Shinjuku Prince Hotel

Nice room/location

The room was small, but it’s Tokyo. The staff was very accomodating and friendly. Stayed 5 nights and on the 3rd night, there was an odd smell (we couldn’t find where it was coming from) and the people in the room above us were incredibly loud. We called the following morning and the staff immediately offered to move our things to a new room while we were out and about. They were also extremely apologetic. The concierge and the bell desk were one in the same, which was odd, but still helpful. The only downfall is that the airport limosine bus does not drop off at the hotel doorstep, but at the Shinjuku station. Only a 10 minute walk, but with luggage, a pain! The taxi drivers understandably don’t want to take you such a short distance either. The place where the airport bus picks you up and drops you off is the farthest side of the station from the hotel as well.

Best Location

Great location for traveling in Tokyo in any direction and for sightseeing. The subway is right next to the hotel and the Shinjuku Station is a major station in Tokyo. Perhaps the busiest after the Tokyo Station? Everything is in walking distance if you need anything- shops, restaurants, bars, etc. The rooms are small, but clean. Although the front desk clerks have good command of English, but other employees do not. Overall it’s an excellent place to stay if you weigh your travel more on convenience than on comfort or luxury.

Loved it.

Can’t say enough good things about the staff. Staff were extremely pleasant and helpful. I always felt very well taken care of and looked out for. Went downstairs to inquire about dry cleaning services once; the desk person called house keeping immediately to assist me in my room. I barely got back to my room before the housekeeper arrived. Everything you need/want it made available as quickly and pleasantly as possible. I got one of the smallest room available; very small by American standards, but I got comfortable in it easily. Room furnishings/quality was very good. Big window. Very happy with room. For me location couldn’t be better - JR line right downstairs, major Shinjuku JR & Metro lines a quick 2 block walk away. Shinjuku is one of the larger "neighborhoods" of Tokyo, like Times Square in NYC. From my hotel all of it is at your fingertips; all of Tokyo is a quick & easy train/metro ride away.

Don’t be afraid or intimidated by the shear mass of humanity flowing through the train stations in Tokyo. I’ve rarely been treated more pleasantly than when bumping right along with 2 million+ other commuters on Tokyo’s rail lines all around the city. Courtesy is the norm here, as is a general helpfulness to us obvious visitors. I was assisted out of the blue numerous times while searching for a destination. Folks seemed so genuinely helpful to me. Get a Metro rail card (PASMO), a JR Rail card (SUICA) or both, at the self-serve fare machines. Push the "English" button at the top right corner of the screen, and go through the easy process; take your time, it is easy, just new to you at the moment. You can add money to the card as needed, then just swipe at the gates (watch for your remaining fare number to be displayed when you swipe again to exit). No fiddling with individual fare tickets. Note -- while the Metro map guide shows many lines converging/meeting in certain areas (like Shinjuku, Ginza, Tokyo, etc.) you must realize that does not mean the rail lines themselves merge. It means you will be able to walk from one line to another in a connected underground (by the way many with lots of shops, food, etc.). In many cases, this can be long. It’s great if its raining, but can be a surprise to find it’s a 900 meter walk to your next line, up/down 3-4 (yes 3-4) flights of stairs sometimes. But frankly, I wouldn’t trade Tokyo metro for any other metro on the planet.