Tokyo · Higashi-Shinjuku | Small Rooms and a Large Bathhouse
APA Hotel Higashi Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower
APA Hotel Higashi Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower
Convenient to stay, but accept the 11 sqm space and the differences between the main building and the south building.
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
First Look at the Building and the Size, Then at the High-Floor Views
- About 4 minutes from Higashi-Shinjuku Exit A1, about 10 minutes from the JR Shinjuku East Exit.
- Standard twin rooms are 11 sqm with a 140 cm bed; a high-floor room does not mean a larger one.
- Going from the south building to the main building bathhouse requires an outdoor passage on the ground floor.
When looking for a hotel with a large bathhouse in Shinjuku, APA Hotel Higashi Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower (APA Hotel Higashi Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower) is an option you will easily come across. After walking a lot during the day, being able to soak in a communal bath back at the hotel is, for me, a more practical condition than room decor.
But I would first warn friends travelling as a pair: most basic room types here are 11 sqm, so do not imagine “tower” as meaning a large room, and do not assume that a room name saying premium or view means more luggage space. Choosing it is more like a trade-off between location, the bathhouse, and a compact room.
There are many nearby APA properties with similar names. This article is about the Higashi-Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower at 2-31-12 Kabukicho, with a main building and a south building — not the other tower at 1-20-2 Kabukicho. Before arrival, save the full hotel name together with the address; that is more reliable than remembering only the three letters APA.
Transport: Save the Full Hotel Name — Nearby APA Hotels Cannot Be Told Apart by Signage Alone
The address is 2-31-12 Kabukicho, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo. Officially, it is about a 4-minute walk from Higashi-Shinjuku Station Exit A1 and about 10 minutes from the JR Shinjuku Station East Exit. I would plan each day by the route actually taken, and not treat four minutes from Higashi-Shinjuku as also only four minutes from JR Shinjuku Station.
The Fukutoshin Line or Oedo Line can use Higashi-Shinjuku as a base; the Yamanote Line, airport trains, or Shinjuku buses require walking to the corresponding station. After arriving at Shinjuku Station there is still time to find the platform and ticket gates, so on departure day do not estimate using only the distance from the hotel to the nearest exit.
When dragging a large suitcase, first check the operator’s lifts and station map to confirm a step-free route from the platform to ground level. A1 is the general exit guidance provided by the hotel and should not be taken directly as the lift exit; if you need wheelchair or stroller access, you can confirm the most suitable entrance with station staff.
This area also has other APA properties such as Higashi-Shinjuku Kabukicho, Kabukicho Higashi, and Higashi-Shinjuku Ekimae. For taxis, navigation, and luggage delivery, use the full hotel name and the 2-31-12 address, so you do not arrive at another property’s counter only to realise you went to the wrong one.
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Room Types: Even a High-Floor Room May Still Be Only 11 sqm
The official standard room is 11 sqm with one 140 cm bed; view rooms are also 11 sqm, marketed as the main building’s 17th floor and above. The south building’s premium double room is also listed as 11 sqm with a 140 cm bed. So I would treat “size” and “floor” as two different questions.
Travelling light alone, 11 sqm lets you focus on sleeping and bathing; if two people each bring a large suitcase, first think about taking turns opening cases and where clothes and shopping bags will go. The official listing mentions under-bed storage, and closed cases that can be put away will make walking easier, but that does not mean two cases can be spread open in the room at any time.
Twin rooms are noticeably larger: the main building’s top-floor deluxe twin is 24 sqm and the south building’s top-floor premium twin is 26 sqm, each listed with two 122 cm beds. If you want separate beds, travel with lots of luggage for two, or do not want to keep moving things around to make room for cases every day, I would look at these room types first, rather than just switching from a standard room to a high-floor view room.
Photos of twin and double rooms should be looked at separately, and the bathroom should not be imagined from only the largest photo. The basic room’s bathroom is compact; if you want a more relaxed bath, you can use the communal bathhouse. If you do not use communal bathing in the first place, the size of the in-room bathroom is even more worth including in your assessment.
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Large Bathhouse: Staying in the South Building Means Crossing to the Main Building
The main building has the “Genyo no Yu” large bathhouse, officially described as a quasi-natural Komyo stone artificial hot spring, not a naturally gushing hot spring. Guests can use it free of charge, currently from 15:00 to 24:00 and from 6:00 to 10:00; if you return late and want a bath, first check the hours and do not wait until just before closing to go in.
South building guests must cross an outdoor passage on the ground floor to reach the main building. This is a very practical difference when choosing a building, especially in winter, in rain, or with children — going back and forth is not as direct as taking a lift in the same building. If you want to bathe every day, I would compare the main building’s convenience together with it.
Communal baths require following on-site rules, and remember to bring any towels you need. If you have questions about tattoos, children, or other use restrictions, ask the hotel first rather than assuming rules from other properties; the “sauna” claim in original reviews was not confirmed in this property’s official facilities, so I would not treat it as a booking selling point.
The building has a communal microwave, ice machine, and self-service laundry; the water dispenser can be used with the room’s dedicated jug or your own bottle. None of these are private kitchen facilities in the room, so anyone wanting to cook for themselves every day should still compare with lifestyle hotels.
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Breakfast: Teppanyaki Fresh-Cooked Japanese and Western Buffet, for Those Who Eat a Full Breakfast
Breakfast is provided by “Teppanyaki Hashita ni Kokoro Ari”, officially listed as a Japanese and Western buffet of more than 40 items with a teppanyaki fresh-cooked area, from 6:30 to 10:30 closing. The adult reference price is 2,200 yen in advance and 2,400 yen on the day, tax included; 1,000 yen for ages 4 to 11 and free for ages 0 to 3, checked on 25 October 2026. Advance or same-day purchase still depends on the restaurant’s acceptance.
Fresh-cooked egg dishes, meat, fish, bread, and small dishes are the directions I would compare with my own breakfast habits. If you want a full breakfast and do not want to look for a restaurant first thing in the morning, you could consider eating in the building for one day. The photos are dish examples and do not mean every item appears every day.
If breakfast is just coffee for you, or you want to look for a restaurant in Shin-Okubo, I would choose a plan without breakfast. If your itinerary starts very early, first think about how long you can eat; do not treat a breakfast-inclusive plan as a benefit you will necessarily use just because you bought it. For longer stays you can alternate with eating out rather than arranging a buffet every day.
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Photo source:Trip.com hotel gallery
Nearby: Shin-Okubo and Kabukicho Can Be Done on the Same Day
The hotel location suits people who want to link Shin-Okubo dining with the Shinjuku area. Original guests repeatedly mentioned nearby restaurants, Don Quijote, and convenient shopping; I would arrange shopping for the stretch before returning to the hotel, to carry things one less leg by train.
I would keep one looser Shinjuku day: out in the morning, back to the room to drop luggage in the afternoon, then out on foot for dinner in the evening; back at the hotel for a bath in the evening, giving a day of lots of walking a gentler ending. If you like staying out very late, watch the bathhouse closing time and last trains.
Kabukicho has a distinct nighttime entertainment atmosphere. People who enjoy bustle will find dining convenient; people who dislike nightlife, or companions who care more about quiet, should first look at the surrounding streetscape before deciding. I would first walk the return route in daytime, and choose a familiar main road for late returns.
Short and Long Stays: A Small Room’s Limits Add Up with the Days
For just one night, travelling light alone makes this layout easier to use well; if you only sleep a few hours before leaving, the bathhouse and breakfast may not even be enjoyed, and the transport route and bed type will matter more than the facilities list.
Staying several nights, clothes and shopping bags increase, and 11 sqm requires tidying habits. If two people know they will buy things every day, I would first compare larger room types or other accommodation, rather than persuading myself with “just sleeping back in the room” to ignore a space problem that will keep recurring.
APA longer stays use on-request cleaning; full cleaning is not automatically done in the room every day as a rule. Before booking or at check-in, confirm the timing for hanging the cleaning sign, towel and rubbish arrangements, and the regular cleaning method; state any special needs directly. Check-in is 15:00 and check-out 10:00, so breakfast and packing time must also be kept apart.
Drawbacks I Would Watch: Cleaning Gaps and Building Uncertainty
Guest reviews include some praising bedding and cleanliness, and some mentioning rubbish left in the bathroom or bath mat condition. These cannot be inferred as a problem in every room; I would first check the bathroom, bedding, and commonly used equipment after check-in, and ask the hotel to deal with any issue early.
Some earlier guests did not clearly record which building they stayed in, so I would not apply every review’s in-room impressions to all floors of the main and south buildings. If bathhouse access, floor, or view matter a lot to you, choose a room type with a clear label at booking, rather than leaving only a note and waiting for allocation.
For driving, watch the mechanical parking height limit and entry/exit hours, and do not treat it as a free surface car park that can be entered at any time. For most Tokyo city itineraries, I would still prioritise the subway for getting around.
Pros and Trade-offs Compared
| Aspect | Pros | Trade-offs to accept |
|---|---|---|
| Transport | Close to Higashi-Shinjuku subway, with convenient dining and shopping | JR Shinjuku East Exit is still about 10 minutes away |
| Rooms | Compact facilities for a short stay alone, with under-bed storage | Basic 11 sqm rooms are cramped for two people with large luggage |
| Views | Main building high-floor view rooms are available | High floors are still 11 sqm, not extra space |
| Large bathhouse | Guests can bathe free in the artificial hot spring bathhouse | South building requires an outdoor passage to the main building |
| Breakfast | From 6:30, Japanese and Western dishes and a fresh-cooked area | Light eaters or early itineraries may not use it fully |
| Longer stays | Communal laundry, microwave, and water dispenser available | Shared facilities and on-request cleaning must be understood first |
My Choice: Accept the Small Room to Enjoy the Bathhouse and Location
APA Hotel Higashi Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower suits travellers travelling light alone, who like Shinjuku dining and shopping, and are willing to use the large bathhouse. I would take the 11 sqm space as the premise of the choice, not hide it in small print discovered only after booking.
For two people with large suitcases, I would first compare the 24 or 26 sqm twin rooms; if you want to bathe every day, put the main building’s access ahead of the view. As long as the hotel name, building, and size are seen clearly, the property’s strengths are easier to use where they are really needed.
Fact-check date: 2026-10-25