I know it sounds crazy, but this is my second time going to Japan this year! During the summer holiday, our destination is a new city we have never been to in Japan- Tokyo. You know… to choose a hotel for a city you have never been to is quite overwhelming. Tokyo, especially, is a city where separated into so many areas, like historical sites, teenager-shopping streets, markets, etc. So where is the best place to stay?
Today, let’s check out the “相鐵馬場 Sotetsu Grand Fresa Hotel Takadanobaba” barrier-free twin room! and I’ll let you know what I like and don’t like about this hotel😊
相鐵馬場 Sotetsu Grand Fresa Hotel Takadanobaba 相鉄グランドフレッサ 高田馬場 - Add：〒169-0075 東京都新宿区高田馬場１丁目２７−7 - Web：sotetsu-hotels.com - Google Map： https://maps.app.goo.gl/G5W42b86GmJYXNDp9?g_st=ic - Check-in/Chec-out：15:00-11:00
The first time I saw this hotel, it was actually recommended on Pinterest! After digging deeper, I found out that the hotel is only two stations away from downtown Shinjuku, and is on the cross of JR Yamanote Line and Toei Subway Tozai Line, which is super convenient. Nearby attractions: Shinjuku Godzilla, Shibuya Sky, Gotokuji Temple! It is also to plan a trip to Mount Fuji! !
Following is the video I took during my stay, check it out and feel the vibe!
The appearance of this hotel has a béton brut look, which has a very Japanese kind of vibe and is modern as well. It makes a good impression at the first glance.
The lobby of the hotel has a height of three floors, so it looks manificant visually. With the huge glass windows, you can enjoy the sunshine every day, which always makes me a good mood! Everyone will also rest and chat in the sofa area.
The check-in counter is quite small and can only assist a group of guests at a time. Although there are three or four self-service counters next to it, I actually like to chat with the counter every time I travel and ask about some travel information. It makes it quite nervous to start a small talk here (after all, there are people waiting in line behind you)
There is also a restaurant on the first floor. They have breakfast hours for the staying guests but also run at noon and evening to the general public. Because there seem to be a lot of business people nearby, it is always quite busy. Every morning when I pass by, the food smells so good!
There are also accessible toilets and smoking rooms on the first floor (smoking is not allowed on Tokyo streets), and a limited number of hair irons and aromatherapy devices are also provided for free borrowing for travelers in need. To be more eco-friendly, there are no amenities in the room, but you can take what you need and bring it back to the room on the first floor. The variety is very complete: toothbrush sets, facial care cleansers, tea bags, coffee, etc.
Before booking this hotel, we contacted several hotels in Asakusa and Shinjuku as well, but we decided to stay here because the hotel responded quickly. When we requested a barrier-free room, he quickly provided photos of our room and told us we could book a standard twin room first on booking.com, and he would directly help us change to a barrier-free room later.
Later, we also inquired about the rental of bath seats and wheelchairs. The hotel was also very enthusiastic to help us with the arrangements, which made us feel very at ease when arranging travel, so we finally decided to choose to stay here!
- Because we are a group of three this time, the price will be less cost-effective than a trip for two. However, the price of the room for single use will be slightly lower, so you can refer to the following prices we booked through booking.com during this summer holiday:
- Period：8/28-9/2
- Price： Standard Twins JPY 90,182（Tax included）＋Superior Double Bed（for single use）JPY65,790（Tax included）
- Booking.com：https://www.booking.com/Share-j7zyH6
Their barrier-free room is on the fifth floor, and we were not disappointed as soon as we entered. There is a spacious walkway and bedside space for us to put our luggage (two luggages can be spread flat, and could be used to park my wheelchair too), and there is a table by the window. The wheelchair can park easily, allowing me to eat or use the computer.
The twin room allows me and the carer (my brother) to have a good night’s sleep without disturbing each other, which is really important during the trip! And the bed is so gooooood! It’s the kind with a moderately soft and firm texture (soft but will not make you completely sink in). It makes me sleep like a pig every day. (My brother said I was snoring the whole time😂)
There are a variety of light controls next to the bed, and you can turn on the bedside strip lights. The details are perfect. There is also a USB charging head, which is really convenient for travelers.
The restroom adopts three-piece sliding doors, which can be fully accessed by wheelchairs. The Washlet also has a heating function and handrails on the side, making it perfect for safety, comfort, and accessibility. It is also equipped with a bathtub as well, and the hotel also provides bath detergent for you! Then finally, I would like to praise the water temperature and pressure, they are perfect! This kind of configuration is really rare!
Housekeeping works well, but if there is garbage, don’t put it in a paper bag, they may think it’s something you want and won’t take it away XD
Finally, let’s talk about the location, it is really perfect! It’s just across the street from the JR Yamanote Line and the Toei Subway Tozai Line, and these two stations are very convenient for going anywhere! Three well-known convenience stores are within walking distance (Lawson/7-Eleven/FamilyMart). The department store Big Box is also across the road (there is Uniqlo), Donki is next to the hotel, and the supermarket and Daiso are also only a five-minute walk away. There are so many restaurants, I really don’t know what else I can ask for 😂
Finally, if I really have to nitpick, I think that because the station is a big one, there are a lot of people, and sometimes it can feel quite chaotic at night (I have no safety concerns, I just think it’s a bit chaotic).
Another thing is that there is no bottled water in the room. Although they advertise that you can drink cold water from the faucet, I just don’t have this habit, but you can buy it on the 4th floor.
And the air-conditioning response is quite slow. In the summer, you have to wait for a while before it gets cold when you walk in. You have to turn it off again after taking a shower to prevent it from being so cold (ok! I know I’m verbose), but overall there is no problem in using it.
This area is a bit different from the chill and quiet area where I used to stay. This time I found that I might be more suitable for the Nihonbashi and Kyobashi areas (the transportation there is also convenient) But overall the hotel is awesome! I am also willing to give it a great score and recommend to everyone is visiting Tokyo! Thank you all for reading my article, that will be all for today 😉
Mr.David Scores: Room：⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Restroom：⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Service：⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Location：⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cost-Value：⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Overall：⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5Mr.David 大衛先生