Tokyo · Shinjuku | Accommodation Choice

LiVEMAX Hotel – Shinjuku Kabukicho, Tokyo

HOTEL LiVEMAX Shinjuku Kabukicho

The LiVEMAX Shinjuku Kabukicho branch at 2-33-3 Kabukicho, covering 11㎡ single rooms and 16㎡ twin rooms, smoking vs. non-smoking trade-offs, transport, and shared laundry — check your luggage and neighbourhood needs before booking.

Check the latest Trip.com room rates and availability

The hotel is at 2-33-3 Kabukicho — do not walk to the Meiji-dori branch by mistake.
Photo source: Trip.com hotel gallery

I Would First Check Whether It Fits Your Trip

This branch is at 2-33-3 Kabukicho — a different property from the Kabukicho Meiji-dori branch.
Single rooms are 11㎡ with a 120 cm bed; twin rooms are 16㎡ with two 120 cm beds.
The in-room microwave and shared coin laundry are practical; if you are sensitive to smoke, choose non-smoking directly.

If you spend most of each day out and come back mainly to shower, sleep, and heat up a late-night snack, HOTEL LiVEMAX Shinjuku Kabukicho is a practical candidate. Restaurants and convenience stores are plentiful nearby, and with a microwave in the room, it works well for short stays.

Let me state the limits plainly first: the basic single room is 11 square metres with a 120 cm-wide bed. Booking platforms may call it a small double room and allow two guests, but comfort for two people sharing the bed and sorting luggage is not the same as staying alone.

Another choice I would not get wrong is non-smoking. Guests have repeatedly mentioned cigarette smell in smoking rooms, and an air purifier or deodorising spray does not turn a smoking room into a non-smoking one; if you are sensitive to smells, choose a clearly non-smoking room type directly.

Transport: Tell Kabukicho from Meiji-dori Apart, and Leave Time for the Last Leg

The official listings say about 5 minutes from Higashi-Shinjuku Station Exit A1, about 3 minutes from the Seibu-Shinjuku Station north exit, and about 7 minutes from the JR Shinjuku Station east exit. Inside JR Shinjuku Station it is still a walk to the east exit, and some guests felt it took more than ten minutes; I would allow time at luggage-carrying pace, especially on a first visit to Shinjuku.

Seibu-Shinjuku and JR Shinjuku are not the same station, and Higashi-Shinjuku is a subway station. Check which line you will actually use that day before deciding which station to return to — that beats detouring to JR Shinjuku every day. If you need a lift, follow the step-free signs inside the station to street level; the shortest A1 or north-exit route is not necessarily step-free all the way.

The same brand also has a Shinjuku Kabukicho Meiji-dori branch, and the official site specifically warns against going to the wrong one. This branch is at 2-33-3 Kabukicho; I would save the address, not just the brand, in navigation, and check the full sign on arrival.

Open Google Maps for directions

Exterior of the LiVEMAX hotel in Shinjuku Kabukicho — The hotel is at 2-33-3 Kabukicho — do not walk to the Meiji-dori branch by mistake.
Photo source: Trip.com hotel gallery

Hotel building photographed by a guest — A guest’s photo of the whole building, to identify alongside the gallery exterior shots.
Photo source: Trip.com guest photos

Street in front of the hotel entrance, photographed by a guest — A guest’s photo of the street around the entrance; the photo does not show a complete step-free route.
Photo source: Trip.com guest photos

Hotel entrance sign at night — The entrance sign at night — check the full hotel name on arrival.
Photo source: Trip.com guest photos

How to Choose a Room Type: With a 120 cm Bed, Think About How You Sleep Before Head Count

Room type	Official size / bed	How I would choose
Single room / small double room	11㎡; one 120×195 cm bed	More sensible for one light packer; two guests must accept a narrower shared bed
Twin room	16㎡; two 120×195 cm beds	Two guests each get a bed; larger groups must confirm the actual sleeping arrangement
Non-smoking / smoking	Both types are available	If sensitive to smoke, choose non-smoking directly

The twin room’s official maximum occupancy is four, but it still has only two beds, not four separate sleeping places. If three or four adults each want to sleep well, I would compare two rooms rather than deciding on occupancy alone. Once two beds are in 16 square metres, large suitcases also have to be sorted in turns.

Small double room with desk — The 11-square-metre room layout, with the microwave and desk concentrated beside the bed.
Photo source: Trip.com hotel gallery

Small double room bedhead and desk — The room from another angle; the walkway beside the bed is compact.
Photo source: Trip.com hotel gallery

Twin room bed layout — The twin room on display — two 120 cm beds do not mean four people each get a bed.
Photo source: Trip.com hotel gallery

Small double room photographed by a guest — A guest’s photo of the room; bed, desk, and walkway are close together.
Photo source: Trip.com guest photos

The room has a microwave, fridge, electric kettle, and similar equipment, so bringing back convenience-store food is easy. This is the ability to heat food — the hotel has no kitchen, so do not expect to cook over a flame; the desk must hold a phone, food, and personal items at once, so packing light works better.

In-room electric kettle and desk photographed by a guest — The in-room desk and electric kettle, suited to simple use.
Photo source: Trip.com guest photos

Air purifier photographed by a guest — A photo of the air purifier — but it is no guarantee of removing cigarette smell from a smoking room.
Photo source: Trip.com guest photos

The room bathroom is a compact unit combining bathtub, washbasin, and toilet. You can use the in-room bathtub for a soak, but do not think of this as a stay with a public bath. When two people are getting ready to go out, taking turns in the bathroom while the other sorts luggage first works more smoothly.

Guest room bathroom photographed by a guest — Bathtub, washbasin, and toilet in one compact space.
Photo source: Trip.com guest photos

Guests have had different experiences of cleanliness and equipment condition, including feedback about cigarette smell and signs of use in smoking rooms. Check the bed, bathroom, and smell on entering, and raise any problem with the front desk at once; if you care a lot about consistent equipment and spaciousness, I would compare more candidates.

How to Arrange Breakfast: Check What You Booked First — Buying Nearby Is More Flexible

I would not choose this hotel for a generous in-house breakfast. Platforms describe a breakfast arrangement, and guests have mentioned a small bento, but the form and availability of breakfast may vary with the service at the time and what you booked; before booking, confirm directly where to collect it, when it is available, and whether there is an extra charge.

If you must catch an early train, I would buy a simple meal at a nearby convenience store, heat it in the room microwave, and leave on time. If you want breakfast to be part of the trip, leave one unhurried morning to go out for coffee or a set meal — the choice will be freer than relying only on hotel service.

Do not expect a restaurant buffet just because a page says breakfast is included. Especially with children or companions who have dietary needs, checking the actual form of the meal first matters more than discovering on arrival that portions or options do not suit.

Better for Short Stays; Longer Stays Mean Accepting Compact Space and Self-Service Facilities

I would put it first on a list for one person staying briefly with little luggage. Out during the day and back to sleep at night, the compact feel of 11 square metres is easier to accept; two people staying many nights will find piled-up suitcases and shopping bags affecting movement even more.

The hotel has shared coin laundry and drying equipment, so longer stays can mean packing fewer clothes. Confirm detergent and machine operation first, and allow time for washing, drying, and waiting — do not leave all of the last night’s clothes until very late.

Coin washing machines and dryers — Shared coin laundry equipment — longer stays need separate washing and drying time.
Photo source: Trip.com hotel gallery

In-house drink vending machine — The in-house drink vending machine; actual items depend on what is stocked on site.
Photo source: Trip.com hotel gallery

In-house trouser press — The in-house trouser press on display; borrowing and placement follow on-site instructions.
Photo source: Trip.com hotel gallery

Check-in and check-out often use self-service equipment, so bring your booking details and ask the front desk directly if anything goes wrong. The official listing says 24-hour front desk; I would ask on the first day of a longer stay about full cleaning frequency and how towels and rubbish are handled, rather than assuming a complete clean every day.

Reception counter and waiting area — The reception area and seating — confirm the self-service machines and longer-stay needs at check-in.
Photo source: Trip.com hotel gallery

Lobby and self-service check-in equipment — Lobby self-service equipment and waiting space.
Photo source: Trip.com hotel gallery

Guest room doorway photographed by a guest — A guest’s photo of the room door and room-number area, showing the actual guest-floor environment.
Photo source: Trip.com guest photos

Self-service check-in machine photographed by a guest — A photo of the self-service check-in equipment; ask the front desk if you run into problems.
Photo source: Trip.com guest photos

In-hotel corridor and lift area photographed by a guest — A photo of the in-hotel corridor and lift area.
Photo source: Trip.com guest photos

Space in front of the lifts photographed by a guest — The space in front of the lifts and the branded floor mat, giving a sense of the hotel’s actual scale.
Photo source: Trip.com guest photos

Kabukicho has plenty of nightlife, which suits people who like dining and entertainment, but those who want an early night or prefer a quiet residential street should weigh it. Guests’ tastes in the surroundings differ greatly; I would first ask companions whether they can accept this kind of neighbourhood before deciding whether the location suits.

Nearby Outings: Dinner and Shopping Are Close — Don’t Lug Suitcases to JR Every Day

Convenience stores, restaurants, and the Kabukicho entertainment district are nearby, so dinner or a late-night snack is easy to arrange. Shopping around the Shinjuku east exit can also be linked on foot; I would concentrate shopping first and then drop things in the room, rather than carrying bags all evening.

For a two-night trip, get familiar with the Seibu-Shinjuku or Higashi-Shinjuku routes on arrival day and eat nearby in the evening; the next day, visit other parts of Tokyo, then arrange Shinjuku shopping on your return. If you must take long train rides from JR Shinjuku every day, add the walk to the platform inside the station into the accommodation comparison too.

For family or multi-person trips, I would weigh actual beds and neighbourhood atmosphere more heavily, not just capacity. Only people who like convenience and can accept a basic, functional room will find this place easy to use.

Pros and Cons Compared: Practical Facilities, but Room Size and Cigarette Smell Cannot Be Ignored

Aspect	Advantage	Trade-off to accept
Location	Dining, convenience stores, and several stations to choose from	Walking inside JR station is extra; the neighbourhood is lively at night
Facilities	In-room microwave and fridge, shared laundry	No kitchen; allow time for shared washing and drying
Room type	Simple choice of single and twin rooms	Basic 11㎡ rooms with 120 cm beds; two sharing a bed is cramped
Non-smoking choice	Non-smoking can be chosen explicitly	Smoking-room smell should not be expected to be solved by deodorising
Breakfast	Flexible to buy nearby and heat meals	Meal format must be confirmed; do not expect a large buffet

My Verdict: Better for Light-Packing Short Stays Than for Larger Groups Staying Long

I would recommend it to solo travellers who value location and an in-room microwave and spend most of the day out of the hotel. Choose non-smoking first and accept the 11-square-metre scale, and what this hotel offers becomes clear; two travelling together should compare twin or other larger rooms.

If you want to rest slowly in the room, bring a lot of luggage, or are especially sensitive to cigarette smell and equipment condition, I would compare several more hotels. A convenient location has value, but whether sleep, luggage, and surroundings suit you must go into the choice too.

Fact-check date: 2026-10-25