MYSTAYS

The hotel itself is lackluster and cramped, but the upside is certainly its location to the train station. Complimentary umbrella rentals for the rainy days were a delightful amenity.

If you like the accessibility and attractions of Shinjuku, but also want a place to retreat from it all, this is a hotel to consider. About 10 minutes’ walk northwest of Shinjuku Station, you’ll find the Nishi Shinjuku Hotel Mystays, nestled near a Buddhist temple and too many small restaurants to try in one trip. This is not a resort-​style hotel or ryokan, but rather a launching pad for people who already know why they’re visiting Tokyo. The rooms are typically Tokyo-​small, a bit oddly configured (e.g., no closet at all) and in some ways in need of updating, especially bathrooms. But all was clean and comfortable, and everything worked well. There is a refrigerator and safe. As typical for Japan, Internet was wired-​only (WiFi installation slated to begin in January 2015) but also free — with speeds that ranged from 24−41Mbps. The on-​site café/​bar was closed during our stay, but with so many places to eat within a couple of blocks, we didn’t miss it. And the neighborhood — think incense instead of bus exhaust, yet still in sight of Shinjuku’s highrises — won points for us. Our advice: If you’re not a first-​time visitor to Japan, consider taking the money you were budgeting for a brand-​name hotel, stay here instead; spend the large sum that will be left over on shopping, restaurants and travel.