Tokyo · Higashi-Shinjuku | Metro and light-packing stays
APA Hotel Higashi-Shinjuku-Kabukicho
APA Hotel Higashi-Shinjuku-Kabukicho
First confirm which branch this is, then decide by room type and luggage needs
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
First check whether this hotel suits your trip
- About 3 minutes from Higashi-Shinjuku A1; the address is Kabukicho 2-19-14, different from several nearby APA hotels.
- Basic single and double rooms are both 11㎡; for two guests with large luggage, compare the 21㎡ twin room first.
- The first-floor breakfast offers main-dish ordering plus a buffet section, and coin laundry in the building makes longer stays easier.
When looking for a stay in Higashi-Shinjuku, I first save the APA branch name and address clearly. There are many options nearby, and a difference of a few characters can mean different room types, breakfast and facilities; this APA Hotel Higashi-Shinjuku-Kabukicho is the one at Kabukicho 2-19-14.
It suits people who want to use the Higashi-Shinjuku metro and eat around Shinjuku and Shin-Okubo in the evening. The most basic room type is small and straightforward, leaving the daytime for the streets of Tokyo and returning to the hotel to shower and sleep — a good match for that style of trip.
For two guests, do not look only at the double bed. Fitting two people and their luggage into 11 square metres makes packing habits very important; if you want more space back in the room, I would first put the 21-square-metre deluxe twin into the comparison.
First confirm Kabukicho 2-19-14 — there are many nearby APA branches
The full name of this hotel is APA Hotel Higashi-Shinjuku-Kabukicho, at Kabukicho 2-19-14. Nearby there are other APA hotels with Higashi, Tower and station-front in their names, and guests repeatedly warn that it is easy to go to the wrong one. I save the address together with a photo of the entrance, and use the full branch name when taking a taxi or sending luggage.
The official information lists about a 3-minute walk left from Higashi-Shinjuku Station exit A1, with access to the Fukutoshin Line and the Oedo Line. That time starts from the exit and does not include the platform, ticket gates or waiting for a lift; when dragging luggage, check the lift exit first and ask station staff for help if needed, and do not treat the nearest stair exit as a barrier-free route.
It is another walk to JR Shinjuku Station. Different official sections list about 11 to 15 minutes, and I allow a more generous margin based on the actual exit, especially when catching a limited express, an airport train or a highway bus. This location shows its convenience best when most of your itinerary runs along the two metro lines from Higashi-Shinjuku.
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
11-square-metre basic rooms: for two guests, think about luggage first
Officially, the single room is 11 square metres with a 120cm bed, and the double room is also 11 square metres with a 140cm bed. The most important thing to remember before booking for two is that the bed gets wider while the room area does not increase. If you are out all day, this layout may be enough; if you want to stretch out back in the room, weigh it more carefully.
| Room type | Area and bed width | How I would choose |
|---|---|---|
| Single room | 11㎡／120cm | Solo light packing and short stays |
| Double room | 11㎡／140cm | Two guests who accept taking turns opening suitcases and keeping the walkway clear |
| Deluxe twin | 21㎡／120cm×2 | Want separate beds and more moving space — confirm the plan first |
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source: Trip.com guest photos
The usable space under the bed can help with storage, but whether your suitcase fits still depends on its size. I take out the clothes for the next day first, then put the large suitcase away, so I do not have to move luggage every time I go to the bathroom. Two large suitcases plus shopping bags make the limits of 11 square metres even more obvious.
The photos show the bathtub, washbasin and toilet grouped in one bathroom, not a hotel large bath. This branch’s official facilities do not list a large bath, so do not count the baths at the nearby APA Tower as this hotel’s facilities. People who especially like a soak should sort this out first.
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
Shabu Sabo breakfast: pick your main dish, plus the buffet section
The first-floor Shabu Sabo serves breakfast, and the format is not a pure buffet where you help yourself to everything. The official description says you choose two main dishes from four, paired with side dishes and a daily Japanese-Western buffet section; main dishes and menu items may change, and the photos only illustrate combinations.
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
This breakfast suits people who want a hot main dish and also want bread or rice on the side. I order the main dish first, then take a small amount from the buffet section; if travelling companions have different habits, it is also easier to arrange than a single fixed set meal. Do not expect an all-you-can-eat shabu meal for breakfast just because the restaurant name contains shabu.
Official hours are 6:30 to 10:30, with last orders at 10:00, and a warning that it can get crowded after 8. With an early itinerary, eating earlier is more relaxed; if you want to sleep in, leave time for waiting and eating together, and do not arrive in a rush close to last entry.
Guests have plenty of positive comments about the location and service, but some also reserve judgement about the breakfast restaurant’s service. I judge the restaurant service and the rooms separately, and decide on a breakfast-included plan based on whether I can actually use the breakfast hours; for longer stays, I can also eat nearby on some days.
Photo source: Hotel official website
Photo source: Hotel official website
Photo source: Hotel official website
Between Higashi-Shinjuku and Shin-Okubo, meals and shopping are easy to combine
The hotel is around the Shokuan-dori area, with dining and shopping options toward both Kabukicho and Shin-Okubo. Guests mention nearby drugstores and convenience stores, which are very practical for anyone wanting to restock daily goods at night; I buy everything in one trip before returning to the hotel, to cut down on going out again after settling in.
You can spend one day shopping in Shinjuku and leave another for eating and strolling in Shin-Okubo. Do not assume every station is the same point just because the ward is written as Shinjuku; walking to JR Shinjuku and walking to Higashi-Shinjuku are different directions and distances. That really hits home when carrying shopping back to the hotel.
A lively neighbourhood also comes with noise trade-offs. Some people find it easier to sleep precisely because it is a little away from the main streets, while others mention noise outside; I choose according to my own sensitivity to sound, request a quieter room, but do not treat a request as a guarantee. At night, just pick a well-lit, familiar route back.
For short stays, look at the metro; for longer stays, look at laundry and self-service amenities
For a single night spent mostly outside, 11 square metres can be seen as a basic resting space; for two people staying several nights with a lot of shopping each day, I first compare the 21-square-metre twin room, then judge whether the price difference is worth it. What it solves is not only separate beds, but also room to sort things out back in the room.
The official list includes coin laundry on the 1st floor, entered with a room card, and a microwave, ice machine and drinking-water facilities on the 3rd floor. These are all shared facilities, so follow on-site instructions when using them, and watch out for laundry waiting times. Whether a room has its own washing machine cannot be inferred from the word laundry in the facilities list.
The lobby has self-service amenities to take as needed. Cleaning, towel changes and rubbish handling follow the check-in instructions, and especially for longer stays, do not assume a service one guest once received applies to every plan.
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
Standard check-in is 15:00 and check-out 10:00. If you want to take your time packing on the last day, set an alarm early and line up breakfast, packing and check-out together. The official list also includes a small number of parking spaces with vehicle restrictions, so drivers cannot assume a space is guaranteed just because there is a car park.
Photo source: Hotel official website
Pros and cons: Higashi-Shinjuku metro and everyday convenience, paired with small rooms
| Aspect | Pros | Trade-offs to accept |
|---|---|---|
| Transport | About 3 minutes from Higashi-Shinjuku A1, two lines available | JR Shinjuku is a separate walk, and similar branches mean checking the address |
| Room type | A 21㎡ twin is available to upgrade and compare | Basic single and double rooms are both 11㎡, with limited luggage space |
| Breakfast | Main-dish ordering paired with the daily buffet section | Can get crowded after 8, so leave time for dining |
| Longer stays | Coin laundry, microwave and self-service amenities are practical | Shared facilities; cleaning arrangements need confirming |
| Neighbourhood | Many dining, drugstore and convenience-store options | Noise depends on the room and the individual |
I would recommend it to people who get around from Higashi-Shinjuku and spend most of their time out
APA Hotel Higashi-Shinjuku-Kabukicho suits people most who treat the metro, restaurants and everyday shopping as the point of their stay. Its location is convenient, but it is not in front of JR Shinjuku Station, and you cannot count on using other branches’ baths and facilities.
Solo short stays can start by comparing the 11-square-metre room types; for two guests with a lot of luggage, I first look at the 21-square-metre deluxe twin. Confirming the branch address, bed type, cleaning and breakfast hours will make this a practical base for the trip, more reliably than just looking at the cheapest room-type name.
Fact-check date: 2026-10-25