Shinjuku has everything: culture, fashion, a touch of nature, and its most well-known claim to fame—a vibrant nightlife. It could be considered the heart of Tokyo in this sense, and Kabukicho is the pulse that keeps it alive. It’s an adult playground that has something going on twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
In the middle of this nightlife haven stands Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, a tranquil oasis offering respite from the busyness. But calm doesn't have to mean dull; the towering hotel building has a multitude of restaurants with an abundance of entertainment on the lower floors, including an IMAX theater and a foreign-friendly pachinko parlor. Hotel Gracery Shinjuku is also located just down the road from the famous Golden Gai bar area and the dazzlingly extravagant Robot Restaurant.
The hotel is instantly recognizable for its Godzilla head outside the 8th-floor lobby—which is the same height of the original Godzilla from the 1954 movie. The Godzilla theme doesn’t stop there—guests lucky enough to nab a night in the Godzilla room are in for a treat! Not only is the room interactive (sorry, not giving any spoilers!), but guests also receive exclusive Godzilla-themed treats to commemorate their stay. At the time of writing, there’s about a 4-month wait for that room, but there’s always a chance of a cancellation, so Godzilla fans wanting the full kaiju experience should cross their fingers and check the website regularly.
If that prized Godzilla room is unavailable, there are several rooms on the 9th and 10th floors with a close-up view of Godzilla’s head. Spying Godzilla’s beady eye outside your window in the morning is a sure way to wake up with a start!
Even if you’re not into the big guy, the view outside your room is amazing. Since the first guest floors start on the 9th floor, you can see the Tokyo skyline stretching out below and beyond your window. The rooms are modern and spacious with bathrooms separate from the toilets (for extra privacy when sharing rooms), free Wi-Fi, and an in-ceiling Panasonic e-ion purification system in every room clearing the air of any impurities.
Last but not least, the concierge desk is a wealth of information in multiple languages and offers service with a smile. They offer not only advice on the best places to eat, but you can also reserve a table at the restaurant of your choice. Keep in mind, though, if you’re hankering for sushi at a place like Jiro’s, it’s better to contact the concierge desk well in advance. Concierge Manager Zhenzhi Guan (fluent in English, German, and Mandarin) recommends getting in touch at least 3-4 months ahead of your stay to secure a spot for Tokyo’s most sought-after entertainment events and hottest restaurants. He and his excellent team of multilingual concierges will do their utmost to help make your visit to Japan an enjoyable one.
In short, if you’re looking for a central location surrounded by action but don’t want to be overwhelmed by it, Hotel Gracery Shinjuku has you covered.
