Sakura Fleur Aoyama

Set in an attractive red-brick building with 10 floors, Sakura Fleur Aoyama's pink-toned interiors might not suit all tastes. Described as “Parisian-style," design accents include black wrought-iron furniture and a color palette of lilac, soft grays and pinks, and black. A beautiful hardwood floor distinguishes the lobby, with seating that includes a black leather chesterfield and matching black-and-red velour armchairs. A round cafe-style marbletop table, a black wrought-iron coat rack, shelving, and pink-and-gray velvet curtains complement the look. The hotel caters to the young crowd that gravitates to Shibuya, and guests are mostly couples or groups of friends traveling together. Many past guests chafe at the hotel's stringent identity checks every time they return to the hotel and request their room keys, and the property's no-guests policy.

Sakura Fleur Aoyama is a seven-minute walk from the busy Shibuya subway and train stations, and its iconic pedestrian crossing and neon billboards. There are many shops, department stores, cafes, restaurants, and bars in the immediate vicinity.

• Seven-minute walk to Shibuya subway and train station
• Seven-minute walk to Shibuya Crossing
• 19 minutes to Golden Gai nightlife district by public transportation
• 19 minutes to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden by public transportation
• 20 minutes to Kabukicho entertainment district by public transportation
• 20 minutes to Meiji Shrine by public transportation
• 20 minutes to Yoyogi Park by public transportation
• 22-minute drive to Tokyo Haneda International Airport
• 25 minutes to Tokyo station by public transportation
• 29 minutes to Hara Museum of Contemporary Art by train
• 37 minutes to Tokyo Imperial Palace by public transit
• 46 minutes to Senso-ji temple by public transit

The 133 rooms at Sakura Fleur Aoyama are relatively spacious by Japanese standards, but bathrooms are small. Rooms have a soft pink and gray color palette, with flowery detailing. Several pieces of wrought-iron furniture (beds, coat stands, chairs) give the rooms a romantic feel, but details like the rose-patterned desk lamps and coffee mugs, and pink alarm clocks might be too over the top for some. Bland brown-and-black patterned carpeting covers the floors, and matching brown bedspreads can make the room feel dark. Rooms are air-conditioned and come with flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, electric kettles, free Wi-Fi and mineral water, which is replenished daily. Bathrooms are small with Japanese-style fittings: electronic toilets, plastic countertops, and small bathtubs with showerheads. Toiletries are provided, and the toilet paper is pink. Guests complain about the smell of cigarette smoke in nonsmoking rooms and poor soundproofing, which means noise travels between rooms.

Sakura Fleur Aoyama doesn't pack in too many extras. The property includes an adjacent cafe and bar, Antique Rose, which serves light Japanese and Western fare and drinks but no breakfast. Wi-Fi is free throughout, and services include laundry and dry cleaning (for a fee), and luggage storage. Massages can also be arranged for guests, and they also come with a fee.