HOTEL UNIZO Tokyo Shimbashi

We stayed for seven nights as a family of five and booked two rooms. The only drawback was that our rooms were on separate floors. Apart from that, we loved everything about Candeo Shimbashi. It was an amazing stay.

The Shimbashi area had plenty of energy and restaurant choices, and the train made it easy to get to Tokyo Station, Ginza, Harajuku, and other neighborhoods. We also really enjoyed the homemade breakfast buffet and the tattoo-friendly onsen. Compared with our other Tokyo hotels, this one felt more comfortable and authentic. We loved it and will come back on a future visit.

The Corner Twin layout was a regret. The entrance opened straight into the toilet, with the bed very close by, so getting my luggage around was awkward. They couldn’t give me another luggage stand. Although the full glass window made the room bright, it looked onto a small, busy space and the next building, so I couldn’t open the curtain for privacy. My friends in a regular twin had a much better layout. The corridors were narrow and dim, too. I appreciated being able to leave my bags before and after check-in. The Sky Spa was clean and well kept, and I liked the open-air bath, though I’d expected more from it. The onsen amenities were basic, and I couldn’t tell whether the water was from a hot spring or just heated. Staff came across as stoic and not very warm. I had to walk past several bars to reach the hotel, but didn’t feel unsafe. Daichi Hotel, where I caught the Limousine Bus to Narita Airport, was about a 10-minute walk away.

We stayed here twice during our Tokyo trip and liked the location, but we won’t choose it again. I raised a complaint about the dryer, which wasn’t working properly and seemed inadequate. A front desk employee said they’d contact me after speaking with a manager who wasn’t there at the time. I also discussed it with a second employee, but four days after checkout I still hadn’t heard what they decided. That lack of follow-through after we’d stayed there has put us off returning. There was mold in the bathtub corners in both rooms. The king bed was two twin beds pushed together. The breakfast staff were great, though some reception staff could use better customer service skills.