The Wardrobe Hostel FOREST Shimokitazawa

After crossing the city with my luggage, I reached The Wardrobe and found that my pin didn't work. Nobody answered the WhatsApp number listed for the hotel. I had to pay for somewhere else to stay, and still haven't received a refund. I booked through Priceline.

You should know this hotel allows pets if you have allergies. I didn't realize that when I booked. It also has no elevator, so carrying all my stuff upstairs felt like climbing a mountain. I don't want to go back.

There were no staff around, and after I booked, nobody helped me at all. At check-in I didn't know the entrance password, so I waited an hour until another guest came out and I could get inside. Then I couldn't figure out which bed was mine. I was anxious until midnight, when I saw an empty bed and finally lay down, worried someone might wake me and say it was theirs. There was a big puddle of unidentified liquid on the bedsheet. It looked disgusting, and the whole stay was terrible.

The other guests were nice, and I didn't see any bed bugs, but the capsule beds felt too small for me at 5'8. The walls are thin, and late-night talking, showers, hair dryers, and loud snoring made it hard to sleep. Earplugs are available, but I don't think many people would do well here. Noise from the surrounding area comes through too. It sounded like a karaoke place or club upstairs had a very rowdy group, with squeaking shoes and people shouting or singing lyrics until well past 5am. I got literally no sleep that night.