Tokyo · Higashi-Shinjuku | Light Packing and Subway Access
APA Hotel Higashi-Shinjuku Kabukicho Higashi
APA Hotel Higashi Shinjuku Kabukicho-Higashi
About 2 minutes from Higashi-Shinjuku Station Exit A1 — covering 11 sqm basic rooms, 21 sqm twin rooms, luggage storage, and the current arrangement of breakfast at a nearby sister hotel.
Photo source:Trip.com hotel photos
First identify the right sister hotel, then judge whether 11 sqm suits you
- Higashi-Shinjuku Station A1 about 2 minutes; JR Shinjuku Station East Exit about 11 minutes.
- Basic single and double rooms 11 sqm, 142 cm beds; think about storage for a large double case first.
- Breakfast is currently at another nearby APA sister hotel — confirm the dining location first.
When staying in Shinjuku, many people think of transport first, but I would add one more question: after coming back to the room each day, can luggage be properly put away? APA Hotel Higashi-Shinjuku Kabukicho Higashi has a direct advantage — the Higashi-Shinjuku subway station is close, food nearby is convenient, and the basic room packs its facilities into 11 sqm.
It suits light packers who are mostly out during the day. If two people each bring a large case for a longer stay, I would compare the twin room first rather than judging by the double room name alone; with many nearby sister hotels, both arrival and breakfast need the right location identified first.
Remember the last “Higashi” — do not walk into the wrong nearby sister hotel
This is APA Hotel Higashi-Shinjuku Kabukicho Higashi, at Kabukicho 2-17-7 in Shinjuku Ward. There are several nearby APAs with very similar names, including a sister hotel without the final “Higashi” and a tower. I would save the full Japanese name “アパホテル〈東新宿 歌舞伎町東〉” together with the address, and use the same information for trains and navigation.
Official information lists Higashi-Shinjuku Station Exit A1 about 2 minutes on foot, and JR Shinjuku Station East Exit and Shin-Okubo Station about 11 minutes. If you use the Fukutoshin or Oedo lines every day, this location is very direct; if you rely on JR every day, accept the walk to the station — do not turn a 2-minute subway walk into a 2-minute JR walk.
When dragging a large case, I would check station lift connections first. A1 is the official general walking exit, which does not mean every platform to street level is step-free; people with prams or mobility needs should confirm a suitable route with the station or the hotel first.
Photo source:Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source:Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source:Trip.com hotel photos
The 11 sqm double room — under-bed storage matters more than you think
Official single, double and Cozy Room types are all about 11 sqm with 142 cm beds; Deluxe Twin is about 21 sqm with two 122 cm beds. Different room names do not mean the basic room type gets bigger — when choosing, the actual square metres are the most reliable guide.
| Room type | Official layout | How I would choose |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 11 sqm, 142 cm bed | One person travelling light, out during the day |
| Double | 11 sqm, 142 cm bed | Two people, short stay, accepting a tight walkway |
| Cozy Room | 11 sqm, 142 cm bed | Judge by the room layout, not by imagining size from the name |
| Deluxe Twin | 21 sqm, twin 122 cm beds | If separate beds and more luggage space are needed, compare this type first |
One person in 11 sqm can usually arrange bathing, sleeping and simple tidying well; with two people each bringing a large case, the space is noticeably felt. Official information says luggage fits under the bed — I would take out the things I use every day first, then put the case away, so I do not have to step over luggage on every move.
Photo source:Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source:Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source:Trip.com hotel photos
A large TV, bedside power and central controls suit resting back in the room; for work needs, check the desk and sockets too rather than only whether the bed is comfortable. Guests have mentioned the room is small, but some also find the compact layout handy — that is more a difference in travel style than a single standard answer.
Photo source:Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source:Trip.com hotel photos
The bathroom is also a compact unit layout. It is very direct for someone who wants to bathe and rest; if you expect a long soak or two people getting ready at the same time, compare the bathtub size and washbasin flow rather than taking the deluxe room photos as the standard for all basic rooms.
Facilities follow a practical line — do not borrow another APA’s facilities
Official information lists a microwave, ice machine and vending machines, with drinking-water facilities on guest room floors too. These small things are very practical for people who bought convenience-store food and want to top up drinking water at night when back. At check-in I would look at the in-house guide first to know which floor each facility is on, so I do not have to go downstairs to ask at the last minute.
Photo source:Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source:Trip.com hotel photos
There are many APA sister hotels in Shinjuku, and their facilities differ too. Seeing a large bath or restaurant at another hotel does not mean this stay automatically includes the right to use it; if you came for a specific facility, be sure to ask using the full sister-hotel name.
Breakfast is currently at a nearby sister hotel, not downstairs from your room
Both the official hotel page and the e-booklet specifically remind guests: breakfast is currently arranged at “しゃぶ茶房” on the 1st floor of APA Hotel Higashi-Shinjuku Kabukicho, about 1 minute on foot — a different sister hotel without the final “Higashi”. At check-in I would get the breakfast map and meal-ticket instructions clearly, so I am not still looking around in my coat the next morning after going downstairs.
Photo source:Trip.com hotel photos
Breakfast is a main dish of your choice with a daily Japanese and Western buffet. The official e-booklet lists 6:30 to 10:30 with last orders at 10:00; the usual charge is 1,600 yen pre-sold and 1,800 yen on the day. Official information pages still carry earlier time wording, so I would arrange by the meal ticket and front-desk instructions on the day of stay, and confirm in advance if I want to make an early departure.
If the day is not rushed, walking a short way for a full breakfast is acceptable; but in rain, with children, or if you just want coffee and bread, I would compare a no-breakfast plan and leave breakfast to nearby shops. A longer stay does not have to tie every morning to the same rhythm.
Restaurant seating and breakfast photos help explain the dining format, but they do not guarantee exactly the same dishes every day. The dining location may also change, so putting “breakfast requires going out” into consideration when booking is better than finding out only on arrival.
Photo source:Trip.com hotel photos
Shin-Okubo and Kabukicho can be planned as different dinner directions
Guests have often mentioned convenient nearby food and convenience stores, and some like being between Shin-Okubo and Kabukicho. If you like Korean food, plan towards Shin-Okubo; if you want to shop in the Shinjuku commercial area, head towards the station and Kabukicho, buying water and next morning’s breakfast on the way back.
Photo source:Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source:Trip.com hotel photos
I would concentrate shopping into one day, and with a lot of luggage, return to the room early to organise rather than browsing until last every night. For anyone unfamiliar with the district, walking the daytime route once and recognising the entrance sign is easier than trying to tell several APA buildings apart at night.
Short stays are about location; longer stays need the cleaning method asked about first
For just one night, I would first check whether 11 sqm is enough for luggage, and whether the next day’s travel is by subway or JR. Two people with only small cases, out every day, can include the basic room in the comparison; two people with full shopping luggage staying longer will find the value of the 21 sqm twin more readily apparent.
Longer-stay cleaning follows an eco-friendly, on-request arrangement — at check-in, look at the in-room TV or in-house guide to confirm when to hang the cleaning sign and how towels and rubbish are handled. Do not understand “can stay longer” as meaning the bed is fully made every day.
Guests give mostly positive feedback on service, but some mention wallpaper or bathroom signs of use and cleaning details. These do not mean the whole hotel is the same — I would check the bathroom and bed on entering the room, and report any problem at once so the front desk has a chance to handle it the same day.
Pros and trade-offs — the sister hotel and the space matter most
| Aspect | Advantage | Trade-off to accept |
|---|---|---|
| Transport | Higashi-Shinjuku A1 about 2 minutes — direct subway movement | JR Shinjuku and Shin-Okubo about 11 minutes |
| Rooms | 142 cm bed, under-bed luggage storage, concentrated layout | Basic rooms 11 sqm — large double cases need managing |
| Twin | 21 sqm Deluxe Twin allows separate beds | Compare actually bookable room types and budget |
| Breakfast | Main dish plus Japanese and Western buffet — a full breakfast is possible | Currently dining at a nearby sister hotel; times follow the day’s instructions |
| Daily life | Convenience stores and varied food convenient | Large leisure facilities are not the point of this choice |
| Identification | Full address and sign are clear to save | Nearby APA names are similar — identify the right sister hotel before arrival |
My choice: suited to light packers who use Higashi-Shinjuku subway as their main transport
If you run around Tokyo sights during the day and come back at night to bathe and sleep, and want to use Higashi-Shinjuku Station to connect to the Fukutoshin and Oedo lines, APA Hotel Higashi-Shinjuku Kabukicho Higashi can be included in the comparison. One person should look at the single room first; two people should honestly assess whether a 142 cm bed and 11 sqm suit them.
I would get two things done first: save the full sister-hotel name and the 2-17-7 address for navigation, and remember breakfast is at a nearby sister hotel. Once the actual routes and luggage space are thought through, this kind of business hotel becomes easier to stay in smoothly.
Fact-check date: 2026-10-25