Hotel Siena

The location worked really well for us. A Mini Stop is right below the hotel for snacks, drinks, and ATMs, and there are lots of other convenience stores nearby. Shin-Okubo is close too. Even though the hotel is in Kabukicho, we could easily reach the shops and restaurants around Shinjuku. Our room was clean, didn't smell of cigarettes, and had plenty of amenities. It was quite spacious for two by Japanese hotel standards, with a large bed and lots of room for suitcases and carry-ons. At first it felt a little strange to leave the key at the front desk when going out, but the elevator stops there automatically, so we got used to dropping it off. That also meant we didn't have to worry about losing it.

The only real plus for me was the location, and I wouldn't stay here again. Our room reeked of cigarette smoke, which was awful. Even after the staff kindly tried to deodorize it, the smell seemed to have sunk into the carpet. The rooms felt old and musty, and the value for money just wasn't there. If you book, make sure you pick a non-smoking room.

It's inexpensive, and the rooms are large by Japanese standards, but the place feels tired and run down. The red light district setting wasn't for me either. On my way back in the evenings, touts kept approaching me, and twice women followed me into the lobby. I spent a week here and wanted to echo what others have said. So, yeah, it's not for everyone.

The rooms are roomy, clean, and fairly priced, and they have a charming eighties feel. It's also in a great spot, close to everything Shinjuku has to offer.