APA Hotel Shimbashi Toranomon

I paid about US$85 for one night, which felt like good value for Tokyo. The hotel is central, within walking distance of the Imperial Palace and government area, and there’s a subway entrance right across the street. The lobby was clean and nicely decorated. My room was tiny, but quiet and dark, so I slept really well. It worked for me alone, though two people might find it too cramped. Oddly, I couldn’t control the heat or air-conditioning in the room. Check-in didn’t start until 3 PM, and early check-in cost an extra $40 an hour, with no flexibility. There were people waiting in the lobby after long overnight flights. You can’t go above the first floor before checking in, so there wasn’t really anywhere to sit and unwind, and the restaurant was closed. The self check-in felt unusual, and gave me the impression that service came second to providing an affordable, clean stay.

There are lots of malls and restaurants nearby, which is a real plus, and the food is good, with a typical Japanese menu. The counter staff were accommodating and knew enough basic English to help someone like me who speaks very little Japanese.

There are some great restaurants, bars, and shops a short walk away, and the 7/11 almost next door is handy. The area itself is quiet, though it isn’t especially close to a transit hub. The staff were competent and efficient, but none seemed particularly happy or friendly, which made us wonder whether there might be a management issue. The rooms are small, so bring little luggage. Still, it’s clean, decent value, and fine if you just need a no-frills place to sleep and leave your bags. Not bad, and I’d recommend it for that.

I paid for breakfast, but couldn’t eat it because the restaurant opens at 7 AM, the same time I had to check out. I asked reception politely whether they could open a little earlier or prepare a bento box for me to take along. They didn’t try to help. At even lower-category hotels I’ve usually found staff more willing to look for a solution. Here it felt as if they simply didn’t care. A little flexibility would have meant a lot, but I left disappointed. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone expecting attentive service or customer care.