Introduction

One of my hobbies is trying to learn how to play the Piano. It is an expensive hobby, especially in Japan. I cannot afford a proper Piano in my place. Even if I did, I wouldn’t be able to play it at night time. I found this Airbnb by accident. It is a place where I can play a mini grand Piano at any time of day.

Comfort: 6.5/10

When I made a booking, I knew the room will be tiny. Nothing prepares me for this experience. It is quite a shock to open the bedroom door and found a Piano taking nearly all of the space in the room. The bed is semi-double. It would be difficult to sleep two adults in the room.

There is a small kitchen in which you can prepare some easy meals. However, there is not much space to sit down to eat.

Location 8/10

The place is located close to Ikebukuro station. This would be an ideal place for those who will be performing around the area. It is within walking distance of Ikebukuro and Mejiro.

The apartment itself is built for this purpose. All the rooms have a Piano in them. The building is right next to JR Yamanote line. If the room is not sound proof then it would be quite noisy. I found this to be a clever use of the place. The soundproof room also prevents sound from the outside. We did not feel the rumbling when the train passed by so it was quite easy to rest at night.

Uniqueness 8/10

I haven’t found any other Airbnb in central Tokyo which has a Piano and is playable at any time of the day. This place is unique in that perspective. As for the design of the room, it was a normal tiny Japanese apartment room. I always wonder how they transport the Piano into the room. I was told by the owner that they put it in via the window.

Cost 6.5/10

The room isn’t cheap, compared to another Airbnb. This is understandable given the cost of building and maintaining the place. It is most useful for those professional musicians who want a place they can rehearse before their performance. The cost, the layout and some massage equipment in the room are for that purpose.

I figured it will be cheaper to rent a room at a music studio with a Piano if I want to practice for a couple of hours instead of staying at this place. Still, having a mini grand Paino which you can play any time is convenience.

Final Thoughts - Recommend may repeat

Ken’s score: Silver🥈 7.25/10

What I like 👍

• A proper Piano that can be played any time

• Very close to JR stations

• Quiet at night, able to get a good sleep despite the fact that the building is right next to the train tracks

What I do not like 👎

• Tiny room, even with Japanese standard

• No place to sit down and eat in the room

• Expensive for its size

What is it good for 🫶

• A performer needs a place to stay and practice before the big day, or during their tour in Tokyo

• An amateur who wants to practice the Piano for an extended period of time

• Piano lovers, although the bed could be small for two people

Introduction

I was trying to get the room on the first floor. Unfortunately, all the rooms were occupied, except this one. As luck might have it, the room turns out to be great. The size of the room is right, not too small and not too large. It has got a bathtub with an outside view. The sunlight and the openable window at the bathtub made it feels like a normal hotel than a love hotel. The highlight is the mirror over the bed. There is something special about being able to see our reflection from above. All love hotels should have this feature.

At the time of this writing, the hotel only allows two people. They may allow two females and one male with an extra charge.

Comfort: 9/10

The room is the right size, not too big and not too small either. It is a corner room so it is slightly bigger than the other rooms on the same floor. It is smaller than those on the 1st floor with Rotenburo. There are enough spaces to move around. The bed is big and comfortable. It is placed behind a cleaver partition wall between it and the door.

The room has one bathtub. The bathroom has an openable window with an outside view and no curtain.

One thing we noticed is that the lighting setup from the control panel could take a while to respond. Be patient when it doesn’t respond immediately.

You can also leave the room to go outside and come back later during your service time stay. Great if you want to make a quick run to get some stuff or went out for a meal somewhere. Just tell the reception and they will keep the key for you. You can leave your stuff in the room as long as you are coming back before your check-out time.

Location 8/10

The hotel is at the edge of Kabukicho, which could be good or bad depending on your situation. It was less than 10 minutes walk from Oedo line, Higashi Shinjuku station. The entrance is discrete. It looks more like a modern-style hotel rather than a flashy love hotel around the same area.

There is Hotel Grandchariot , which belonged to the same group next door. In case all the rooms are booked at the Sense and you are in a hurry for a room. That hotel is a bit older but the design is quite similar, although not as great.

Uniqueness 8/10

All the rooms in this hotel share the same design. A modern take on A Japanese Ryokan. It does not feel like a love hotel. It feels like a high-end Ryokan somewhere in Kyoto.

The highlight for me is the ceiling mirrors above the bed. I love seeing our reflections while lying comfortably on the bed.

Cost 9/10

The longest service time is checking in at 10 AM, and checking out at 8 PM. It is 10 hours which is quite long for a love hotel in Shinjuku. I felt this is quite cheap, given the size and the quality of the room. I even feel this is cheaper than what I paid for room 102. This room does not have Rotenburo but it was nice enough and only cost half of the price.

Final Thoughts - Highly Recommend, will repeat

Ken’s score: Gold 🥇 8.625/10

What I like 👍

• Great design

• Nice amenities

• Nice and bright room

• Large comfortable bed

• Space to move around in the room

• Ceiling mirrors above the bed 💞

• Reasonable price for 10 hours of service time

• HDMI input next to the bed. Ask reception for the cable or bring your own.

What I do not like 👎

• A bit far from JR station

• No reservation

• It is always busy.

• No Karaoke, no vibrator in the room. No hook on the bed.

• No Bluetooth speaker

• The price will go up quite high after 10 PM.

• Does not allow groups of people.

What is it good for 🫶

• Lovers who can meet during day time or early evening. Overnight stay is expensive.

• Those who want to spend more time relaxing in the hotel. Not just in and out quickly.

• Great for remote work!

Introduction

I love the view from this hotel. I want to recommend this but the room in the main building is showing its age, especially the bathroom. If you don’t mind an old room that was probably built since the bubble era then this might be okay.

The view from the window is great. With a view of Shinagawa station, the shinkansen, the JR train, along with the plane landing at Haneda, some ferries in Tokyo bay plus Tokyo tower and a glimpse of Skytree’s top. Altogether made a magnificent view at any time of the day.

Comfort: 5/10

This is where it comes short. The room is old and tired. The bathroom with the toilet is small and dampens the mood. The bed itself is small and springy. I felt that the bed frame and the mattress are old. They are not dirty. They are old.

One thing to note, if you need to bring guests to the hotel room, you can meet them on the second or third floor in front of the elevator, to avoid being seen by receptionist. A card key is required to get to the room’s floor.

Location 9/10

The hotel is located directly across from Shinagawa station. It is a convenient location to go to either Haneda or Narita airport.

Highly recommend staying on the higher floors. They are slightly more expensive but worth it. The window is not one-way, so people on the street can see us if we stand by the window. They won’t be able to make out what we look like but they can certainly see our shape. They could probably see us if they use a telescope or a 10x zoom lens.

Uniqueness 7/10

I love the view from this hotel. That is why I am giving it quite a high point for its uniqueness. The room itself is not particularly exciting. However, the two large windows with a lot of sunlight and the beautiful view of Tokyo make up quite a lot for this hotel’s uniqueness. Be sure to enjoy the night view while turning off all the lights to preserve your privacy.

Cost 7/10

The price is reasonable, for a hotel in this prime location. Although I felt it was slightly overpriced when it comes to the actual room itself. The view itself is more than made up for the cost. I wish they can renovate the room and it would have been easier to recommend this place.

Final Thoughts - Barely Recommend, may repeat

Ken’s score: Gold, 7/10

What I like 👍

• View of Shinagawa station and its surrounding

• Close to the JR & Subway station

• Easy access to Haneda and Narita airport

• Visitors can meet on the second floor, no need to go through the reception

What I do not like 👎

• The room is old and showing its age

• The bed isn’t comfortable

• The toilet and the bathroom aren’t separated

• Not many amenities.

What is it good for 🫶

• Romantic night view

• Those who appreciate watching the sunrise over the city.

• A relatively cheap and clean hotel for that early flight or after coming back from a long flight.

Introduction

I love taking a bath outside. I also love the view of Skytree at night. This place offers both! It was such a nice experience to be able to take a warm bath outside while enjoying the night view of Skytree and the night sky.

Comfort: 7.5/10

The room is quite large. There was no bed but a futon on the raised tatami floor. I found the futon to be too hard on my back. The tatami was nice but we didn’t use it as much as a sitting space.

The chair in the room is nice but it felt out of place. I put it next to the sofa because it kinda gets in the way when we want to get onto the tatami.

The room is quite bright during day time. There is a lot of sunlight coming in from the big window. At night, the light from the street gets into the room quite a bit.

There is a washing machine on the rooftop which is shared among all guests.

Note that there is no elevator at this Airbnb. If you are coming here with heavy luggage then check if your room is on the first floor or on the third floor before making a booking. We didn’t have any luggage so there was no problem for us.

The view from the Rotenburo is really good. However, if it is cold and windy, it might ruin your experience.

Location 8/10

The place is less than 10 minute walk from Hikifune station. There are a lot of small restaurants around the place. Hikifune itself is one station away from Oshiage - Skytree station. If you are going to spend a lot of time in Oshiage / Skytree area then this place might be suitable.

Hikifune station itself is rather quiet and not much really happening around the area. Recommend having dinner at other places, such as at the Solamachi at the Skytree before ending your day at the accommodation. That or order something from Uber Eats.

Uniqueness 8.5/10

I found the design is trying too hard to be a Ryokan but it just did not feel quite right. There is a gaming chair in the room which actually ruins the experience. The sofa and the dining table aren’t following the same design language either so it felt a bit out of place.

The built quality of the Rotenburo is less than what I was expecting. It felt like it was scrapped together just to make it there. It was clean, and the hot water works properly to serve its purpose. I can’t help but compare it to PDO Inn. The one in this place felt so much inferior.

However, the view from the Rotenburo is made up for it. It was so good that we spent a lot of time there when it wasn’t windy.

The Rotenburo is shared among all the guests. There is no reservation. It is a first come first serve. It is opens 24 hours. We did not have any trouble using it whenever we want to use it during our stay.

Cost 7/10

The price is in the middle to the high range given the location with the view. It would get more score if the design of the room and the furniture goes together better than its current state. I also found some part of the room, especially the closet next to the bathroom needs some more love.

Final Thoughts - Recommend, will repeat

Ken’s score: Silver🥈 7.75/10

What I like 👍

• Nice view from the rooftop rotenburo

• Large window

• Relatively large room

What I do not like 👎

• A bit far from the station. I wouldn’t recommend walking with heavy luggage.

• The curtain and the roof of the rotenburo look tired

• The design of the room and the furniture doesn’t go well together

• There is no elevator. If you have big luggage and staying on the third floor then, good luck.

• Not very comfortable taking the rooftop bath when it is windy.

What is it good for 🫶

• Those who want a place around Skytree

• Peaceful, Shimatachi area

• Rotenburo, with a nice view especially at night

Introduction

This is one of the Ryokan styles from the three stars group, the same group that operates Hotel The Sense. The design of the two hotels is very similar. I wanted to use room 201 which has a nice-looking Rotenburo but it wasn’t available at the time.

Room 102 was available at the time. It looks better than the rest of other rooms available.

Comfort: 8.5/10

The room is big for a love hotel in Roppongi. I was surprised by how spacious the room is. The bed is large and comfortable. The sofa at the corner of the raised platform. is also very nice. The varying level between the bed and the sofa makes the room feels bigger, a clever design.

We found the space at the head of the bed to be quite fun to use.

There is an HDMI input port at the low table next to the bed. It was nice to be able to plug your entertainment, be it a laptop or a game console to the TV.

Location 8.5/10

The hotel is only a few minutes walk from the famous Roppongi junction. It is on a quiet street. You wouldn’t think there will be a love hotel here if you just walk passed in front of it.

There is another love hotel right opposite Iroha, with an obvious name Hotel Roppongi I might give it a try next time.

Uniqueness 8.5/10

Similar to Hotel the Sense, this love hotel does not feel like a love hotel. It is more like a good design of modern Ryokan. The lobby is on the ground floor and yet they marked it as a second floor. Rooms on the first floor are technically in the basement. With some clever design, they managed to get the sunlight from the outside into the room.

I like the design and the calmness of the room, and the fact that it is in Roppongi makes it even more impressive.

Cost 8.5/10

I do not have much experience with love hotels in the Roppongi area. This is the only love hotel I have been to in that area. Based on the price list of the closest love hotel, they seem to be in the same range. We went there during the service time so the price is reasonable. The price is much more expensive during the peak time, usually after 4 PM until 2 AM the next day.

Comparing it with The Sense in Shinjuku, then the price is a bit higher at Iroha.

Final Thoughts - Recommend, will repeat

Ken’s score: Gold, 🥇 8.5 /10

What I like 👍

• Ryokan design

• Close to the Subway station

• Large comfortable bed

• Comfortable sofa

• The room feels spacious

• Big TV screen with an easy-to-use HDMI port

What I do not like 👎

• The hotel is in Roppongi, which I don’t usually want to go

• The receptionist isn’t the most friendly

• Only one other choice of love hotel nearby

• Expensive during peak time

• No reservation

What is it good for 🫶

• Those who prefer rooms that don’t feel like a love hotel

• Lovers who prefer a nice and relaxing atmosphere

• Weekday daytime encounter

• Maybe an ideal after a night out in Roppongi, if you are lucky to get the room and can effort it

Introduction

As part of my project to stay in all the room in BnA_Wall hotel. This room is one of the best that I have stayed. The room is artfully done, but not so much that it distractive. The room is comfortable, with spaces to move around in the room. The bed and the sofa are comfortable. The only thing that it lacks is the bathtub, which most of the room in BnA_Wall doesn’t have, except the daytime’s daydream room

Comfort: 8.5/10

The first thing that surprised us is how comfortable this room is. The sofa was placed at the right spot. The bed can be entered from both side, which is the way I prefer. There are spaces in the room to move around. We spent a bit of time on the sofa, watching the video on how this room was made.

Location 7.5/10

The hotel is in the middle of nowhere if you are a tourist. It is not inconvenient but it is also far from any tourist places. It is close to Mitsukoshi Mae station on the Ginza line and the Kedemacho station on the Hibiya line on the east side of Tokyo.

If you have something to do in that area, such as walking around Nihonbashi and doing some shopping in Mitsukoshi or Takashimaya then that’s great. It is a walkable distance from Tokyo station, but I wouldn’t do that with big luggage.

The area is quiet at night. There are a couple of eateries nearby. The first floor of the hotel is a bar/light meal restaurant which I haven’t tried yet.

There are a number of places which open until late in Ningyocho area.

Uniqueness 9/10

We dig the art in this room. The main one opposite side of the wall which claverley placed to precision to make the impression of a reflection of the room. The video below is the making of the room. It makes us appreciate the room even more.

I also like the art piece on the wall. There is one painting that made you feel like it is a mirror , and another which is a mirror but made you feel like it is a painting. Very impressed with those.

Cost 8/10

I got this room during the motto Tokyo campaign so the price is really cheap. The cost of the hotel without the promotion is in the middle range. Given the location is close to the station but not very close to any tourist attractions, I gave it a lower rating. Had it been closer to any tourist place or closer to JR station on the west side of Tokyo then it will be a better deal.

I recently found Hamacho hotel which located in the same area. It is less flashy but quite comfortable to stay with a reasonable price.

Final Thoughts - Recommend will repeat

Ken’s score: Gold🥇8.25/10

What I like 👍

• Artistic design

• Comfortable bed and sofa

• Relatively large room

What I do not like 👎

• Location isn’t great if you don’t have anything to do in the area

• Slightly expensive

• The view from the window is not exciting.

• No bathtub

What is it good for 🫶

• Those who love clever design

• A place to stay after a long night's work at the offices nearby

• Travellers who have something to do in Nihonbashi/Tokyo station area.Those who want to stay in Shibuya

Introduction

Hotel the sense is one of the love hotel in Shinjuku which I prefer. I love the interior design. It does not look like a typical love hotel. It looks more like a high end modern Ryokan. I was told this was designed by the same team that design Iroha sex toy. Make sense given the Iroha hotel in Roppongi share the same design language.

This hotel does not take reservation, unfortunately. I only managed to get this room because I went there in the morning. Rooms on the first floor, which technically in the basement, are always popular.

As the time to this writing, the hotel only allow two people. They may allow two females and one male with extra charges.

Comfort: 9/10

The room is large, but not wastefully large. There are spaces to move around. The bed is big and comfortable. It is placed next to the window so we can get the sunlight from outside. The room has two bathtub, one inside and another one outside. There are stair steps in order to get to the bathtubs. It was quite a unique layout. It was also fun to explore what you can do with that setup.

One thing we noticed is that the lighting setup from the control panel could take a while to respond. Be patient when it doesn’t respond immediately.

The food menu is surprisingly good. It took time to arrive but the quality was great. Plus it was not overpriced.

You can also leave the room to go outside and come back later during your service time stay. Great if you want to make a quick run to get some stuff or went out for a meal somewhere. Just tell the reception and they will keep the key for you. You can leave your stuff in the room as long as you are coming back before your check out time.

Location 8/10

The hotel is at the edge of Kabukicho, which could be good or bad depending on your situation. I found it easier to get there from Shinjuku line than the JR. The entrance is discrete. It look more like a modern style hotel rather than a flashy love hotel around the area.

There is Hotel Grandchariot , which belonged to the same group next door. In case all the room are booked at the Sense and you are in a hurry for a room. That hotel is a bit older but the design is quite similar, although not as great.

Uniqueness 9/10

All the room in this hotel share the same design. A modern take of A Japanese Ryokan. It does not look like a love hotel. It feels like a high end Ryokan somewhere outside of Tokyo.

My favourite has to be the outside bathtub (Rotemburo). All the room on the first floor has them. This room 102 has a jacuzzi outside, equipped with lighting.

Note that all the room on the first floor are below street level, right under the entrance. There are walls to block the view from outside and to only let the unlight in from the top. If you make too much noise, then people walking on the street might hear them. That could be good or bad depending on your preference.

Cost 8.5/10

The price is reasonable, for a love hotel this size in Shinjuku. There are cheaper room in this hotel, but only four rooms are with rotemburo. The one on the 6th floor are also nice.

Their service time during day time is long. That makes it more cost effective if you are going to stay for a long period of time.

Final Thoughts - Highly Recommend, will repeat

Ken’s score: Gold 🥇 8.625/10

What I like 👍

• Great design

• Nice amenities

• Nice and bright room

• Fun to use Jacuzzi outside

• Large comfortable bed

• Space to move around in the room

• Stairs in front of the mirror 💞

• Reasonable price for 10 hours service time

What I do not like 👎

• A bit far from train station

• No reservation

• It is always busy, especially the room on 1st floor.

• No Karaoke, no vibrator in the room. No hook on the bed.

• Price will go up quite high after 10 PM.

• Does not allow group of people.

What is it good for 🫶

• Lovers who can meet during day time or early evening. Overnight stay is expensive.

• Those who want to spend more time relaxing in the hotel. Not just in and out quickly.

• Great for remote work!

Introduction

A friend of my visited this place in winter. I looked at the picture of the bathtub and I thought it was cute. The view from the room is also quite nice so I decided to take a day trip from Tokyo by car. We didn’t spend much time at Kawaguchi lake itself, only driving around the lake in the next morning.

Comfort: 9/10

The room is spacious. We only managed to get a twin room and not a double room. The beds are moveable so we moved them to be next to each other.

The bathtub is great. It has got a big window with a relatively nice view of mount Fuji. Some part of the building was blocking the scene so we couldn’t see it fully. The side window of the bathroom can be open to let a cold air in. Very nice when taking a long bath. Some room will have the bathtub outside at the balcony.

The view from the balcony, is fantastic especially in the morning.

The dinner was nice and filling. It was a full course meal of fusion dishes between Japanese and Western style. The breakfast was a standard buffet service with good quality and variety.

Location 9/10

The hotel is located on the hill. We went there by car so it wasn’t much of a trouble. They have got a 220 Volts charger with the normal type socket for EV. Bring your cable if you have one.

The hotel has free bus service for the guests to use. We didn’t get a chance to use it but I have seen someone making a request for the bus to take them to a specific spot. They also have a pick up service to and from Kawaguchiko station.

Given the hotel is located on the hill , we can see Fuji san without any obstacle, except the clouds.

Uniqueness 7/10

The view itself is obviously spectacular, if you like Fuji san. The hotel itself is themed as a Spanish villa. The color is heavily on light brown orange earth tone. It has got this Showa bubble era in it, which some people might like.

Cost 7/10

The price is in the middle to the high range given the location with the view. We choose the package with dinner and breakfast, both were good. The hotel also has Onsen both private a public, price already included in the package. We can use the private one as much as we like as long as no one else is using it.

Final Thoughts - Recommend, will repeat

Ken’s score: Gold 🥇 8/10

What I like 👍

• Nice view from the bathroom and the terrace

• Comfortable bed

• Large room

• Good onsen, with sauna and private onsen rooms.

What I do not like 👎

• Breakfast was crowded, with a little confusing route.

• Some part of the building blocking the view slightly.

• No other attractions nearby

What is it good for 🫶

• That special occasion

• Nice short drive trip from Tokyo

• A nice view of Fuji san from the room, best in winter when there is no cloud.

Introduction

One day I went to take pictures of Christmas decoration at Miyashita park. At that time I did not realized there is a hotel at the end of the park, overlooking the whole building. I thought to myself that it would be cool to stay there to get the night view. The hotel is clearly target those instra generations, with lots of corner to take selfie at the receptions.

The view from the room is great, especially at night. You can see the whole park lights up. It would have been better during special events where they have more art pieces on display in the park.

Comfort: 8/10

The room is smaller than I expected. We got the room with queen bed. The bed itself is placed in the middle of the room with one side of the bed against the wall. That is something I don’t like especially with a larger than a single bed. I prefer to be able to get into the bed from both sides. The bed itself is soft and large enough for two adults. It felt more like a semi queen size.

There are not much space to move around in the room. The cabinet next to the window is nice to sit down and enjoy the view. The problem is there is no place for two people to rest their back. Only one person can sit at the one of the corner. Another corner is occupied by a flat screen TV.

The view from the room is nice, if you can leave the window open. Take note that the people can see you from outside if you stay close to the window.

There is no bathtub in this room, only shower. The sink is in the bedroom behind the head of the bed.

Location 8/10

The hotel is close to Shibuya station. Great location if you are planning to spend your time in the area. There are a lot of lively eatery at Miyashita park and also in the mall. The hotel itself is at the end of the park, which is a good 5 - 10 minutes walk from the entrance to the park, depending on how heavy your luggage is. Shibuya station isn’t the easiest to navigate either. I got lost despite the fact this is my third time to go to the park.

Uniqueness 6.5/10

The design of the hotel is rather usual. It looks cool and modern with a nice view. This is becoming a standard design for many of the hotel recently, which I find it is nice but a bit too boring. It has got a view so that is the main thing I like about the room.

The park closed at 11 PM, so you can get unique view of the park at night without people. It was also not very crowded in the morning. That gives you opportunities to see Shibuya in a different perspective.

Cost 5.5/10

The price is high, because of the location and the view. I understand they can demand for this price since it is close to Shibuya, and the vibe is hip. But that’s all it has to offer. There are suite rooms which suppose to have art piece installed. They are even more expensive than the King terrace in Hilton Odaiba, which I would rather prefer to stay at that price point.

Final Thoughts - Recommend (for the night view), may not repeat

Ken’s score: Silver, 7/10

What I like 👍

• Great location

• Nice view from the room

• Large room

• Great amenities

• Nice pool

What I do not like 👎

• The room is small

• Expensive

• Lack of privacy from the window

• The layout of the room is really for sleeping

What is it good for 🫶

• Those who want to stay in Shibuya

• Getting a nice view of Miyashita park

• Exhibitionist, by the window

Introduction

I have used Pasha in Shinjuku a couple of times. This Pasha Gran is in Ueno. It was recently open in October 2022. The view from the room supposed to be nice. I decided to check it out with an overnight stay, something I don’t usually do with love hotel.

Comfort: 8/10

The room is relatively small, compared to the more luxury hotel in Kinshicho or Shinjuku. I wish there is a little more space to move around.

The bed is large. It occupied most of the space in the room. There is a sofa in front of the TV at the end of the bed. That was nice. I made a transition from the sofa to the bed relatively smooth.

One thing that I noticed is that they have got HDMI input port at the headboard of the bed. It was nice to be able to plug your own entertainment, be it a laptop or a game console to the TV.

Location 9/10

This is the highlight of the hotel. Highly recommend to stay in those rooms with Ueno park view. This is one of the reason why I choose to do an overnight. Waking up in the morning seeing the warm morning sunlight over Ueno park is just great.

Uniqueness 7/10

There is something to be said about a love hotel with window that can see outside. Most of the love hotel does not have nice view. Some does not even have a window. Usually it will be in between buildings, hence there is no nice view or even window. I think it was because people want their privacy hence they won’t open the window for the outside view anyway. That wasn’t the case for this hotel. The view is actually a selling point for some of the room. It was the main reason we choose to stay.

The interior design of this room in particular is rather bland. Nothing really unique about the room itself other than the park view. It was new, clean and very much like other standard love hotel, except the window overlooking the park.

Cost 8/10

The price is reasonable, for a love hotel in Ueno. We were saying overnight , checking in at about 9 PM and left about 8 AM the next day. Unfortunately the hotel does not take reservation. We went there during weeknight. There were multiple rooms available when we went there.

This could be different depending on the day.

Final Thoughts - Recommend, will repeat

Ken’s score: Gold, 8/10

What I like 👍

• Park view

• Close to the JR & Subway station

• Large comfortable bed

• Comfortable sofa in front of the TV

• Big TV screen with an easy to use HDMI port

What I do not like 👎

• Room is small

• Generic love hotel design

• Next to the main road, hard to enter discreetly.

What is it good for 🫶

• Lovers who want to see the outside during their love making

• Those who appreciates watching sunrise over the city.

• A relatively cheap and clean hotel for those nights when you missed that last train, intentionally or unintentionally.

Introduction

I was looking for a place with a nice Rotemburo around Tokyo. I came across this room at Hilton. In retrospect, I could have travelled outside of Tokyo, staying in a Ryokan with dinner and it may still end up cheaper than staying in this hotel. The cost is high, but the convenience of getting there, the time saved, and once in the lifetime experience made it all worth it.

Comfort: 8.5/10

No doubt this room is comfortable. The room is spacious. I could have hosted a party of six people easily in this room. There is a jacuzzi outside on the terrace looking out to the rainbow bridge over the sea. I could see Fuji-san from the terrace when I arrived before sunset.

The king bed is large and comfortable. There is a living room area with a comfortable sofa and a Nespresso machine with a variety of coffee plus some.

The highlight has to be the terrace. We took the outside bath at night. It was a cold winter night with clear night stars. We could see the terrace of another room below us if we want to.

The swimming pool was nice. I did not choose the package which include the pool so we had to pay extra. It would have been worthed if we could spend more time there. We only have an hour before our dinner at the sushi restaurant on site so we had to rush through the whole thing.

The view from the hot tub/big rotemburo outside of the swimming pool is spectacular. We can see Tokyo Tower and the rainbow bridge from the bathing area. It was cold during our stay. The steam drifting up from the hot bath makes the atmosphere even more romantic. Unfortunately, it has to be shared and you have to wear a swimsuit unless you don’t mind other people watching or if there is no one around then it would be a great spot to make out with your loved one.

Location 9/10

The hotel is right next to Daiba station on Yurikamome line. The area is good for a dating spot, with lots of shopping centres, with lots of good restaurants around. I recommend skipping breakfast at the hotel and going to Egg’n things or Bills instead. When we were staying the main restaurant with the new view was full. We did not have time to wait so went to the breakfast which was served in the banquet room. The room doesn’t have any view so it was disappointing. The breakfast was a very standard affair.

Uniqueness 7/10

The view and the jacuzzi at the terrace are unique, and distinguishable for this hotel. Some of you might recognise the view from a specific type of movie. The room itself is large and nice but nothing unique.

Cost 6/10

The price is high, because of the location and the brand. We had a good stay and it was memorable. I wouldn’t want to or be able to effort to stay in this room more than one night a year. It has to be a special occasion, or you have a lot to spend without thinking twice.

Final Thoughts - Recommend, may repeat

Ken’s score: Silver, 7.5/10

What I like 👍

• Great location

• Nice view from the room and the terrace

• Outside jacuzzi, with relatively good privacy

• Comfortable bed

• Large room

• Great amenities

• Nice pool

What I do not like 👎

• Breakfast was crowded, and you could end up in the dining room with no views

• Relatively expensive

• The pool cost wasn’t included in the standard room charge.

• Odaiba itself is far from the centre of the city

What is it good for 🫶

• Special occasion with the special one

• Couples who can effort the luxury

• A perfect end of the day after a long date in Odaiba

Introduction

I was surprised to see that they are still accepting the もっと東京 (Motto Tokyo) campaign, where the government will give a 5,000 Yen discount plus a 3,000 Yen coupon per person per night. Most of the hotel has already sold out for this campaign. I managed to take this opportunity to stay in as many rooms in BnA Wall as possible.

I currently love the naked concrete and industrial look. For me, this room is one of the best in this hotel. It has got a lot of usable space, plus the right relaxing/romantic mood.

Comfort: 9.5/10

There are a lot of spaces to sit down. The artist even state in the manual that you are encouraged to find your comfortable corner.

That is quite true. I found myself checking out various corners of the room to sit down. It is fun to explore different corners to see which one suits you the best.

Given the bed is raised, you might want to watch your head when on the bed. This wasn’t a problem for me since I am not that tall.

There are stairs within the room. Those with accessibility issues might want to notice. The hotel also warn those with small children to watch out when stay in this room. I can see what they mean when looking at how kids would jump down from the side of the bed.

Location 7.5/10

The hotel is in the middle of nowhere if you are a tourist. It is not inconvenient but it is also far from any tourist places. It is close to Mitsukoshi Mae station on the Ginza line and the Kedemacho station on the Hibiya line on the east side of Tokyo.

If you have something to do in that area, such as walking around Nihonbashi and doing some shopping in Mitsukoshi or Takashimaya then that’s great. It is a walkable distance from Tokyo station, but I wouldn’t do that with big luggage.

The area is quiet at night. There are a couple of eateries nearby. The first floor of the hotel is a bar/light meal restaurant which I haven’t tried yet.

Uniqueness 8/10

I found myself loving the extra space under the bed. It was comfortable to sit down and get some work done. The movable cushions are perfect for my back, and one of them has a perfect height to put my laptop on. You can adjust the cushions around to suit your need.

There are corners in the room that you are encouraged by the artist to explore. This one is at the end of the bed, which is inviting for some creative use.

Cost 8/10

I got this room during the Motto Tokyo campaign so the price is cheap. The cost of the hotel without the promotion is in the middle range. Given the location is close to the station but not very close to any tourist attractions, I gave it a lower rating. Had it been closer to any tourist place or closer to JR station on the west side of Tokyo then it will be a better deal.

Final Thoughts - Recommend, will repeat

Ken’s score: Silver, 8.25/10

What I like 👍

• The beds

• Useful space and corners in the room

• Cool-looking plain concrete walls.

• Welcome drinks & amenities are at the reception

What I do not like 👎

• A bit far from any tourist attractions.

• Not many places to hang out around the area

• A little small for the price and the location

• No TV/monitor/Bluetooth speaker

What is it good for 🫶

• Those who love clever design

• A place to stay after a long night's work at the offices nearby

• For working remotely in a quiet and relaxing atmosphere.

• Travellers who have something to do in Nihonbashi, Tokyo Ningyocho station area.

Introduction

I was surprised to see that BnA Wall is still accepting the もっと東京 (Motto Tokyo) campaign. The government will subsidise a 5,000 Yen discount plus a 3,000 Yen coupon per person per night. Most of the hotel has already sold out for this campaign. I managed to take this opportunity to stay in as many rooms in BnA Wall as possible.

The name of this room, Frame Function is rather curious. The design of the room looks rather plain compared to others. I did not think I will enjoy my stay as much as I did.

Comfort: 8.5/10

The room is surprisingly comfortable. The two beds, which are all connected, are quite large. It is queen size bed plus a single bed next to each other. These beds actually take up 90% of the space in the room.

They have a welcome drink, a glass of strong ginger ale for each guest. Nice touch. The amenities are at the reception which I think is clever from both environmental and economic perspectives. You can always go down and get them at the reception.

There is no table in this room. Some art frames are hanging on the wall. At first, I thought “this room is plain” but then I discovered something which explain why they called it “Framed Function”

Location 7.5/10

The hotel is in the middle of nowhere if you are a tourist. It is not inconvenient but it is also far from any tourist places. It is close to Mitsukoshi Mae station on the Ginza line and the Kedemacho station on the Hibiya line on the east side of Tokyo.

If you have something to do in that area, such as walking around Nihonbashi and doing some shopping in Mitsukoshi or Takashimaya then that’s great. It is a walkable distance from Tokyo station, but I wouldn’t do that with big luggage.

The area is quiet at night. There are a couple of eateries nearby. The first floor of the hotel is a bar/light meal restaurant which I haven’t tried yet.

Uniqueness 9/10

This is where it gets interesting.

I will be biased here because I love clever designs more than a splashy one.

When I checked in the reception said that this room is going to be plain compared to others. After I entered the room, I agreed with that assessment. There is nothing special in the room. There is no painting on the plain white wall. There is decoration other than five frames on the wall.

The three beds connected together in the room are all white and look rather normal, although they look really comfy and take up most of the space in the room.

I knew that I could interact with the frame above the beds by taking out the cushion. Cleaver, for sure, but that by itself isn’t really enough to make it unique.

Then I discover the real meaning of this room. All frames have their own functions.

The frame above the bed is to keep five cushions.

The frame on the left of the main one has lights in it so that acts as a dim light.

There is one frame which is a mirror so its function as a dressing mirror is obvious.

There are three other frames in the room and I still don’t know why they are there. Then I looked up the room on their website and then I found out how they function, which is very clever I might even try to do it in my apartment if I ever own one

The small one next to the dim light frame functions as a drink tray, which we can use on the bed.

The other two next to the mirror need some assembling.

Once assembled they act as a table. I found that very clever! I had fun figure it out how they work, and I really appreciate the creativity of the artist.

Cost 8/10

I got this room during the motto Tokyo campaign so the price is really cheap. The cost of the hotel without the promotion is in the middle range. Given the location is close to the station but not very close to any tourist attractions, I gave it a lower rating. Had it been closer to any tourist place or closer to JR station on the west side of Tokyo then it will be a better deal.

Final Thoughts - Recommend, will repeat

Ken’s score: Silver, 8.25/10

What I like 👍

• The beds are really comfortable and large.

• Frames on the walls

• Cleaver design

• Welcome drinks & amenities are at the reception

What I do not like 👎

• A bit far from any tourist attractions.

• Not many places to hang out around the area

• A little small for the price and the location

What is it good for 🫶

• Those who love clever design

• A place to stay after a long night's work at the offices nearby

• Travellers who have something to do in Nihonbashi/Tokyo station area.

Introduction

A lady I followed tweeted a picture of the room from this hotel around the beginning of 2022. The hotel is newly opened in Feb 2022. I am especially keen on the hammock. I have always thought it would be fun to play with it. It was fun!

This review is for the party room on the 9th floor. There is only one room on this floor. Other rooms in this hotel are much smaller. Some of the room has hammock which you can check at the reception or when reserving the room online. I have used this room for three and four people. According to the website, this room can cater for up to eight people.

Comfort: 9/10

There are four beds in this room. Two queen size beds and two double beds. The beds are comfortable. The height of the hammock in this room is about right. The lower bed next to it made it comfortable to use while the lady was on the hammock.

There is a minibar with various alcohol mixers for making cocktails, along with a tall table and chairs looking out the window. They are great for nighttime views.

The mini fridge is filled with cans of soda water and tonic water. You can order soft drinks from the first floor or get them yourself. The good thing about this hotel is you are allowed to go outside during your stay, take the key and go.

The rooftop is open to all guests. There are net beds where you can lie down and watch the night sky. We didn’t use it that much since it wasn’t dark when we entered.

The only thing I wish this room had was the Bluetooth speaker. There is one in the bathroom but not in the main bedroom.

Like most Bali An hotels, they take online reservations for both overnight stays and short time. It is not common for a love hotel to take reservations, especially for a short stay. This makes it much easier to organise a group gathering, given we know we will have the room.

Location 8/10

It is easy to find the place. The hotel is close to the batting centre, at the corner of the street. Very easy to get in. Kabuicho is a bit of a walk from JR Shinjuku station. Better to take the Otemachi subway line and walk from there.

Uniqueness 8/10

Glamping is the current trend in Japan. I can see where this concept of this love hotel is coming from. The execution was nice, especially the hammock. There are plus some coffee beans, coffee filters and a grinder in the room which is perfect for coffee lovers.

All the cutleries in the room are camping style with the hotel’s logo. There is a bit of quirkiness about having the camping theme and a chandelier in the same room.

The most important part for me is that they allowed multiple guys to use the room, something which is unique to Bali An hotels. Not many love hotels will allow multiple guys in the room.

Cost 6/10

The hotel is very pricy, even by love hotel standards. This is a high-end love hotel. Booking is highly recommended if you want to use this hotel for more than 2 people. The cost will be slightly cheaper than walk-in.

Final Thoughts - Recommend, will repeat

Ken’s score: Gold, 8.25/10

What I like 👍

• Hammock!

• Possible to make a reservation for short time use and overnight stay

• Spacious for love hotel standard

• Openable windows with a reasonably nice view

• Multiple beds

• Mini bar with unlimited mixer

What I do not like 👎

• It is expensive 💴 💴 💴

• The room could get hot during the daytime in summer

• Check-in time for a reserved short stay can only start from 13:00-15:00

• No Karaoke

What is it good for 🫶

• Lovers in group

• Group of friends to party without worrying about noise and get drunk

• A couple who want something for that special occasion

Introduction

I stumbled upon Sunpika from an Airbnb search. This place is gorgeous. The accommodation was completed at the beginning of 2022, during the COVID period. I have stayed in this hotel so many times, because of the right cost, great location, beautiful rooms and great amenities. I met the owner of the place who lived on the fourth floor of the accommodation. There are only three rooms in this place. All of them with unique Japanese designs and all of them are handmade.

Kirin no ma is my favourite room. It is the largest room of the three. The room has a meditation area and a small kitchen for light cooking plus a tall dining table.

Comfort: 9/10

The beds are comfortable. Although they are low on the floor, it fits very well with the overall design of the room. They are large enough for two people. The tatami mat on the floor is comfortable to touch. The seats and dining table next to the kitchen are nice for having a meal or working on your laptop. The TV itself is placed opposite the table so we can watch movies during the meal or use it as a speaker.

The amenities are top-class. I love the body soap, shampoo and conditioner used in this place. The dryer is Dyson, which some people might have a love/hate relationship with it.

The only thing I wish they have is a washing/drying machine or coin laundry nearby. I have told the owner about that and he is working on something to address that.

Location 9/10

The accommodation is close to Otsuka station on the JR line. There is a tramp line called the Sakura Tram line, which is the only tramp line still operating in Tokyo. Although it is close to the station, the surrounding is quiet. There is a lot of restaurants near the station. There is a Don Quijote which is open 24 hours on the north side of the station. Bonus point, there is a famous onigiri place, also on the north side of the station as well. Highly recommend it if you don’t mind queuing up!

Uniqueness 9/10

Each of the rooms has its own design and paint on the wall. They are all hand-painted. I love the design of this entrance to the meditation area, plus the woodwork on the ceiling is a very nice touch. The room is well designed, with everything you would need for your stay. The common area is also beautiful, with power plugs under the seat so you can spend time working there if you want to.

The owner always prepares some welcome snacks and drinks in the fridge. They are small and highly welcome touches.

Cost 8.5/10

Given the room is brand-new, and beautifully designed, and the location is close to JR station the cost is well justified. Kirin no ma is slightly larger than a normal room in a hotel. Since there is a cleaning cost, booking it for multiple nights will cut down the overall cost per night. I would love to stay here for a month or longer if I can effort it.

Final Thoughts - Highly recommend, will repeat

Ken’s score: Gold, 8.87/10

What I like 👍

• Great design, beautiful and functions

• Comfortable bed, large room

• Small kitchen with a proper dining table

• Nice common area to use

What I do not like 👎

• No elevator to the second floor

• The TV is rather small compared to other places.

• Only three rooms are available, hard to book!

What is it good for 🫶

• A hideout for lovers with good taste in art

• A place to stay with a friend, have a night-long chat

• Great for crashing pad after a long night in Ikebukuro/Otsuka

Introduction

This hotel listed their room on Airbnb at some point. During that time they have a promotion, random room, where they will assign the room for you when you arrive. I like all of the rooms in this hotel. I figure I would love the room regardless of which one I got assigned to anyway. This happen to be the first room I stayed in at this art hotel.

The concept is also interesting. Each room is designed by a team of artists. They will get some commission when someone stays in the room. I like this concept. Not only you can explore a different room, and you are also supporting the artists as well.

Comfort: 9/10

The bed is big, for two people. The room is designed to host up to 4 people. The space is spacious, with a washing & drying machine in the room, plus a kitchen with utensils good enough to make a decent meal. Ideal for long stays. There is a bathtub in the room.

There is a Bluetooth speaker, and alarm clock in the room. A nice touch. The table next to the bed is rather interesting. There is an elevator in the hotel. No need to worry about the luggage. The reception is also open until very late.

Location 9/10

The hotel is only less than 5 minutes away by foot from Suehirocho station on the Ginza line. I love the fact that you can spend your day in Akihabara and get back to the hotel by walking.

Uniqueness 10/10

The way this hotel is designed and the commission that gives back to the artist really resonate with me. I had a feeling the people behind the counter at this hotel are also artists as well. The design of the room is unique, and yet they are practical and comfortable to stay in. I will have a separate review for each of the rooms I have stayed in this hotel.

Cost 6.5/10

This is where things get complicated. I happen to stay in this hotel during the COVID, so they are heavily discounted. If I had to pay the full price, the room is still worthed the cost given they are large, but I wouldn't be able to effort to stay in this hotel for more than one night at a time. It is much more affordable if you share the cost with 4 people.

Final Thoughts - Highly recommend, will repeat

Ken’s score: Gold, 8.6/10

What I like 👍

• Each room is unique

• Great concept to support the artist

• Got everything you need for a long stay

• Spacious by Tokyo standard

• The location is good for those who would like to spend time in Akihabara

• Random room promotion is great

What I do not like 👎

• The bed is too high from the floor.

• The light from outside might be distracting

• The full price without promotion could be expensive. Okay for 4 people but not for two

What is it good for 🫶

• Those who love unique rooms.

• Art lovers, designer

• A couple looking for something interesting, and not a love hotel.

Introduction

This is my first stay in Airbnb in Tokyo. This place is really unique. It inspires me to start exploring interesting places to stay in Tokyo, not just Airbnb but also other places. I loved this place so much that I stayed multiple times. This is where a lot of good memories are made. There will be many more to come.

Comfort: 8.5/10

The room is small, but it has got everything you need for a long stay. The room itself is on the second floor of the building. The third floor is an office where Rintaro san and his team may be working during day time. The fourth floor is the rooftop, with the bathtub and the highlight of this place. There is no elevator in this building.

There is a shower room on the second floor, along with a washing machine, kitchen, bed, air purifier, and TV. There is also an exercise bar hanging from the roof, plus a Yoga mat. The bed itself is a bit too small for my liking. There are some more space so I hope Rintaro will put a slightly bigger bed in the near future. There are some real architecture books on the shelf, and lots of artfully placed Japanese drawing. I love the decor. The place is well-designed to maximise the available space. Oh and the tiles are also hand made.

There is no roof over the bathtub, there is no tall building around the place. We can see stars on the sky while taking a bath if the weather permitted. The bathtub is made from real wood. The lids are also made from wood hence they are quite heavy. When it is filled with hot water, which is automatic, the air will be filled with streams along with the aroma from the wood. There is something magical about having a real wooden bathtub outdoors, and it is only a minute away from Ikebukuro.

Location 9/10

The location is great. It is only a few steps away from Kanamecho station, which is only one station away from Ikebukuro. There are a lot of eating places nearby. The first floor of this building is a Karaake place which is only open during day time. I didn’t get bothered by the smell while I am staying at the place. There is a supermarket which opens until late, opposite side of the road. Despite the fact that the place is next to the main road, it was quiet during the night. There is a car park nearby in case you have a car.

Uniqueness 9/10

The location and the rooftop bath are definitely unique. Also the room is really well designed. If you are a coffee lover then this is a great place to stay. There is a grinder machine, filter, hot water purer and scale, perfect for making hand brew coffee.

Cost 7/10

This place is on the expensive spectrum of Airbnb. The cleaning cost is reasonable, and there is a service charge which makes the overall cost more expensive than others. Given the uniqueness and its location, the price is justifiable.

Final Thoughts - Highly recommend, will repeat

Ken’s score: Gold, 8.4/10

What I like 👍

• Bathtub

• location, next to the station

What I do not like 👎

• The bed is small

• The fact that you have to take stairs to get to the room and to take a bath. Imagine walking naked from the fourth floor back to the second floor (that was kind of fun in itself depending on who you are with)

What is it good for 🫶

• A hideout for lovers, who don’t mind taking stairs

• A solo traveller who wants to relax in a bathtub under the night sky after a long day

Hello. My name is Ken. Thank you for being here. In late 2021, I found myself stuck in quarantine after coming back to Japan from an oversea trip. The quarantine rule is, I have to stay in one place for about a week. I cannot take public transport, but driving a car is allowed. I ended up staying in a boring hotel. During that time, I noticed that the Airbnb host in Japan are in deep red because there is no tourists allowed into Japan at the time. After quarantine, I decided to help some of them out by staying in Airbnb. I was hooked. It has become my new hobby, to stay in Airbnb places mostly in Tokyo.

Not only AirBnB

I also found that a lot of hotels deeply discount their rate during COVID, so I decided to stay in some of the hotels too. I love to stay in various places. I am not interested in the high-end but boring hotel, rather it is the wacky, oh so cool as fuck kind of place.

A love hotel is also included, because, why not?

More places to come

I am going to try to publish a review at least twice a month. I usually stay in new places but writing a review does take time and energy. Be patient with me if you haven’t heard from me for a while. That either means I am staying in so many cool places and it takes time for me to write, or life is taking its priority.

So what now?

If you like what you see so far, great! Please subscribe so you will get an email with my new review.