HOTEL PERRIER - Adults Only

Okay, let's address the elephant in the hotel room right away - yes, Hotel Perrier is an adults-only “love hotel” but unless you're totally against what that connotes or you're traveling with a minor then you seriously need to consider staying here if you need a hotel in Tokyo. Yes, love hotels are typically targeted more to couples looking for a quick hit of “adult activities” but a good one like Hotel Perrier can offer a higher level of amenities, service, and value versus a “normal” Japanese hotel that you'd be missing out on if you dismiss them out of hand. Typical Japanese hotel rooms are often comically small unless you have the money for a truly high-end establishment. Usually you get just enough room for a bed, a tiny desk, and a small bathroom. In contrast, the suite at Hotel Perrier had plenty of room for a king-size bed, a sofa and coffee table, a large flatscreen TV, a stocked minibar, coffee maker, small closet, and even a massage chair and karaoke machine. And that's aside from the separate washroom, with another individual room for the obligatory high-tech Japanese toilet, and the sizable bath area with a jacuzzi tub, separate TV, and a built-in foam mat on the floor that I'll leave to your imagination as to its usage. All that space and those amenities came at a price not much more than a typical tourist or business hotel. The bathroom was fully stocked with pretty much every toiletry a couple could need and an additional small amenity kit was provided on check-in. Handy English guides were also present for the various room features and for Tokyo itself. On that note, the hotel had an English-speaking staff member on hand to help when needed, particularly at check-in and check out. Check-in was easy despite the love hotel-standard counter that's hidden behind privacy glass for discreteness. Their staffer explained then another quirk of staying at a love hotel – that you have to surrender the key to the counter when leaving. When you do they'll hand you a card that you give back when you return in exchange for the key again. Check-out was just as easy as check-in and the nice girl at the counter was more than happy to hang onto luggage before a late-night flight. Before leaving though, there were several days to appreciate the merits of the hotel and Shinjuku itself. The TV had plenty of content to choose from with English movies on demand (as well as plenty of adult fare in Japanese). Wifi worked well. The jacuzzi tub and massage chair were great for relaxing after long days wandering Tokyo. Good soundproofing and the large, soft bed made for sound sleeping. The AC unit was the only part of the room that didn't look bang up-to-date but it worked well nevertheless. As for the surrounding area, Kabukicho is Shinjuku's red-light district so be forewarned that many of the local establishments cater to more mature tastes but like most anywhere else in Japan it's pretty safe. Apart from the bars, hostess clubs, and other adult fare there's plenty to see in Shinjuku with the beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen park just a short walk from the hotel, and lots of restaurants and shops to sample scattered about. A 7-11 is just down the street from Hotel Perrier so that takes care of any convenience store needs. I do want to mention that Hotel Perrier is a bit of a walk from Shinjuku Station but at least that means its also somewhat off the noise and bustle of Kabukicho's main drag for more quiet and discreteness than the hotels closer to the station. If you've got big bags along it may be worth getting a taxi if you're getting off from or catching a train like the Narita Airport express at the station. In summary, don't let the “love hotel” label turn you off from this excellent hotel in Shinjuku whether you're traveling alone or with a companion. The service is just as good as at a regular Japanese hotel but you also get amenities and space that you'd only otherwise find in very expensive, high-end luxury hotels in Tokyo.