Budget Hotels Near Shinjuku Station
Shinjuku Station is one of the busiest railway hubs in the world, served by the JR Yamanote and Chuo lines, the Odakyu line toward Hakone and the Narita Express, and the three budget stays on this page are the ones I would consider for keeping costs down nearby. Anshin Oyado Tokyo Man Shinjuku is a capsule hotel rated 8.4 from more than 2,100 reviews, with an artificial hot spring bath and a sauna. Imano Tokyo Hostel/Cafe&Bar Shinjuku, rated 8 from more than 800 reviews, offers dorms and private rooms a short walk from Golden Gai. Apartment Hotel Shinjuku, rated 7.8, has rooms with kitchenettes suited to families.
Shinjuku combines the business towers of West Shinjuku, the department stores around the station and the nightlife of Kabukicho and Golden Gai, with the calm of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden a few minutes' walk to the south-east.
Three budget stays around Shinjuku
Shinjuku is one of the best bases in Tokyo on a budget: the station's lines reach most of the city and day trips such as Hakone, while Shinjuku Gyoen, the free observation decks of the Metropolitan Government Building and the alleys of Golden Gai and Omoide Yokocho are all within walking distance. The three stays here cover a capsule, a hostel and an apartment hotel.
Anshin Oyado Tokyo Man Shinjuku is the one I would book for a short solo stay. It is a streamlined capsule hotel rated 8.4 from more than 2,100 reviews, the largest review base on this page, and it combines budget beds with spa facilities: an artificial hot spring bath, a sauna and complimentary hot drinks. It is a short walk from Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Capsule hotels in Japan are often reserved for one gender, so I would check who this one accepts before booking, and keep in mind that a capsule suits light luggage better than a large suitcase.
Imano Tokyo Hostel/Cafe&Bar Shinjuku offers both dorms and private rooms, with a café and bar on site, laundry facilities and free Wi-Fi, and it is rated 8 from more than 800 reviews. It is a short walk from Golden Gai, the network of tiny bars in east Shinjuku, which makes it a good choice for travellers who want to enjoy the evenings in the district. I would book a private room here for a couple on a budget, or a dorm bed for a solo traveller who wants to meet people, and use the laundry for a longer trip through Japan by train.
Apartment Hotel Shinjuku is a colourful apartment hotel with vibrant rooms, some with kitchenettes, free Wi-Fi and a secondhand shop on site. It is rated 7.8 from about 380 reviews, the lowest score on this page, and it is described as budget-friendly and suitable for families. I would choose it for a family or a group who wants to cook some meals and keep the budget under control, rather than for travellers who expect hotel services. Its kitchenettes make the most difference on stays of several nights, when buying food in Shinjuku's supermarkets and department store food halls saves real money.
The area around Shinjuku Station rewards travellers on a budget. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden offers a large green space for a small entry fee, and the observation decks of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in West Shinjuku are free, with views over the city and, on clear days, Mount Fuji. Omoide Yokocho, next to the station, and Golden Gai are lined with small bars and food stalls. From Shinjuku, the Yamanote line loops to Shibuya, Harajuku and Ikebukuro, and the Odakyu line runs to Hakone, a classic day trip or overnight excursion from Tokyo.
A traveler's perspectiveIf I were watching my budget in Tokyo, I would choose Imano Tokyo Hostel/Cafe&Bar Shinjuku: it has private rooms as well as dorms, a café and bar, and Golden Gai is a short walk away. For a solo night with a hot bath, I would book Anshin Oyado Tokyo Man Shinjuku, rated 8.4 from more than 2,100 reviews.
4.2Guest scoreBudgetAnshin Oyado Tokyo Man Shinjuku
Capsule hotel with hot spring bath and sauna near Shinjuku Gyoen
View hotel →Why guests love itAnshin Oyado Tokyo Man Shinjuku is a capsule hotel, and that format decides most of the family question: sleeping pods suit solo adults far better than parents with children, so I would not pick it for a family trip. A parent travelling alone, or an older teenager on a rail pass trip, will appreciate the artificial hot spring bath and sauna after a long day, plus free hot drinks and Wi-Fi. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a short walk away for a quiet morning.
4.0Guest scoreBudgetImano Tokyo Hostel/Cafe&Bar Shinjuku
Dorms and private rooms with a cafe-bar near Shinjuku Golden-Gai
View hotel →Why guests love itPrivate rooms alongside the dorms make IMANO Tokyo Hostel an option I would consider for a family on a budget, as long as you book a private room. The cafe and bar on site keep things relaxed, laundry facilities let you pack lighter, and Wi-Fi is free. Shinjuku Golden-Gai, the famous lanes of tiny bars, is a short walk away, so evenings around the hostel can be lively. An 8.0 rating across more than 800 reviews is solid.
3.9Guest scoreBudgetApartment Hotel Shinjuku
Vibrant rooms, kitchenettes, and a secondhand shop in Shinjuku
View hotel →Why guests love itVibrant, funky rooms and a secondhand shop on site give Apartment Hotel Shinjuku a personality of its own, and I think children will enjoy the quirky style. For families, the useful detail is that some rooms have kitchenettes, which helps with breakfasts and snacks on a longer stay. The hotel is kid-friendly and Wi-Fi is free. It is a simple 2-star with a 7.8 rating, so expect character rather than full hotel services.
Local tips
- 1Go up to the free observation decks of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in West Shinjuku for city views without an entry fee.
- 2Take the Odakyu line from Shinjuku to Hakone for a day trip to its hot springs, lakes and views of Mount Fuji.
- 3Check which gender a capsule hotel accepts before booking, and travel light if you plan to sleep in a capsule.
- 4Buy groceries in the department store food halls and supermarkets near the station if your room has a kitchenette.
- 5Leave time to find your exit at Shinjuku Station, one of the busiest in the world, with many exits on several levels.
- 6Visit Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai early in the evening, when their tiny bars and food stalls are easier to get into.