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Tokyo · Kabukicho | Design rooms and rooftop night views

Shinjuku Granbell Hotel

新宿グランベルホテル

Make time for Shinjuku’s evenings—and choose enough room for your luggage.

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The hotel exterior and neighboring buildings in daylight.
Photo: Trip.com hotel gallery

Start with the kind of Shinjuku stay you want

About four minutes on foot from Higashi-Shinjuku Station exit A1; about 15 minutes from JR Shinjuku Station’s east exit.
The Economy Double is 15 m². Two people with large suitcases should also compare the 23 m² Deluxe Double.
A Japanese-and-Western breakfast on the 12th floor and a rooftop bar on the 13th suit travelers who want city views to be part of their stay.

If your Tokyo trip includes time to sit and enjoy the night view after shopping, I would add Shinjuku Granbell Hotel to the shortlist. Its appeal goes beyond simply staying in Kabukicho: design-led rooms, a high-floor restaurant by day and a rooftop terrace at night are all in the same building. Returning to the hotel need not mean the day’s travel experience has ended.

I would not treat it as a hotel immediately outside JR Shinjuku Station. Higashi-Shinjuku is the closest transport hub. Coming from JR with a suitcase means allowing for crowds, crossings and navigation. The location works well for daily Fukutoshin Line trips toward Shibuya and Ikebukuro; for daily JR excursions from Shinjuku, that walk becomes a repeated part of the itinerary.

I would spend the room budget on floor area and bed type before design preferences. The basic double is only 15 m²: an atmospheric photograph does not establish that two large suitcases can open at once. A few extra square meters are often more useful than a higher floor when you want an easier stay.

Getting here: Higashi-Shinjuku is closer than JR Shinjuku

The address is 2-14-5 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. For daily journeys, I would first consider Higashi-Shinjuku Station, served by the Fukutoshin and Toei Oedo lines. The hotel’s website lists about four minutes on foot from exit A1, or seven minutes from Shinjuku-sanchome exit E1. JR Shinjuku’s east exit is about 15 minutes away, and Seibu-Shinjuku’s north exit about 10 minutes. These stations and exits are not interchangeable simply because they share the name Shinjuku.

Station / exit	Official walking estimate	How I would use it
Higashi-Shinjuku A1	About 4 minutes	Fukutoshin Line to Shibuya and Ikebukuro; Oedo Line to other Tokyo districts.
Shinjuku-sanchome E1	About 7 minutes	Isetan and eastern Shinjuku; allow for the station’s internal passageways.
JR Shinjuku east exit	About 15 minutes	Useful for JR journeys, but not the nearest approach with a suitcase.
Seibu-Shinjuku north exit	About 10 minutes	Convenient when taking the Seibu Line.

Those times start at the street-level exit, not the platform. With luggage, a stroller or a wheelchair, I would find elevator signs and ask station staff for a step-free route to the street before navigating to the hotel. A1 is the website’s ordinary walking exit, not a complete elevator itinerary. Shinjuku Station itself is large; on a first visit, I would allow extra time rather than expect to arrive four minutes after getting off the train.

If taking the Narita Express from the airport to Shinjuku, the walk from the east exit remains. With several bags or poor weather, a taxi for that final stretch can be easier. For an airport bus, arrange the onward route from the actual stop on your ticket; a stop named Shinjuku is not necessarily at the hotel door.

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Daytime exterior of Shinjuku Granbell Hotel and nearby buildings — The hotel and neighboring buildings in daylight.
Photo: Trip.com hotel gallery

Trees in front of the hotel entrance and the exterior wall — Trees by the entrance and the hotel’s exterior wall.
Photo: Trip.com hotel gallery

Guest photograph of the hotel exterior and entrance approach — A guest’s photograph of the exterior and the approach to the entrance.
Photo: Trip.com guest photograph

Choosing a room: bed width and floor area before design

The hotel has many room styles, with curved walls, wood elements, high ceilings and loft arrangements creating noticeable visual differences. All guest rooms use Simmons mattresses and offer free Wi-Fi. Even within a category, designs can vary. I would read the written specifications and floor plan rather than imagine the whole room from its most attractive photograph.

Official room category	Area / bed width	Selection point
Economy Single	13 m² / 120 cm	One guest only; suited to a solo traveler packing light.
Economy Double	15 m² / 140 cm	Sleeps two, but suitcases may need to be opened in turns.
Superior Double	17–18 m² / 160 cm	A wider bed for two people who value sleeping space.
Deluxe Double	23 m² / 160 cm	Worth comparing first for two suitcases or a longer stay.
Economy Twin	17 m² / two 85 cm beds	Separate beds, but each is relatively narrow.
Standard Twin	19 m² / two 110 cm beds	A useful comparison for friends or anyone prioritizing bed width.

For two people staying several nights, I would compare the Superior Double with the Deluxe Double. Both have a 160 cm-wide bed, so the main difference is usable floor space. If returning only to shower and sleep, the former may be enough. For organizing shopping and using suitcases, the 23 m² Deluxe Double may work better. Twin rooms are not automatically spacious either: an 85 cm bed and a 110 cm bed make different sleeping choices.

Display guest room showing the bed, window and seating arrangement — The bed, window and seating in a display room; the actual category depends on the booking.
Photo: Trip.com hotel gallery

Overhead view of guest-room beds and the path beside the window — An overhead view of the beds and circulation space by the window.
Photo: Trip.com hotel gallery

Ladder and bed arrangement in a loft-style room — The ladder and sleeping arrangement in a loft-style room.
Photo: Trip.com hotel gallery

Another angle of a loft room showing the ladder position — Another loft-room angle makes the ladder’s location easier to understand.
Photo: Trip.com hotel gallery

The ladders and high ceilings make the loft rooms distinctive, but I would also consider the practicality of climbing up and down. A conventional single-level layout is easier for anyone who often gets up at night, has young children or finds stairs uncomfortable for their knees. The loft photographs explain that layout; they do not mean every standard room has a ladder, or that every room has the loft’s natural light.

Enter the complete number of adults and children when booking. A double-bed room name and the number of guests actually booked are different matters. For a cot, an accessible room or a particular bed setup, discussing the needs in advance is easier than rearranging them on arrival.

Should you add breakfast? The 12th-floor view is a reason to stay

Breakfast is served at restaurant G on the 12th floor as a Japanese-and-Western buffet. The official website lists more than 30 dishes, including croissants, bread and salads. The usual hours are 7:00–10:30, with last orders at 10:00; the listed standard price is ¥2,500 per person including tax, with dishes changing seasonally. Full-height glazing and city views add appeal beyond simply eating breakfast.

I would save it for a morning without an early train. After an evening in Shinjuku, you can sit down without going out to find a café, then leave via Higashi-Shinjuku. For an early long-distance train, or when coffee and bread are all you want, a room-only booking preserves time for the itinerary. A longer stay need not mean the same breakfast every day; one relaxed morning is a useful way to decide whether it suits you.

High-floor dining space at restaurant G — The high-floor dining space at restaurant G.
Photo: Trip.com hotel gallery

Window-side restaurant G table with a city view — The view from a window-side table at restaurant G; the display does not establish the daily breakfast menu.
Photo: Trip.com hotel gallery

Official presentation of Japanese and Western breakfast dishes — Official Japanese-and-Western breakfast presentation; dishes change with the season.
Photo: Shinjuku Granbell Hotel official website

Breakfast salad and vegetable buffet counter — The salad and vegetable counter.
Photo: Shinjuku Granbell Hotel official website

Buffet counter with fish and Japanese breakfast dishes — Fish and Japanese dishes at the breakfast counter.
Photo: Shinjuku Granbell Hotel official website

Fruit, yogurt and drinks displayed for breakfast — Breakfast fruit, yogurt and drinks.
Photo: Shinjuku Granbell Hotel official website

Croissants and bread in the breakfast display — Croissants and bread offered in the breakfast display.
Photo: Shinjuku Granbell Hotel official website

Different vegetables available at the self-service salad counter — A variety of vegetables for a self-service salad.
Photo: Shinjuku Granbell Hotel official website

Official illustration of salads and dressings — An official illustration of salads and dressings, rather than a fixed daily menu.
Photo: Shinjuku Granbell Hotel official website

Breakfast bread selection area — The breakfast bread counter.
Photo: Shinjuku Granbell Hotel official website

Gluten-free bread can be requested in advance, but food allergies should still be discussed with the restaurant. The availability of an alternative bread does not mean the entire buffet is free from cross-contact. Dining-room photographs mainly show seating and daylight; the table settings do not establish the exact breakfast combinations served every day.

Back at the hotel: a rooftop stop, plus laundry for longer stays

The 13th-floor roof top bar & terrace G is the public space I would make a point of seeing. Its indoor and outdoor seating overlooks Shinjuku at night, without another train ride to find a viewing bar. A rooftop outlook does not mean every guest room has the same view; choose the category and orientation carefully when the room’s view matters.

Nighttime rooftop terrace view and outdoor seating — Night views and outdoor seating on the rooftop terrace.
Photo: Trip.com hotel gallery

Connection between the rooftop bar's interior and terrace — The transition between the bar’s indoor space and outdoor terrace.
Photo: Trip.com hotel gallery

Indoor rooftop-bar seating beside windows overlooking the city at night — Window-side indoor seats and nighttime city views at the rooftop bar.
Photo: Trip.com hotel gallery

Wooden decking and seats on another side of the terrace — Wooden decking and seating on another part of the terrace.
Photo: Trip.com hotel gallery

I would use the rooftop to finish one evening, not as an obligation every night. Indoor seating is more practical in rain, wind or cold weather. Smoking is allowed on the terrace, so guests sensitive to smoke may prefer the indoor non-smoking area. Hours vary with the day of the week and holidays; reception can confirm the day’s opening times.

High-ceiling hotel lobby and seating area — The lobby’s high ceiling and seating area.
Photo: Trip.com hotel gallery

Café seating beside the window and interior lighting — Window-side café seating and interior lighting.
Photo: Trip.com hotel gallery

Daylit public dining seats beside windows — Public dining seats with daylight from the windows.
Photo: Trip.com hotel gallery

There are 24-hour coin-operated laundry facilities on the second floor. The official website lists a wash-and-dry cycle at about two hours and ¥700. That is useful for a longer stay, but the machines are shared and may be busy after dinner. I would wash clothes on an evening without an early start the next day. The first floor also has a café, currency-exchange machine and vending machines. Ask reception about luggage storage and agree on the collection time after check-out.

The neighborhood: link eastern Shinjuku into one sensible route

The hotel is in Kabukicho, with restaurants, evening businesses and eastern Shinjuku’s city streets outside. For a shopping visit, I would group shopping and dinner into the same afternoon and evening, avoiding repeated train journeys simply to drop things in the room. Hanazono Shrine and Golden Gai fit a walk through the area. Street photographs convey the neighborhood atmosphere rather than describing every lane identically.

Guest photograph of lively Shinjuku streets at night — A traveler’s nighttime Shinjuku street photograph showing the area’s lively atmosphere.
Photo: Trip.com guest photograph

Hanazono Shrine at night photographed by a traveler — A traveler’s view of Hanazono Shrine at night.
Photo: Trip.com guest photograph

One day’s route could start with shopping in Shinjuku-sanchome, return to the hotel in the afternoon to organize luggage, then continue with dinner in eastern Shinjuku and a rooftop stop if the weather suits. On another day, use the Fukutoshin Line for Shibuya or Ikebukuro. Choose transport around the destination rather than first walk to JR Shinjuku every morning and decide there.

Guest photograph of the city through a room window — A guest’s city view through the window; the outlook depends on the room’s position.
Photo: Trip.com guest photograph

Nearby streets and city buildings photographed by a guest — A traveler’s photograph of surrounding streets and buildings.
Photo: Trip.com guest photograph

Guest photograph of the Shinjuku cityscape — Shinjuku’s cityscape photographed by a traveler.
Photo: Trip.com guest photograph

For Shinjuku Gyoen, I would plan a daytime visit with enough time to walk. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government buildings are on the western side of Shinjuku; avoid a route that repeatedly crosses the station between eastern shopping and western viewpoints. With children or older relatives, reducing that back-and-forth walking matters more than fitting in every attraction at once.

Two nights or longer: the convenience depends on how you travel

For one or two nights, I would recommend it to travelers concentrating on Shinjuku and spending evenings nearby. Once the luggage is dropped off, shopping, food and the room are in the same area, reducing the need for improvised transport. If simply transferring through JR and leaving with suitcases early the next morning, the approximately 15-minute walk to the east exit may make it less suitable than a station-side hotel.

For three nights or more, shared laundry and multiple subway lines become useful. The constraints are small rooms and daily luggage organization. I would upgrade the space before deciding whether to add breakfast every day. Confirm housekeeping and amenity arrangements with reception, and plan around your own laundry, return times and rest rather than apply a short-stay impression to a whole week.

Guests praise room cleanliness, reception assistance and the high-floor breakfast, while others find rooms small or station passageways hard work with suitcases. Those views are compatible: convenient shopping does not mean every transfer route is effortless. Light sleepers can request a quieter position before booking. In a Kabukicho city hotel, I would still take my own sleep habits into account rather than expect the streets to be silent at all times.

Advantages and trade-offs: atmosphere or a room that works better?

Aspect	Advantage	Trade-off
Transport	About four minutes from Higashi-Shinjuku A1, with several subway lines available.	JR Shinjuku east exit is about 15 minutes away; allow extra time for luggage and station passages.
Rooms	Varied designs, Simmons mattresses and several bed arrangements.	The basic double is 15 m²; check bed width in twins too.
Dining and public spaces	City views from the 12th-floor breakfast and 13th-floor rooftop bar.	Breakfast inclusion depends on the package. Outdoor rooftop use depends on weather, and terrace smoking is allowed.
Longer stays	24-hour shared laundry and luggage-storage inquiries at reception.	Allow time for laundry; do not assume a washing machine inside every room.
Neighborhood	Easy access to eastern Shinjuku dining, shopping and evening activities.	A lively district; weigh your own preferences for quiet and coming and going.

Who would I recommend it to?

I would recommend Shinjuku Granbell Hotel to travelers who enjoy city night views, care about room design and are happy to use Higashi-Shinjuku’s subway connections. Its strengths are clear: breakfast high above the city and a rooftop return in the evening make the stay more than somewhere to sleep.

For two people, I would first compare the 17–18 m² Superior Double, 23 m² Deluxe Double or a Standard Twin with a suitable bed width. Basic categories come first for a solo traveler packing light. If your priorities are JR station proximity, keeping two large suitcases open or a very quiet street, I would compare more hotels. Get the route and floor area right, and the design and night views become genuine advantages rather than reasons to accept daily inconvenience.

Information checked: October 25, 2026