Tokyo/Vietnam July 2011 - Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku Hotel

***This post is part 3 of a full trip report. The index can be found here***

Let me just preface this by saying that hotel rooms in Japan are small. Unless you're willing to pay an arm and a leg for a high-end property, be prepared for a hole-in-the-wall room. However, with that out of the way, I have to say that the Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku Hotel is a very good hotel for the price it charges. I paid $99/night for a single, which consists of a full-sized bed that pretty much takes up the entire room. Very simple decor, nice flat-screen TV, and a bathroom that serves it's purpose... what else could you ask for in this expensive area of Tokyo? :)

Lobby area

The best part about this hotel is it's location. And I believe it's a combination of this reason and the overall value that the Sunroute is ranked #3 on TripAdvisor for Shibuya hotels (despite it's actual location in Shinjuku). It is a five minute walk from the massive Shinjuku Station, which has access to a number of different subway lines that extend throughout Tokyo. There are tons of restaurants and shopping opportunities nearby; the convenience cannot be overstated. A nice-looking restaurant is on-site, but with so many good eats in and around the city, I couldn't justify spending my time there.

Fairly quiet street outside the hotel

The only downside I can say about the Sunroute is that there was no WiFi offered in the room. WiFi was only available in and around the business center on the second floor, and would cut off every so often. There were four computers in the center for guest use.

The reception desk workers were very friendly and helpful whenever I had a question about places to go. They were all fairly proficient in English.

Before checking out, I decided I didn't want to lug my bags through the subway system again, especially not to Narita. So I booked a seat on the Airport Limo Bus with the hotel, with the total cost coming to $37 USD... a lot more than taking the subway, but worth it in my opinion given the comfort and ease.

The Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku Hotel is a great value for Tokyo and is situated in a very convenient location. I would definitely recommend this hotel for anyone headed there. Although perhaps next time, I'll take advantage of the two free nights offered with the Hyatt Chase Visa Signature and stay at the Park Hyatt Tokyo :)