APA Hotel Sugamo Ekimae

This hotel is a popular choice for its excellent location and the relaxing public bath on the top floor, making it a memorable stay for many guests. It is particularly well-suited for budget travelers and sightseers who prioritize convenient access to transportation and local amenities. While the rooms are notably small, guests appreciate the overall value and the attentive service from the staff. The hotel's proximity to a major train line makes it an ideal base for exploring Tokyo. To ensure a comfortable stay, guests are advised to carefully select their room type, especially regarding smoking preferences, and to manage their luggage expectations due to the compact room sizes.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel's public bath, or onsen, is a significant highlight, frequently praised for being spacious, clean, and a perfect way to relax after a day of exploring. It is accessible to guests and features both indoor and outdoor bathing areas, with some guests noting the presence of mineral-like water. While most guests find the onsen to be a great amenity, some have mentioned minor issues such as chlorinated water or occasional hair on the floor. The Wi-Fi generally performs well, though a few guests reported occasional spotty connections. The laundry facilities are available, but many guests found the number of machines to be insufficient for the hotel's size, leading to frequent queues and difficulty in finding an available machine. The elevators can also become slow and crowded during peak hours, causing some waiting time.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
The rooms are consistently described as very small or tiny, which is a common characteristic of hotels in Tokyo, and some guests found it challenging to fully open large suitcases. Feedback on bed comfort is mixed, with some guests praising the comfortable beds and quality linens, while others found them to be hard or noted that mattresses were slanted from use. Cleanliness also received varied comments; many guests found their rooms to be clean and well-maintained, but others reported issues such as dust, hair in the bathroom, or a pervasive cigarette smell, even in non-smoking rooms or transferred via the air conditioning. A recurring concern is the air conditioning system, which operates on a central heating-only mode during cooler months, making rooms uncomfortably warm with no individual temperature control.

Dining & Food Quality
The hotel offers a breakfast buffet that is generally well-received by guests. Many appreciate the good selection of items, finding the food to be delicious and filling, providing a great start to the day. However, some guests noted that the variety of dishes remained largely the same over multiple days, which could become repetitive for longer stays. There were also occasional comments about queuing for entry to the restaurant during busy breakfast hours and some cold food items.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel boasts an excellent central location, being just a few minutes' walk from Sugamo Station, which provides access to both the JR Yamanote Line and the Toei Mita Line. This convenient proximity makes it incredibly easy for guests to travel to various popular areas across Tokyo. The surrounding neighborhood is highly praised for its local charm, offering a wide array of restaurants, convenience stores, and a supermarket within easy walking distance. While parking is available, some guests found it to be expensive, and there were specific instances where vehicles with roof racks encountered difficulties.

Staff & Service
The hotel staff generally receives high praise for being friendly, helpful, and attentive. Many guests highlighted their willingness to assist with various requests and their overall professionalism. The check-in process is primarily machine-based, which some guests found fast and efficient, particularly the express self-checkout. However, others expressed a preference for more personal service, especially when jet-lagged or encountering issues, and some noted a language barrier with certain staff members. Luggage storage is offered, though guests should be aware that it typically has limitations, such as not being available overnight.

Additional Information
Guests should be aware that room cleaning is typically performed every three days for longer stays, though towel changes and replenishment of amenities are provided daily. A common issue for those sensitive to smoke is the pervasive cigarette smell in designated smoking rooms, which can be very strong and may even transfer to belongings or adjacent rooms via the air conditioning system. The hotel provides water bottles only on the check-in day, so guests staying longer will need to purchase additional water. For guests with tattoos, the onsen has a policy allowing entry if small tattoos can be covered with patches.