Tokyo · Shinjuku Gyoemmae | Metro and Baths
APA Hotel Shinjuku Gyoemmae
APA Hotel Shinjuku Gyoemmae
Out shopping and strolling by day, soaking in the bath at night — first, set your expectations for a small room
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
First, look at metro access, luggage, and bathing needs
- About 1 minute from Exit 1 of Shinjuku Gyoemmae Station; about 3 minutes from Exit C5 of Shinjuku-sanchome, and about 9 minutes from the Central East Exit of JR Shinjuku Station.
- Standard single and double rooms are both 11 m² — a wider bed does not mean more floor space.
- The basement level has a public bath, coin laundry, and a microwave — good for travellers who spend their days out.
When I pick a Tokyo hotel, I start with one question: where do I want to spend my time on this trip? If I am out sightseeing and shopping every day and the room is mainly for showering and sleeping, transport and daily convenience come first; but if two people are both bringing large suitcases, room size immediately becomes the key issue.
APA Hotel Shinjuku Gyoemmae is one I would put on a list for a Shinjuku-area base for people who are out a lot during the day and also want a public bath. It is near Shinjuku Gyoemmae Station and can also use the transport and shopping area around Shinjuku-sanchome. Before booking, the most important reminder is not to assume a double room is automatically a larger room.
For one person who spends most of the day out, the metro-and-bath combination here is very practical; if two people both want to relax in the room and sort through shopping, you need to look at floor area more carefully. Choosing by travel style rather than by overall score usually leads to a room that fits better.
1 minute from the station — and count the platform and elevator directions too
The hotel is at 2-2-8 Shinjuku, closest to Shinjuku Gyoemmae Station on the Marunouchi Line. Officially it is about a 1-minute walk from Exit 1, about 3 minutes from Exit C5 of Shinjuku-sanchome Station, and about 9 minutes from the Central East Exit of JR Shinjuku Station. Those three figures start from different exits — they are not the full time from getting off the train to reaching your room door.
I would keep two things in mind: Shinjuku Gyoemmae Station is close, but JR Shinjuku Station still takes a walk. How convenient this location feels differs between someone using the metro heavily every day and someone taking JR long-distance trains every day; with luggage, it is worth comparing transfers and ground-level walking rather than only looking at minutes on the train.
The two side platforms at Shinjuku Gyoemmae Station have different exits, and the official station map shows elevators at Exits 1 and 3. If you are carrying a large case, check which exits and elevators are usable for your train’s arrival direction first, and do not haul luggage up stairs inside the station just to chase the nearest exit. If you leave by an elevator on the other side, you need to re-check the ground-level route — you cannot simply apply the Exit 1 time.
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source: Tokyo Metro official site
The double bed got wider, but the room is still 11 m²
This is the point I think is most worth getting clear before booking. Officially, the single room is 11 m² with a 122 cm bed, and the double room is also 11 m² with a 142 cm bed. Booking a double room for two people adds bed width — it does not add room area.
| Room type | Official area and bed width | What to weigh up |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 11 m²; 122 cm bed | Travelling light alone, mainly out and about |
| Double | 11 m²; 142 cm bed | Two people need to accept tight luggage and walkway space |
| Twin | 13 m²; 110 cm × 2 | Sleeping separately still needs luggage planning |
| Deluxe Twin | 25 m²; 122 cm × 2 | If you need more space or an accessible layout, confirm a bookable plan first |
The twin room has two beds but is only 13 m², so do not expect a large open area. Sleeping separately and wanting more space are two decisions to make separately; if two people each bring a large case, I would compare the 25 m² Deluxe Twin as well rather than judging by room name alone.
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
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 room has under-bed storage, but whether your case fits still depends on its height and size. I would take out what I need the next day first, then stow the large case, keeping the bathroom, bedside, and doorway clear. That small habit is usually more practical than looking in photos for open space that does not exist.
Photos can help you understand bedside and desk space, but they cannot tell you how firm the bed is or how the air conditioning performs. If you are sensitive to temperature, lighting, or sleep, I would confirm what can be adjusted first; do not take someone else’s comfort as a guarantee for yourself. All rooms are non-smoking, and you should also check that you have booked this Shinjuku Gyoemmae branch.
The basement public bath: it only counts as a plus if you will actually bathe
The Genyo no Yu bath on basement level 1 is free for guests, officially listed as an artificial hot spring, with an open-air bath. Hours are 6:00–10:00 and 15:00–24:00, with last entry 30 minutes before closing; bring towels down from your room.
If you already enjoy bathing during a trip, I would factor this into the price comparison. After a full day out, being able to bathe in the hotel is a very concrete benefit; if you only need a quick shower before sleeping, there is no need to go over budget just for a public bath.
The bath is a shared facility, so plan your time around the house rules and how busy it is. If you have tattoos, are travelling with children, or have other usage needs, confirm the rules first — it saves trouble compared with finding out at the door that you do not qualify. Photos show the bath empty with no people, but that does not mean it will be empty when you use it.
Photo source: APA official website
Gomaichi Japanese-Western buffet breakfast — check it against your departure time
The hotel’s Gomaichi serves a Japanese-Western buffet breakfast, officially described as offering hot and cold dishes plus made-to-order udon. Service is 7:00–10:00, with last entry at 9:30; if you need to catch early transport, check first whether this timing connects with your plans.
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
I would leave a breakfast-inclusive plan for people who can sit down and eat slowly and enjoy a variety of small dishes and hot food. The photos show example combinations, not a fixed daily menu, and Japanese and Western options are not a paid either/or set menu; actual offerings depend on the day’s buffet.
If you want to control your budget or explore nearby cafés, compare a room-only plan. For two people staying two nights, if both breakfasts are included on both days, dividing the price difference between the breakfast-inclusive and room-only totals by four tells you how much extra you pay per person per meal; when comparing, keep room type, guest count, and other plan conditions the same so the comparison is meaningful.
For a stay of several nights, you do not need the same breakfast rhythm every day. Keep your least rushed day for the hotel breakfast and eat simply before heading out on other days — that also makes the itinerary more flexible. If you have dietary restrictions, confirm directly with the restaurant rather than assuming from photos that arrangements can be made.
Plan the Gyoen stroll and Shinjuku-sanchome shopping at different paces
I would set aside a slow stretch of time for Shinjuku Gyoen rather than rushing through just to tick it off. The park has different entrances, and being near the grounds does not mean every side can be entered; check entrances such as Shinjuku Gate and opening days first, then see how it connects with the day’s plans.
Photo source: Trip.com guest photos
Photo source: Trip.com guest photos
Cherry blossoms and autumn leaves depend on the season and the year, and photos can only help you imagine the park — they cannot guarantee you will see the same scenery when you arrive. If you stay nearby, the most practical benefit is that it is easier to keep a window for a stroll, without filling the whole day with shopping.
Shinjuku-sanchome works well for department stores, restaurants, and metro connections. I would finish one direction first, then return to the room to drop things off, rather than carrying large shopping bags on through Gyoen. Everyday restaurants and convenience stores are handy too, but if you head out very early or return very late, still check the hours you actually need.
One night is about transport; three or four nights are about laundry and cleaning
For just one night, I would first look at arrival and departure routes and confirm luggage can be sorted smoothly. One person accepting 11 m² conditions is usually simpler than two people both wanting to move around in the room; with older or younger travellers, consider bed type and exit routes together.
For three or four nights in a row, laundry, storage, and cleaning arrangements matter more. Basement level 1 has coin laundry, dryers, and a microwave; these are shared facilities, not in-room equipment, and a machine may not be free when you want to wash. I would keep laundry and waiting time for an evening when I return to the hotel relatively early.
APA has an eco-friendly cleaning arrangement for consecutive stays; on check-in, confirm how to request cleaning, towel top-ups, and rubbish handling. Some original reviews also mention needing to actively request cleaning; asking how it works once is usually less trouble than wondering each day whether anyone will enter the room.
Photo source: APA official website
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
Photo source: Trip.com hotel photos
Standard check-in is 15:00 and check-out is 10:00 — do not plan the last day around other hotels’ 11 o’clock check-out habit. For an early flight, proximity to the metro alone is not enough: factor in the first usable transport, transfers, and check-in buffer together, and if it is too tight, compare airport-area accommodation instead.
Pros and cons: bath and metro convenience in exchange for a compact space
| Aspect | Advantage | Trade-off to accept |
|---|---|---|
| Transport | Close to Shinjuku Gyoemmae, with Shinjuku-sanchome also usable | JR Shinjuku Station needs a separate walk; elevator exits depend on the platform |
| Room type | Single, double, twin, and 25 m² Deluxe Twin can be compared | Basic doubles are still 11 m² — two large cases need planning |
| Facilities | Guest public bath, coin laundry, and microwave are practical | Shared facilities have hours and waiting-time issues |
| Breakfast | Japanese-Western buffet and made-to-order udon to choose from | Starts at 7:00 — early itineraries may not be able to use it |
| Consecutive stays | Laundry and under-bed storage help | Cleaning needs confirming; standard check-out is 10:00 |
I would recommend it to people who are out all day and want a bath at night
The appeal of APA Hotel Shinjuku Gyoemmae is that metro access, daily convenience, and the public bath fit quite a few independent-travel needs. It does not win on large rooms; instead it makes a rhythm of days out, then laundry and bathing back at the hotel, work fairly smoothly.
If I were travelling alone with most of my time spent out, this would stay on my shortlist; with two people each carrying a large case, I would first compare the twin and 25 m² Deluxe Twin before deciding whether to accept it. Fitting the room to your travel style is more useful than chasing the overall score alone.
Fact-check date: 2026-10-25