APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower

 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. 

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.

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. 

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.