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Hotel Listel Shinjuku – reviews, photos

3.0 of 5
5-3-20 Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo Prefecture 160-0022, Japan
Hotel amenities
Hotel Listel Shinjuku
Hotel Listel Shinjuku
Hotel Listel Shinjuku
Hotel Listel Shinjuku
Hotel Listel Shinjuku
Hotel Listel Shinjuku
Ranked #34 of 67 hotels in Shinjuku
3.5 of 5 stars 167 Reviews
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167 reviews from our community

What travellers say about this hotel
  • Free internet(4)
  • Subways stations(4)
  • Min walk(3)
Traveller rating
    12
    85
    53
    13
    4
Only show reviews for Family (1) | Couples (14) | Business (26)
Date Rating
Canada
Top Contributor
64 reviews 64 reviews
Reviews in 20 cities Reviews in 20 cities
26 helpful votes 26 helpful votes
“Not overly impressed - larger rooms but outdated”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 31 December 2011
1
person found this review helpful

When I travel to Japan, which is frequently, I don't want to spend a fortune on a hotel room as I'm only there to sleep. That being said, I want something that doesn't reek of cigarette smoke like most of Japan, and preferably a window that opens, since the Japanese love to overheat their buildings in winter.

I speak Japanese and knew basically where the hotel was, but still found it difficult to find, even after asking the police (who sent me off in the wrong direction). The map they had on their website was of little use.

The hotel itself is a fair walk from even the closest main intersection and in an area that appears to be undergoing some re-development. The big building behind has been demolished and there's an abandoned apartment building across the street. This all gives the feeling that you're out in the country somewhere rather than in Shinjuku.

I didn't eat at the restaurant so I can't comment on that. There are 2 Internet stations but seriously, I think sending smoke signals would have been faster. They are shut down between 1-5 am for "maintenance" which has to be a joke. There are signs on the wall advertising wireless being available, but that is directed towards Japanese clients as foreigners are out of luck where wireless is concerned. (This is not only limited to this hotel, as I found that previously available "free wireless" hotspots are just about extinct these days)

The staff were congenial, but I would not say that any I encountered could communicate effectively in English, so I switched to Japanese.

I stayed on the 7th floor, which is non-smoking and didn't smell of smoke. The doors in the hallway are about 6' 1" tall which looks like you're staying in an Elf sized establishment. Watch your head! My room had a window that opened a little bit, which I was grateful for since, as I've mentioned, the room was hot, and even though there's an "airconditioning" switch, the unit only pumps out heat in winter.

The room itself was basic with a bed, a couch to sit on (not comfortable, but it was there) but unfortunately, the couch coverings and the carpet were stained. They could really use a cleaning. Also included were a flat screen television (didn't use), a desk and chair, hotpot to make tea and a fridge. The room was larger than some that I've had. Slightly better than basic, but again, the carpet was filthy. This is a hotel that markets itself to Japanese business travellers (or perhaps as an out of the way love hotel). Don't expect any luxury here.

The bathrooms was a "unit bath", common in many parts of Japan and had an older version of a washlet. I had a bathroom like this in my old apartment in Tokyo so I'm used to them. I wish my house here in Canada had the water pressure that bathroom shower did. You could pressure wash the deck with it.

The bed was firm and did not help induce badly needed sleep, nor did the fact that there was only one very liberally starched sheet on the bed. I guess they expected you to use the bedspread as extra coverage (yuck). Whatever they put in the wash with the bedding made green sparks at night when your body rubbed against the top sheet.

Check out time is 10 am, which I found to be a little early. I suspect they gear themselves more to Japanese business travelers than the tourist trade. Later check outs were available at a premium.

The room did NOT smell of smoke, which is good. There were a number of almost comical warnings in very poor English advising that if you did smoke in a non-smoking room "they would demand a maney" to clean it. In a country with so many English teachers, it still amazes me that companies don't bother getting anyone who can actually speak the language to proof-read things like this before committing to them. All part of the charm I guess.

Convenient locaton? Not at all. If you decide to leave your bags at the hotel, presumably on check out day and come back for them later, note that they are kept across from the elevator in the open across from the front desk, which was frequently unoccupied. Their idea of security is putting a net over them. You are better off walking to 2 chome, across the main road and leaving them in a locker. I left mine in a locker in the underground near Shinjuku Sanchome station as even if I did want to leave them at the hotel in the open, I didn't want to have to walk all the way back to the hotel to get them.

I paid approximately $120 CAD for two nights here (or 9,800 yen). I don't think I'd pay more than that. There appears to be another larger hotel getting ready to open closer to Meiji Dori.
I think the thing that I disliked the most was that it was really out of the way to get to.

Rating a hotel like this is difficult. If you're comparing it to a western hotel "brand", it would be poor in many respects. No bedbugs that I saw (and I always look)
If you're comparing it to other Japanese business hotels, it was quiet nice and on the larger side. Yes, the carpet was dirty, but it was immaculate compared to a hotel I stayed in for one night in Hawaii.

If you are looking for a relatively cheap place to stay in Shinjuku and don't mind getting some exercise walking to and from the hotel, this may be it.

  • Stayed December 2011, travelled solo
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 2 of 5 stars Location
    • 2 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Vancouver BC
Senior Contributor
33 reviews 33 reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
15 helpful votes 15 helpful votes
“small and out dated”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 6 March 2011

the title says it all - nothing like its sister property in Vancouver.

This property is in the advanced stages of "beginning to be come run down".
Out dated carpets and bedding that is stained and dirty, peeling wall paper ... etc.
The property is located 8 -10 blocks from the main sections of Shinjuku and the subway station. There is a restaurant on site - but it too has served better meals.
Entry to the hotel is not on a main road ... hard to find if you don't have a detailed map.

  • Stayed March 2011, travelled on business
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 1 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
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“Very large rooms for Tokyo in a convenient location”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 25 October 2010

We ended up staying longer than anticipated at the Hotel Listel due to the ash cloud which delayed our departure from Japan by a week. As such, we were looking for a budget hotel in a central location and the Listel was an excellent choice. The rooms were literally twice the size of others we stayed in within Tokyo, and included a couch which was a nice touch. There's free internet in the lobby and a good selection of snacks and drinks from 24h vending machines. The location is a few streets away from the hubbub of Shinjuku (about a ten minute walk to all the action) but the fact it's on a quiet back street was a bonus for us after a long trip which got much longer! The staff did not speak much English and I don't think many other foreign tourists use the hotel much, which is a shame as it was a great base for us for exploring. I would definitely stay here again.

  • Stayed April 2010, travelled as a couple
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Mumbai, India
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
“Reasonable in Price but not in Location”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 13 October 2010

The rooms are compact but well arrange. Staff conveniently speak conversational English. Free internet in the lobby was useful. It cost a low price compared to the other hotel in shinjuku with average to good experience. The location is far from train station or bus station.

  • Stayed October 2010, travelled on business
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 2 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Singapore
Top Contributor
58 reviews 58 reviews
Reviews in 23 cities Reviews in 23 cities
30 helpful votes 30 helpful votes
“A little too far from subway stations”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 16 July 2010

Located in a quiet part of Shinjuku, I found it to be a little too far from subway stations. Given the sheer number of subway stations in Tokyo, there are a host of other hotels in the same price range with the same conveniences that I would choose from in the future.
The hotel itself had all that I wanted - free internet connection in rooms (no wifi), adequate breakfast, clean decent sized room and helpful staff. My only gripe is that it was a little too far from a subway station.

  • Stayed July 2010, travelled solo
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 1 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Additional Information about Hotel Listel Shinjuku

5-3-20 Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo Prefecture 160-0022, Japan
Price range (per night):* INR4,425 - 8,626

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