I have to say I’m not the sort of traveler that does a lot of pre-trip planning. I never even heard of Kawagoe (川越) in Japan before I googled “day trips near Tokyo”. And it was only on that day I decided on visiting Kawagoe when I discovered that it was just 30 minutes away from Tokyo where I was staying at the time via train at Ikebukuro Station on the Tobu Toju Line.
Kawogoe is a small city in Saitama Prefecture, with a population of around 340,000. Not a big city when compared to Tokyo but if you’re looking for that old world Edo Period charm than Kawagoe won’t disappoint you.
What to Do and See in Kawagoe
One of Kawagoe’s claim to fame is the Bell Tower located near Kurazukuri Street which is a popular section of the city famous for its old warehouse style shops. It’s an area made up of small alleys upon back alleys and a real fun to walk around and just get lost for awhile
There is supposed to be an area loaded with shops selling snacks and treats that is very popular with tourists and locals alike. But I missed it. I guess I should do a little more pre-trip planning (“my sarcastic inner child tells me”).
The Confectionery Row (菓子屋横丁 ) is where you’ll find the Bell Tower…
You truly get a sense of how things were back then during Japan’s classical Edo era. I truly appreciate Japan’s effort to recapture and retain their culture and not lose their identity among today’s fast paced world.
We visited Kawagoe during the weekend and yes it was packed full of locals and sight seeing folks like us. The weather was terrific, around mid 70°F and just a total pleasure to be outside with so many smiling folks out and about.
And even though there were a lot of people all around which I normally don’t prefer, being there on a busy weekend at Kawagoe was still very enjoyable.
I already mentioned Kawagoe is famous for it’s confectionary which I had not known about. Kawagoe is also very famous for it’s sweet potatoes too which I love eating. But again, I had no idea. Which could be a good thing as I’m avoiding carbs.
So my wife and I went around and about looking for some grub. After a bit of walking around and a whole lot of indecision we dropped into a very busy restaurant and was lucky enough to score two seats.
There was a simple menu in Japanese with pictures luckily. We just chose a set menu, not knowing what we really ordered but there’s buckwheat soba noodles. There was also some grilled sticky rice dumpling which I just discovered after some googling while writing this post called Dango.
The buckwheat soba noodles were delicious. Though I’m not sure if we were in a vegetarian restaurant or not. Because as far as we could tell everyone around us didn’t have any sort of meat in their bowls. And I have to admit I was expecting some sliced pork in my bowl of soba noodles, just digging around but there was only bamboo and Dango.
The Dango however we were not a great fan of. Now I’m not saying it’s not any good. I honestly do not want to insult the establishment. They have lots of happy customers dining on Dango. We just weren’t digging it.
Main street in Kawagoe…
After a little while of strolling and exploring the side streets it was about time for a little bit of rest. And a snack too while at it. And oh yeah coffee!
I wish that I could try all of their bagels…
Bread pudding made with bagels…
Shakerato… a shaken iced espresso drink…
We passed by Vanitoy Bagel shop and decided to drop in for some much needed afternoon coffee buzz. The first floor is the shop’s counter space display with dozens of varieties of bagels with the bakery in the back. The seating space is upstairs and it’s very cozy and comfortable. They do have English picture menus and two items caught my eye instantly, the bread pudding and the Shakerato. While my wife ordered a hot latte.
Our order was delicious. Do yourself a favor, if you’re in Kawagoe, drop by Vanitoy Bagel shop. If I’m ever back in Kawagoe Vanitoy Bagel shop is my go to pit stop.
Kitain Temple is located not far at all from the main street of Kawagoe…
Kitain Temple
There is a bit more to Kawagoe besides charming shops and possibly one of the best bagel shops in my book. You should also drop by Kitain Temple which is a short walking distance from the main street.
There is an entrance fee of 400 Yen at Kitain Temple. Besides the temple, there are smaller complexes which was a part of an old Edo Castle that survived a fire and was moved to Kitain in the mid 1600’s. That in itself is a good reason why you would want to visit Kawagoe. It’s not a big section however and you will get to see a classic example of a fine Japanese garden in the back.
A very nice view of traditional Japanese gardens at Kitain…
Back near the entrance where you purchased your ticket is a smaller courtyard filled with 540 small statues. Wander around these statues and you’ll see that each have distinctive features. You might even receive some good luck as the story goes.
Gohyaku Rakan statues at Kitain Temple in Kawagoe…
These statutes are called Gohyaku Rakan. You’ll find that coins are placed on these statues too as an offering for good luck in return.
Gohyaku Rakan statues…
Kawagoe is not a huge area and it’s great day trip kind of place because it’s only 30 minutes away by train from Tokyo. From my experience may times it’s great to get and explore such places away from the big cities. And even though Kawagoe doesn’t have too much to do I would still go there again. Especially for that bread pudding at Vanitoy Bagels. Okay enough about the bagels.
How to Get to Kawagoe from Tokyo
There are only three train lines that go from Tokyo to Kawagoe:
Tobu Toju Line – At Ikebukuro Station takes 3o minutes on an express train and cost 470 Yen one way. There is a discounted round trip fare you can buy at the station booth for 700 Yen. This is the train we took while we stayed at a hotel near the station.
Seibu Shinjuku Line – Seibu Shinjuku Station takes about 1 hour and fare cost 500 Yen one way.
JR Saikyo/Kawagoe Line – Shinjuku Station takes about 1 hour and fare cost 760 Yen one way. Kind of expensive luckily but this route is covered by JR Rail Pass.
Been to Kawagoe? Let me know about your experience. Make sure to comment below if you have any questions about visiting Kawagoe!
The Reiah Hotel Otsu Ishiyama – Just Right for a Visit in Kyoto
One of the biggest advice on saving hotels in Japan is to look for a hotel that is not in the center of whichever major city you are visiting.
For example while visiting Kyoto, I booked the Reiah Hotel Otsu Ishiyama. It’s a 2 star business hotel situated in Biwako, which has a train station that is only 4 stops (15 mins.) away from Kyoto Station via Special Rapid Train on the Biwako Line.
How to Get to Reiah Hotel
And the Reiah Hotel Otsu Ishiyama is a short 5 minute walk from Ishiyama Station. Once you get to the station I recommend asking for assistance at the station booth. Train staff know exactly where the hotel is and they’ll pull out a photocopied map and tell you which way to go.
One key landmark is a McDonald’s restaurant on a corner of the block. Once you see McDonald’s you’ll have no problem at all finding the hotel.
Not a Fancy Hotel – But It’s Comfortable and Clean
The Reiah Hotel Otsu Ishiyama is a 2 star business hotel. All over Japan there are many 2 star business classed hotels meant for local business travelers either in town for business or for white collared workers who missed that last train. Remember, Japanese trains stop service between midnight and 1AM.
Small rooms, but that shouldn’t be a surprise…
It is common that 2 star business hotels all over Japan have small rooms. And I have stayed in many around Tokyo and elsewhere and I can say most of these budget rooms are 15 square meters. I have to admit though with two people in a 15 square meter room such as the ones at Reiah Hotel Otsu Ishiyama it may seem way too cozy. But you do get used to it.
The bathroom… small but functional…
The bathroom at first sight is shockingly small. But you’ll soon learn to get used to it too. I’m 6 foot tall but there is clearance above my head. There is a bathtub but if I sit in it my knees would be sticking up. Soap, shampoo and even toothpaste and toothbrush are provided.
Even though the Reiah is a budget business class hotel we didn’t see a lot of local business guests. We mainly came across foreign tourists. These days, since travel to Japan is becoming more accessible to Southeast Asia travelers budget 2 star hotels like the Reiah are welcoming more neighboring foreigners.
This is the first budget business class hotel in Japan I stayed in that offered free breakfast…
What might also attract a lot of tourists to this hotel too is the free breakfast. They don’t have a huge spread. Though what they do have will definitely fill you up for a day of sightseeing.
Hotel cafeteria with free breakfast buffet…
Curry with rice, scrambled eggs with bacon. There’s also congee with pickles, a more traditional Japanese breakfast too. And of course there’s an assortment of breads and fruits.
This is a very clean hotel. It’s not big with only about 80 rooms. But it’s quite modern because it was renovated back in 2011. There’s even a small laundry room where you can wash your clothes at a very affordable price. So you won’t need to pack too much clothes on your trip.
The Reiah Hotel Otsu Ishiyama is a very good budget choice hotel for visiting Kyoto. But from this hotel’s location you can also conveniently visit other major cities such as Osaka and Kobe by taking the trains from Kyoto Station like we did.
There really isn’t much to do around the hotel’s area however. But my wife and I still enjoyed walking around. It’s peaceful, quiet and a lot less hectic than staying in the city.
If you are a big castle fanatic like I am, and you’re wondering which castle I would suggest you visit first in Japan, I would name HimejiCastle with no hesitation. Himeji Castle is one of the largest in Japan and easily visited as a day trip from Kyoto and Osaka in the Kansai region.
Before you read on you might want to take a look at my last post about Kansai region take a look here. It’ll give you an idea about traveling by train to the area’s points of interests.
Day Trip to Himeji Castle
Himeji is a city west of Kyoto. About 132 km with Osaka and Kobe in between. Himeji is not just any ordinary run of the mill city in Japan. If you are a castle fanatic like I am then you will want to go to Himeji Castle.
And it was a gorgeous day too. The temperature was in the high 60 degrees fahrenheit and partially cloudy. The air was so fresh and clean. One of the things I love about Japan is the clean fresh air.
Himeji Castle is also called the White Heron Castle…
How I Got There
From Kyoto Station I took the Special Rapid Train. The ride takes about 90 minutes to Himeji Station. Normally the train fare would cost 2270 Yen. But since I got the 4 Day JR travel pass I didn’t have to pay.
From Himeji station just follow the English signs. When you’re out of the station you will see the castle which may look far away but you can walk up the road to the castle in around 15 minutes. And it’s a lovely walk past many shops.
What’s So Special About Himeji Castle
To me, this is the mother of all medieval castles in Japan. It’s immense size and cultural significance has placed it rightly as a world heritage site and national treasure.
A map showing how immense Himeji Castle complex is…
We were here during October but the leaves haven’t fully changed colors yet…
But too bad we couldn’t get into the main fortress. Yup, just our luck we picked a time when the main structure was under major renovation and will be open to the public again March 2015.
So we walked around the castle grounds and made the best of it. Because Himeji Castle is so massive and filled with natural beauty there is still plenty to see. It’s amazing to see that this castle that is basically built during feudal wars has so much beauty surrounding it.
A small exhibition of Himeji Castle armory…
Through Japan’s feudal period, Himeji Castle was expanded through various clan controls. Which resulted in a lot of history. And because Himeji Castle was largely untouched by war and natural disasters what you see today is basically what it looked back then.
From up in Himeji Castle you can see the city below…
Wandering around the gardens you can’t help but admire the beautiful architecture. The way the buildings are combined with nature is amazing.
You’ll find some exhibits about castle life…
Take a look at the fake cat on the photo above… looks quite similar to this live kitty right?
Himeji Castle is also a museum of sorts. Throughout the castle surroundings you can find these nooks and crannies with educational exhibits. And you can learn all sort of things such as life during feudal Japan. There is even a nice little exhibit for the kids showing the methods of how the fortress was built and assembled.
But of the course the biggest treat is walking around the well kept gardens. And there are so many ponds filled with giant koi fish. I learned somewhere that Japanese gardens are all planned and designed. Certain stones and trees are carefully laid out to make a garden more pleasing to the eye.
A family enjoying a beautiful day in Himeji Castle…
You don’t have to be a total castle fanatic like me to appreciate the awesomeness of Himeji Castle. Anyone will appreciate the beauty and history surrounding the castle.
There’s no other country in Asia that I want to visit more than Japan. I try to visit Japan as much as I can, as frequently as I can and for as long as I can. Here I’ve put together a little Japan visitor’s guide that will give you a glimpse of several popular cities in Japan’s Kansai region.
Where is Kansai?
Kansai region is located on the largest island of Japan, H0nshu. If you haven’t heard of Kansai region until now then I’m sure you’ve heard of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe that are just several names of Honshu’s southern coastal cities.
Just for a little point of reference Tokyo is located up north in the Kanto region and Hiroshima is south in the Chugoku region.
So I’m going to break this post up into 2 parts. This particular post will basically show you what I did after landing in Kansai Airport. Plus you’ll find a few Japan travel tips because we all know the country has a reputation for being pricey. So I’ll mention in my posts where to find cheapish eats and general tips on finding some good affordable grub.
You Don’t Need a Massive Budget to Visit Japan – But It Helps
Yeah, we’ve all heard that Japan is one expensive country to explore. And I suppose that’s one of the reasons why most people don’t bother coming here at all. But there are ways to explore Japan on the cheap, or at least affordably, especially if you’re planning on visiting the cities of Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe.
From Don Mueang Airport you can fly direct to Japan via Air Asia…
I’m based in Bangkok, Thailand most of the year. So far I’ve been flying with Air Asia X. They have direct flights from Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok on to Kansai International Airport. From Kansai, you’ve got your choice of visiting either Kyoto or Osaka first. A round trip airfare cost about $350USD to $400USD. You can find it cheaper air fares though. Air Asia has these crazy limited cheap deals once in awhile but you gotta be Johnny on the spot to catch them. Plus you’ll have to have flexible travel dates.
For this trip to Japan I chose to stay in the city of Kyoto. The hotel I picked was Reiah Hotel Otsu Ishiyama (here’s a review). But because I arrived into Kansai Airport a bit late in the night I decided to book a room at an airport hotel nearby, the Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport (review coming soon). I was traveling with my wife and she doesn’t take to flying so well, even though it was only a 5 hour flight. So a full night rest would do her some good.
Even though it cost $145USD for one night at Hotel Nikko it was worth it. My wife felt better and the sun was out and bright. It was a great morning October morning! Even though the room cost a lot breakfast was not included. Luckily, there is a Lawsons Convenience store downstairs where I stocked up on some sandwiches and green tea.
Go Food Shopping at Lawsons, 7 Elevens and Family Mart
One of the biggest tips and tricks to saving some money while visiting Japan is to shop for snacks, drinks and meals foods at convenience stores. Besides Lawsons, you have a choice of 7 Eleven and Family Mart. All are stocked full of heat and ready to eat meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner! It’s not junk food, although if you want it you’ll find plenty of junk food as well as healthier alternatives. And you can find anyone of them all over the big cities of Japan.
Even if you can splurge a little on an expensive hotel you can still go cheap on food. At the Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport where we stayed overnight there was a Lawsons convenience store downstairs. There are 7 Elevens located inside the airport so you have plenty of options for cheap good eats.
Plenty of affordable food inside Lawsons. It’s just like a 7 Eleven…
Japan Rail Systems – Your Best Friend
Next thing I needed to do was get some Japan Rail (JR) train passes. Getting around Japan by train is affordable and convenient. It’s not exactly cheap but it beats the hell out of hiring a taxi. Luckily foreign tourists can get discounts on train fare package deals.
A JR ticketing office was right between the Hotel Nikko and outside of the Kansai Airport arrival area, just a short distance away. Even early in the morning there was a line filled with eager recently arrived travelers.
The Haruka Express Airport train will take you to Osaka and Kyoto fast… It’s also included in the price of a JR rail pass (more about that below)…
I purchased the 4 Day JR Kansai Area Pass. With this pass I get unlimited rides within 4 days to explore Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe plus all the smaller yet beautiful naturesque towns that Japan is so famous for.
There are loads to see within these areas…
These passes are available in increments of 1 day up to a maximum of 4 days. The 4 Day JR Kansai Pass cost 6500 Yen and that is an absolute bargain. Even though I mentioned I visited Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe I was also able to drop my Himeji where the famed Himeji Castle resides. We also visited Nara too. I wanted to check out Hikone and Wakayama too.
Because there is so much to see in every city we took our time and never rushed. What’s the point of traveling if you can’t enjoy it all?
You get discounts for purchasing before arrival, however you’ll have to pay for shipping… Note these rates are as of December 12th 2015…
If you want to purchase these JR Passes ahead of time you can do so via Japan Rail Pass website. But you’ll be paying for Fedex delivery, unless you’re ordering $600USD worth of tickets shipping is free. However, ordering your rail passes ahead of time will save you 200 Yen. But I’m sure FEDEX delivery is not cheap.
This cool little booklet contains your pass…
Inside you’ll find your pass along with a little map and usage instructions…
Since I was purchasing my 4 Day Kansai Area Pass on the spot I paid 65ooYen times two, one for me and one for my wife. And if you are purchasing your passes in a JR rail office make sure you have your passports on hand. These JR rail passes are offered only to foreign tourists. No passport, no passes.
A view from the Haruka Express Train
Okay, so you’ve got your JR passes so you can explore major cities around Kansai area of Japan. But you’ll need a way to get around via the local trains. And you’ll also need a way to get from Kansai Airport to your city of choice. That’s where the Airport Express Haruka comes in to save the day!
Top card is a Haruka ticket… Bottom is ICOCA card which you can use to access JR trains…
Purchase the ICOCA and Haruka Package
This ticket package includes round trip rides on Airport Express Haruka trains which is an awesome way to get out of Kansai airport through Osaka and onto Kyoto. There’s a couple of things you should know however…
A Couple of Tips on Riding the Haruka Express
This particular type of Haruka ticket is for the non reserved seat train. So I recommend lining up at the non-reserved seat train unless you enjoy standing. If all the seats are taken there is standing room. The train ride from Kansai Airport to Kyoto Station takes 75 minutes. To Shin-Osaka (Osaka) it’s 50 minutes. So get to the train early if you want a good seat to enjoy Japan’s beautiful countryside as you whiz by 80mph.
As of writing the last Haruka train on a leaves at 20:15 and arriving into Kansai Airport at 21:43. I’m pointing this out because I once assumed Haruka ran until midnight. So it’s really important that you check your trains’ time tables ahead of time.
This ICOCA card has 2000Yen loaded in it and you can use it ride JR trains or purchase food from convenience stores…
Since I was staying at a hotel off a suburb near Kyoto I had to change trains at Kyoto Station. This station is located in the hub of the city with many points of interest close by in walking distance. Kyoto is one gorgeous city to walk or even bike around. But if you want to get somewhere quicker like the Gion District that is famous for Geishas it’s best to use the city buses located outside of Kyoto Station.
There is a bus station right outside of this entrance…
Kyoto Station is also a good place to find food and shops…
We didn’t explore outside of the station yet because we still had our luggage. And it was best to check in before heading back out. The hotel I was staying at Reiah Hotel Otsu Ishiyama is located near Ishiyama Station on the JR Biwako line. Which was only about 14 minutes if you take the special rapid train.
There is the Airport bus option which I’ve heard is cheaper. But obviously bus rides take longer. I don’t have any information at all on buses, sorry to say. If you can afford it I would highly recommend using the trains.
So that’s all I have to share for now. Like everything else for travelers to Japan you will find it is a super foreigner friendly country. Nearly every major train station there is a tourist center staffed with folks that can speak English fluently as well as other foreign languages. And there are plenty of signs in English too.
I’ll be working on my post on visiting Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and other can’t miss spots in Kansai really soon. So stay tuned!
APA branded hotels are a familiar sight all over Japan. It’s yet another one of those short transit business hotels that are also very popular for travelers who don’t need a posh room nor services. This time around my wife and I stayed at the APA Hotel in the Itabashi ward of metropolitan Tokyo.
Though this hotel is in a very quiet neighborhood there is a JR train station just a short 3 minute walk from the hotel doors. From there you can hop on the train and in 2 stops you’re in all the action of the Shinjuku district.
Itabashi JR Station – Only a short 3 minute walk to APA Tokyo Itabashi Hotel…
So like a lot of 2 or 3 star business hotels in Japan the APA Itabashi is a basic no frills hotel. Services are always good in my opinion in any Japanese hotel. Hotel staff are always friendly and quick to assist guests. But this hotel has no swimming pool or gym which is common for the types of hotels. There is free Wi-Fi which to me is way more important.
A little late night snack near Itabashi JR station…
I mentioned that Itabashi area is very quiet. It’s mostly a residential area. But there are many restaurants. We arrived late at night and after we checked in at the APA Itabashi we walked a few minutes out to the main road just opposite Itabashi JR station and found a ramen restaurant. I forgot to take a pics of the restaurant. If you’re in front of the train station just look straight and you should find it. So if you’ve arrived to the hotel around 9pm and everything else is closed go give them a try. There is a McDonald’s near the station too and as I recall opened pretty late.
There’s also an Italian restaurant right across from the hotel. They serve large servings of all kinds of spaghetti and decent pizza. It’s a lively restaurant with super friendly staff. My wife and I were there during Halloween and we played some sort of guess the weight of the pumpkin game. We lost. But we still got a piece of candy. It was a really fun place with good grub. I took pics but because the interior was very dark the shots came out poorly.
APA Hotel Tokyo Itabashi Ekimae – This is the small double room I booked…
So the rooms at the APA Itabashi are small. Okay, that’s not a shocker. It’s not a complaint as I am quite used to it. Their small double bed rooms are 12 square meters. It is what it is because most hotels in Japan in the $125 and under price range cost that much. There’s a small desk with a wide screen TV that nearly takes up the entire table space. A small fridge plus a hot water kettle with bags of Japanese green tea. And our room is clean. Though the bed sagged in the middle but my wife and I still slept fine. Sightseeing and walking around exploring is the best sleep medicine.
Door in the middle leads to the bathroom with a shower/bath tub…
The last time I stayed at this hotel was back in October 2013. I booked the room through Agoda and paid $120USD per night. But I just checked Agoda as I wrote this post and saw pics of the APA Itabashi and noticed that the hotel looks renovated. The hotel lobby looked totally different than the time I was last there. And just doing a random price check saw that a small double bed room cost around $90USD for the month of July with taxes included. Too bad I’m not planning on going to Tokyo then.
I like this hotel a lot. Taking a stroll through a cool October night through the hotel’s neighborhood was nice. And because the train station was so near we could hit a lot of the major tourists destinations easily. APA Itabashi is easily one of the easiest hotel for me to recommend to anyone looking to visit Tokyo.
(Just a quick note. APA hotels are all over so be sure you have the right address for the hotel. The first night we arrived in Tokyo we checked in at the wrong hotel called APA Ikebukro. A total rookie mistake. It was a $10USD mistake since we had to hop on a taxi to take us to APA Itabashi which was only a 5 minute taxi ride.)
Hotel Sunroute Higashi is located in Shinjuku district of Tokyo. Like a lot of hotels in Tokyo a Metro subway line or JR East train station is not far away. This is one of the reasons why I chose to stay at this hotel. And also, it’s one of the most affordable business classed hotels that I know of.
And the area is quite nice as well. A Korea Town is located just five minutes walk due east from the hotel. Plus you can walk to the main hub of Shinjuku station and passing many high end shops and restaurants along Yasukuni-Dori Avenue in about 25 minutes.
And if you love those little tiny Japanese bars with colorful patrons then you might want to check out Golden Gai that is about a 10 minute stroll too. Golden Gai isn’t exactly a red light district. But if a red light district is exactly what you’re looking for then head over to Kabukicho, about a 20 minute walk east or just north of Shinjuku train station.
Also from Hotel Sunroute’s doors you can walk south along Meji-Dori Avenue and reach beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in around 30 to 40 minutes. And from there I’ve even walked down to famed Harajuku fashion district and Meiji Shrine in 20 minutes.
You can hit up a lot of popular sites and attractions in the area without stepping foot on a train if you’ve got the time. Of all the times I’ve visited these places the weather was always perfect and beautiful. Which just makes it better when you’re out and about exploring.
Hotel Sunroute is one of the biggest hotels in the area with about 300 rooms. And like any other 3 star business classed hotels in central Tokyo this hotel is basic, meaning no gym or swimming pool. Though there are a couple of computers for guests to use in the lobby.
But the hotel provides guests with free in room Wi-Fi internet access. Plus there’s even a cable for LAN laptop hookup.
The room that I stayed in was clean and even though the hotel was built in 2007 I think the rooms must’ve gone through a renovation process because it looked modern and up to date. One thing I really like though is the mattress. It was so comfortable I slept like a log.
A lot of hotels I’ve stayed in Tokyo have beds that are way too soft. It’s not a big mattress though but it’s just enough for two people because the room I booked was a semi-double.
And like any other typical Japanese hotel the rooms are small because they are meant for travelers on a short trip for business. So for tourists a semi double room could bit tight if you’ve got lots of luggage. Though if you can book a room with two twin beds you get a slightly larger space.
The bathroom is small and tight too but just like the rest of the room modern and clean. There is a small bathtub but even a 6 foot guy like me could fit inside as long as I tucked my legs a bit.
I’ve stayed at this hotel a couple of times, especially when I come across some good deals. The lowest I’ve paid per night was about $118USD per night in March. Not really cheap but considering it’s Tokyo it’s not super expensive either.
I really like this hotel a lot because the immediate area is quiet but you’ll still be near restaurants and convenience stores to grab food and drinks.
Here’s What’s Around Hotel Sunroute Higashi Shinjuku Hotel
Higashi-Shinjuku Subway Station (located right under the hotel with an entrance on the south entrance of hotel).
Golden Gai – A very popular spot with private bars. But you can find some bars welcoming foreign visitors.
Korea Town – Lots of Korean restaurants.
Kabukicho – Shinjuku’s red light district.
Isetan Department Store – Just a 20 minute walk south. Get to the basement food level by 7pm for excellent sushi sold at a discount.
