Located on a busy Tokyo city street, Hotel Sunroute Higashi Shinjuku is a large 22-story building with a nondescript facade. The vibe inside is equally unremarkable and business-like. The spacious lobby, with its large floor-to-ceiling windows, is pleasantly light, while decor is minimalist with blond-wood panels and chrome columns giving a basic backdrop. The floors are tiled in brown, and there's a long, white reception counter; two wide, white benches provide the only seating. The hotel tends to draw budget-conscious tourists (mostly couples) here for one or two nights.

The hotel's location is extremely convenient -- it's a minute's walk to the Higashi-Shinjuku subway station, with connections to the rest of Tokyo. Shinjuku, the hotel's neighborhood, is known for shopping and entertainment. From here, it's an easy walk to the night spots of the nearby Kabukicho district.

• One-minute walk to Higashi-Shinjuku subway station
• Eight-minute walk to Golden Gai nightlife district
• 10-minute walk to Kabukicho entertainment district
• Nine-minutes to Shinjuku train station by public transportation 
• 14 minutes to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden by public transportation
• 25 minutes to Yoyogi Park by public transportation
• 26 minutes to Meiji Shrine by public transportation
• 26 minutes to Hara Museum of Contemporary Art by train
• 31 minutes to Tokyo station by public transit
• 31 minutes to Senso-ji temple by public transit
• 31-minute drive to Tokyo Haneda International Airport

The 311 rooms at the Hotel Sunroute Higashi Shinjuku are like many in central Tokyo -- small, with the smallest measuring 156 square feet. The windows are small as well and don't let in much sunlight, but rooms on the upper floors have scenic skyline views. Decor is simple, with gray carpeting and beige wallpaper, and brown bed runners along the beds. A few colorful lino prints are displayed above the headboards. All rooms include flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, electric kettles, hairdryers, and free Wi-Fi. The Japanese-style bathrooms are tight on space, and fitted with small shower/tub combos. Twin Rooms are larger, measuring 230 square feet with more storage space, as well as larger bathrooms with full-size bathtubs fitted with showerheads. The 12th floor is reserved for women, and rooms on that floor come with a few extras, like foot massagers, dehumidifiers, pajamas, and minus-ion hairdryers. Guests have complained about street noise and inadequate soundproofing between rooms.

Aside from its two restaurants, features are limited at Hotel Sunroute Higashi Shinjuku. A buffet breakfast is served for an extra fee at Royal Host, one of Japan's large family restaurant chains. The restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner and serves Japanese as well as Western fare. The other on-site restaurant, Bamiyan, serves Chinese cuisine at lunch and dinner. A coin-operated laundry is available, and on-site vending machines sell drinks. Two computers with Internet access are available for guests' use in the lobby. Dry cleaning and luggage storage is also available. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.