APA Hotel Shinjuku Gyoemmae

Popular with Japanese and international tourists and business travelers alike, the mid-range APA Hotel Shinjuku Gyoemmae is set in a tall, dark building with glass doors that make it feel more upscale than it actually is, at least at first glance. However, everything is more functional than plush here, from the tiny rooms with no space to open a suitcase or move around, to the lobby, which feels rather sterile due to its lack of seating. Rates, though, are generally competitive for the area, and on-site amenities cover all the basics for a quick stay.Guests enter the building into a dark but polished library full of marble and slate, with a long bank of elevators that lead up to rooms. Reception takes place at a sleek black-and-white front desk and there's express check-in and checkout machines available for those who don't want to wait. Two armchairs by the elevators is all there is in the way of seating, and guests are more likely to be found smoking cigarettes in the hotel's interior courtyard or in the on-site restaurant, Takumi, which gets particularly busy during the morning breakfast service.

In the heart of the lively Shinjuku neighborhood, the APA Hotel Shinjuku Gyoemmae is located just north of the sprawling Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, a 10-minute walk east of the enormous Shinjuku Station. The neighborhood is full of shops and restaurants, and Exit 1 of Shinjuku-Gyoemmae Station is just a minute's walk from the hotel, allowing for easy access to other area attractions. Tokyo Tower takes about half an hour to reach by metro, while Ueno Park -- the location of attractions such as the Tokyo National Museum, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, the National Museum of Nature and Science, and the Le Corbusier-designed National Museum of Western Art -- takes around 40 minutes to reach. Narita International Airport takes around an hour and a half to two hours to reach by public transit, while Haneda Airport only takes around 45 minutes on the Haneda Airport Limousine Bus.

Rooms at this property are basic and tiny, with monochromatic, contemporary decor and little space to move around. Decor features include dark striped carpets and accent walls in gray hues, plus generic dark wood-finish desks -- but little in the way of artwork. Most rooms lack cabinets and instead just have small racks for hanging clothes. Although during our visit we spotted some stained carpets and dusty curtains, most guests find rooms clean and in good shape. Bedding is soft enough and beds are comfortable and have pillow-top mattresses, but pillows are pancake-flat. That said, the hotel has a limited supply of fluffier pillows available upon request. All units have desks, large flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and electric kettles with free coffee and tea. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, but there have been reports of inconsistent service. Bathrooms, while basic and with low ceilings, are clean and come with shower/tub combos with deep tubs, hairdryers, and full-size pump toiletries. Extras such as toothbrushes, razors, yukata robes, and slippers are also provided. Those bothered by the smell of tobacco may want to know that even the non-smoking rooms we saw had a lingering cigarette smell, due in part to people smoking in the open-air interior courtyard.

The best feature at the APA Hotel Shinjuku Gyoemmae is its onsen (Japanese public bath), with sleek dark-slate walls and indoor and outdoor soaking tubs. Massage services are also available. The on-site restaurant, Takumi, serves Japanese fare in a casual space with recessed lighting and patterned wall siding. Breakfast is served daily, buffet-style, with Western and Japanese options available and lots of hot dishes. However, it's not included in most room rates. Like most hotels in Tokyo, this property offers vending machines with hot and cold beverages and snacks, and there are also coin-operated laundry facilities on-site. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and currency exchange services and luggage storage are also available in the lobby.