illi Shimokitazawa

We were glad to stay in this Tokyo neighborhood and would come back. The apartment suited our family of five, with two adults and children aged 10, 14, and 17. Finding the entrance took a little time: it's above a vintage clothes shop, beside a churro and rice cracker store, and across from the supermarket.

We could wander around ShimoKatazawa, pop back to rest, then head out again, which made the location ideal for a day of browsing. The room had plenty of space for four and a decent lounge area. The bathroom and laundry were useful, check-in was simple, and the hosts communicated well by email.

The location and neighborhood were fantastic, and I'd still stay here again. It was easy to get to transport, restaurants, and shops. The room was remarkably spacious for Tokyo, with generously sized beds, good facilities, and everything clean and tidy. Construction outside didn't make it too noisy. We didn't have a TV, though the teenagers didn't really miss it. There was a lingering sewage smell around the laundry and shower, and I'm not sure why. The Wi-Fi was down when we tried to check in, so the iPad process failed, and nobody answered the listed phone number. Thankfully, they replied to our emails fairly quickly, and after a few messages we got the code to enter.

The shower pressure could have been better, but everything else was 10/10. We had comfortable beds, a lovely bathroom and toilet, and a great view of the city from the room. The location was fabulous too, above charming little lanes and streets.