Hotel Rose Garden Shinjuku

The hotel was clean and the staff were friendly. Breakfast came with our booking and was served in an adjacent building. The venue was pretty and welcoming, the food was spot on, and there was a good selection. It exceeded my expectations, though it wasn’t a five-star experience, and we had a good time. The location is within walking distance of Shinjuku station, but with luggage it’s a fairly long walk and not quite far enough to justify a taxi. It worked for my 70-plus parents, though I might have planned that part better. The hotel is a block or so from the busiest part of the city. The rooms were VERY small compared with what I’m used to in the States and Korea. There was barely enough room for one person to walk to the bed while the other stood by the door or sat on it. I booked the cheapest rooms, so I suppose I got what I paid for. Other hotels in Japan, especially around Shinjuku, may be similar in size, based on what I’ve heard from other reviewers.

After our nine-hour flight into Tokyo, we arrived at The Rose Garden Hotel around 8:30 pm for a four-night stay. We were on our first family trip to Japan, with two adults and two young children. The room we’d booked had only two single beds and barely enough space for luggage. It was in extremely poor condition: dirty towels, a broken toilet, a carpet full of stains, and a terrible smell. We went straight to the front desk, but they said the hotel was fully booked and had no other rooms. It was already 11 pm, the kids were exhausted, and we had no choice but to stay. My wife and children took the beds, and with nowhere else to sleep, I spent the whole night in the lobby. The next day we checked out and moved to another hotel, which was much nicer and surprisingly cheaper than The Rose Garden Hotel. I’m sharing this to warn other Aussies heading to Tokyo: be cautious about booking here, and double-check all the room details because photos can be deceiving.

The staff and location were both excellent. The only drawback was the bathroom smell other people mentioned. At times it smelled like sewage backing up, but we didn’t find it unbearable. We bought some air freshener and that sorted it out. I’d stay again.

The bed and pillows were so comfortable that I slept very well, and I was glad I’d paid extra for breakfast after reading the good reviews. The breakfast lived up to them. I’d booked a room on the third floor, but construction hammering from about 1 to 3 pm was unbearable when I was jet-lagged and trying to rest after arriving. I went to reception, and a male staff member promptly moved me to a larger room on the eighth floor. I really appreciated how quickly and professionally he handled it. The hotel is only about 50 meters from the subway, with a 7-Eleven nearby and central Shinjuku within walking distance. One small surprise was that guests can’t wear the hotel slippers in the breakfast area. It felt unusual to me, but I understand it may be part of local culture and respect that. I had a very pleasant stay and would happily return.