffet available for a fee, but it's on the pricey side. Western and Japanese fare is also offered for lunch and dinner, and the menu includes lots of organic and healthy items. Alternatively, travelers can grab a bite and a drink at Asahi Beer Front, which offers a few tables and chairs for those who want to sit outdoors.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Best Rates
Amenities
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Air Conditioner
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Internet
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Laundry
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Smoking Rooms Available
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
