Hotel Sunlite Shinjuku

This hotel is at the heart of a busy entertainment, business, and shopping area surrounding Shinjuku Station. As such, it's best used as a place to recharge overnight and head back out to explore or take care of business. The hotel is split into a main building that’s reasonably modern (if not exactly stylish) and an annex that’s dated -- keep in mind that reaching the annex requires crossing the street. Public areas -- including a cafe and restaurant -- are unmemorable, but inoffensive, with older artwork, dark wood furniture, and a few dashes of marble. The hotel’s location near several train stations makes it a convenient base for travelers passing through Tokyo en-route to other parts of Japan. It suits couples and solo travelers looking for an affordable hotel near the city-center buzz. 

Located in the Shinjuku district, the Sunlite is near three major train and subway stations, including Shinjuku-Sanchome, which is a six-minute walk away, and Higashi-Shinjuku (a nine-minute walk away). Isetan, Tokyo’s popular designer department store, is also a nine-minute walk away. There are also a number of restaurants and convenience stores all around. For those looking to experience two different sides of Tokyo’s culture, the Hanazono Shrine is five-minute walk from the hotel, while the inarguably racier Kabukicho red light district is a six-minute walk away. The nearest park, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden -- with its beautiful springtime cherry blossoms -- is a six-minute drive away. Families might visit Tokyo’s Toy Museum, which will take about 10 minutes to reach by car. It's a 20-minute subway ride to the bustling Shibuya Crossing. Expect a 30-minute drive to Haneda Airport (or an hour by train), and an expensive hour-long cab ride to Narita Airport (which can also be reached in 90 minutes by train).

The rooms at this hotel live up to its budget rating, and are generic and functional. Those in the main building serve their purpose better, with clean white bedding in double, twin, or triple rooms. Redesigned Small Doubles are a tight squeeze for two people, from the thin corridors to narrow beds on wheels. A small desk and chair is squeezed into one corner and a mini-fridge in the other. Twin and triple configurations are larger, with more space to store luggage. Some Redesigned Twin Rooms have large windows along one wall overlooking the city and attractively back-lit Japanese feature walls that give the illusion of natural light. In Redesigned Triple Rooms, colorful striped feature walls liven-up the space and additional seating, coffee tables, and larger desks are provided. By contrast, rooms in the annex feature old carpets, dated fabrics, and unattractive furniture -- it's best to avoid them. 

All rooms have flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, hair-dryers, slippers, and pajamas. A kettle and a selection of Japanese tea are welcome additions. En-suite bathrooms have tiled feature walls, circular sinks, and shower/tub combos -- they are compact. White towels and full-size toiletries, including toothbrushes and razors, are provided. Full-length mirrors and hairdryers can also be found in all rooms.

Given its budget status, it's no surprise that features here are limited. The on-site a la carte restaurant overlooks the hotel entrance and is traditionally decorated with dark wooden tables, leather chairs, and light gold drapes. In the main dining room, an open kitchen allows guests to view the chefs at work. Booth seating lines one wall and a separate circular table at the front of the restaurant is suitable for large groups and dinner meetings. International and Japanese dishes are available. Breakfast is available for a fee, or a small on-site bakery sells a selection of bread, pastries, and sweet treats. Vending and phone-charging machines are available and newspapers can be purchased from reception. There's also a self-service laundry room. Parking is provided (for a fee), and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.