Tabist Hotel New Washington Shibuya

Tabist Hotel New Washington Shibuya has a distinctive old-school feel in the "Oku-Shibu" area. It shows its age, but has a retro-emo atmosphere you don’t get in newer chains. Across from NHK, it makes a quiet, dependable base for Shibuya and Yoyogi Park. The rooms are plain and compact. I liked that the window opens wide for fresh air, and free mineral water is included. You also get a physical room key, which adds to the throwback feel. A few useful details: show your key at the 1st-floor Chinese restaurant to get 10% off healthy Cantonese-style meals. Some bathrooms have a low beam over the shower, so if you’re around 180cm (approx. 5'11"), you may need to hunch. For dinner, "Arinsu" in Shibuya Hyakkendana has great potato salad and braised pork. Near Yoyogi Park, "Onigily Cafe" is a good stop for a healthy Japanese onigiri set. Search SUKIYAKI TRAVEL JAPAN on YouTube for an honest 4K look at the retro charm and shower before booking.

I had a wonderful stay and would happily return. The hotel is in a quiet area, about ten minutes from Shibuya Crossing, with a FamilyMart right next door. The staff were so kind and accommodating. I came and went several times a day while shopping, and they were always welcoming and even remembered my room number. I stayed in a single non-smoking room, which was a decent size and felt more spacious than the tiny APA hotel rooms you often see. Daily cleaning happens between 10am-12pm, and it was lovely to come back to fresh towels and neatly made bedding. A few things to know: the room can get very warm. I was there in winter, so it didn’t bother me, and you can open the window a little. You leave your key at reception when you go out, then give your room number when you return to collect it. I liked not having to worry about losing the key while out. There are 3-4 steps up to reception, though the staff are happy to help with a heavy or large suitcase. There’s also a small step into the bathroom. The elevator is small, which was fine for me traveling solo, but might feel tight for a large family. Thanks so much to the lovely team at the new Washington hotel in shibuya 😊

The shower had great water pressure, and I liked the bidet shower too. The hotel was clean, quiet, and comfortable, with amazing beds. Robes and slippers were provided.

The mattresses were really lumpy and left my back in bad shape. Apart from that, it’s a nice hotel with lovely staff and a great location for exploring the city.