Hotel BaliAn Resort - Shinjuku Forest

I stayed here with my partner for four days and had a great time. The room was a good size, and I especially liked the curtained window between the bedroom and bathroom, something I’d worried about before arriving. The lobby has lots of free items, and the staff were kind and helpful. The location worked well, too.

This branch felt much darker and less welcoming than the other Varian locations nearby. The narrow entrance and elevator, along with the dim reception, gave it more of a love hotel feel. I can only guess that it draws more people seeking adult entertainment or late-night snacks than regular guests. One thing I value about the Varian Group is that ordinary visitors can come in without feeling awkward, but here the atmosphere put me off returning. They also didn’t ask whether I had app stamps.

When I called the next day about the fairly expensive hair iron I’d left behind, the hotel had already set it aside. It was too far away for me to pick up, so they arranged to send it cash on delivery. They handled everything kindly and efficiently, packed it carefully, and included a note asking me to use their service again. Thank you so much. To me, Varian’s best feature is the staff and service, not just the room facilities and size. I’ll definitely use them again. This is a smaller hotel in the Varian group, so the lobby services and room choices seem more limited than at the other locations, but the rates are cheaper. The rooms feel open because of their high ceilings, are clean, and have plenty of amenities and fixtures. They work well as either a love hotel or a business hotel substitute. My one complaint was the toilet, tucked at the back inside the bath area. Your feet can get wet after bathing if you don’t wear slippers. Slippers were provided, and there was a sign apologizing for the toilet setup, so it was manageable for a short stay.

The rooftop has both a private open-air bath and a private bedrock bath, which made it easy to unwind. My Royal room had two queen beds, a table for four, a large TV, lots of amenities, and a spacious glass-enclosed bathroom. Like the other Balian hotels, it had a canopy bed, though this one felt more casual than princess-like. I only wished room service had a wider choice of alcoholic drinks, like at the other Balian hotels. Still, it’s a lovely place for a really enjoyable stay. I was curious about the new location’s glamping theme, so I looked it up. Glamping combines “glamorous” and “camping,” meaning you can enjoy comfortable, luxurious hotel-style service in nature without bringing gear or setting up a tent.