APA Hotel Shibuya Dogenzakaue

APA Hotel Shibuya Dogenzakaue is located in a modern, 14-story building right on a busy main thoroughfare. Guests step inside into a tiny lobby with a dark color scheme consisting of black-and-gray marble floors, dark-wood paneling and mirrored walls, and a tiny reception desk for check-in. Recessed lighting brightens up the space and there's a stack of newspapers off to one side by the single elevator, but there's no seating and the space doesn't invite lingering. The hotel is best suited to solo travelers or couples who don't need a lot of space (as rooms are tiny), and its biggest selling point is proximity to nearby Shibuya Station. Rates are competitive for location and overall comfort, too.

This hotel's biggest selling point is its location, an eight-minute walk from the famous Shibuya Crossing and the Hachiko exit of Shibuya Station, one of the city's busiest public transit points. Shinsen Station is only four minutes away. The area is full of restaurants and shops and is generally convenient for those relying on public transportation to get around Tokyo.

It takes about half an hour to reach Tokyo Tower using public transit, or about 10 minutes by taxi. Ueno Park -- the location of many of the city's major museums and attractions, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, the National Museum of Nature and Science, and the Le Corbusier-designed National Museum of Western Art -- takes about 45 minutes to get to using public transportation or around 20 minutes to half an hour by car, depending on traffic. Getting to Harajuku, a great spot to shop for inexpensive fashion accessories or watch young people dressed up in their cosplay finest, takes about 20 minutes by metro or JR. From the hotel, it's about 45 minutes to Haneda Airport using public transportation, or around half an hour by car (depending on traffic). Narita Airport is about an hour and a half away using public transit or by car. 

Rooms at this hotel have a modern feel, with streamlined decor across categories consisting of dark-striped carpeting, cream walls with gray-and-black contrasting striped accent walls, and predominantly dark wood-finish furniture, including desks paired with soft office chairs. Wall art is kept to a minimum, and most have largish windows with blackout screens. Overall, rooms are tiny and cramped and are more functional than anything else, with bedside light controls, clocks, flat-screen TVs, kettles, mini-fridges, slippers, and robes. Small bathrooms feature bidet toilets, shower/tub combos with large bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, and small hairdryers. Wi-Fi is free in rooms and throughout the hotel. Smoking and non-smoking rooms are available, as are rooms with balconies. Note that past guests have reported some noise in rooms, but those situated toward the back of the hotel are quieter.

Amenities at APA Hotel Shibuya Dogenzakaue are limited, though there are free hotel-wide Wi-Fi and coin-operated washers and dryers for guests, along with a microwave and a vending machine stocked with drinks. Parking is available in an underground lot right below the hotel, but it costs extra. There's also a small cafe-style restaurant on the second floor, with cozy all-wood decor spruced up with tufted raspberry benches and metal and stained-glass lamps. A basic breakfast with three options is available here for a small fee, and the cafe reopens for lunch and dinner, serving hotel guests and local businesspeople. The menus include fast-food options such as burgers and hot dogs, along with heartier dishes that range from beef stews to pork cutlets.