Last Updated on April 20, 2026 by Laura
Surrounded by the eclectic lights of Shinjuku and built within the newly open Tokyu Kabuchico Tower, Hotel Groove Shinjuku. A ParkRoyal Hotel was our perfect place to stay in Tokyo. Part of the Pan Pacific Group, Hotel Groove Shinjuku offers a modern and playful take on the urban lifestyle hotel blending music-inspired design, sweeping skyline views, and a vibrant social atmosphere. We had the priviledge to stay at this location for a good chunk of our trip to Tokyo (5 nights!) and it was amazing! In this Hotel Groove Shinjuku review I will share our experience, giving you some tips and suggestion to help you with your trip to Japan!
If you are new to Japan travelling, I do recommend including in your readings also the following guides (especially if you plan to travel by train):
Why we opted for a stay Shinjuku for our first time in Tokyo
Before jumping into my technical review of this fabulous hotel. I want to give you a little background on why I opted for it in the first place. Indeed, if you are first timer to Tokyo, you are probably looking for the best locations to stay in the city and getting a little overwhelmed as I was before my trip.
The truth is that being a person who works in travel (and worked as hotel travel advisor until 2 years ago) I had already a huge bucket list of places I wanted to stay in Tokyo. I probably needed just a trip to try them all! And to be 100% honest, I booked and cancelled several different hotels of that list while building my itinerary, but I was never satisfied with them. This because they weren’t matching what I needed as a first time visitor. Some where amazing but too far from everything, some a super expensive and some were just not right for that moment. It’s when I started focusing on what I really needed for my trip in order to be as smoother as possible that I found the perfect place and that place was Hotel Groove.
Indeed, Hotel Groove ticked all the boxes: it was an upper 4 stars hotel, in the centre of the most vibrant place in Tokyo, close to the Shinjuku station (where all my day trips from Tokyo departed), had amazing view, had robots (yes this thing only was worth 100 more points). So, when I realised this, I just cancelled all my bookings (I originally booked 3 different hotels over 5 nights) and decided to book only 1 place for the whole initial part of my trip.
Is staying in Shinjuku safe?
To be honest, I had lots of doubts about choosing Shinjuku as base for my first ever trip to Tokyo. Indeed, I really wanted to be in the centre of the action and fully immerse in Tokyo’s craziness. However, if you search online, Shinjuku doesn’t have a great reputation. Mostly because of its night clubs, red-light district, quite overwhelming party-going vibes and uncountable neon lights. Indeed, many forum brand this district as “one of the most dangerous places in Japan”. BUT, is this corresponding to the truth?
Coming from Sicily and living in London my concept of “dangerous” is realistically associated to crime, serious crime, knife crime! As a woman, I don’t feel safe walking in London (or almost anywhere in Italy) alone at night. So, the fact that someone describes Shinjuku as one of the most dangerous place in Japan, just makes me smile as they clearly have no idea of what a potentially dangerous place looks like. I’m not trying to diminish what for a Japanese person might feel dangerous compared to other parts of Japan because in their perspective (especially if they haven’t been elsewhere) it is certainly perceived this way and I respect it. But for European or US tourists used to big metropolis with real sketchy places, Shinjuku will feel like a breeze.
Shinjuku online vs reality
Yes there are there many people (touts) trying to get tourists attention attracting them into local night clubs. But you can just ignore them and it’s so crowded that they won’t focus on you for more than a second. Yes, you might find occasionally drunk tourists or even Japanese rolling on the street, but I’ve seen worse in Ibiza or London. Yes, there is plenty of weird places and clubs which I would never visit, but hey they are part of the district and nobody is forcing you into them.
To summarise my experience. Yes, Shinjuku felt very safe. We never felt in danger or we never seen anything resembling a crime or something suspicious. Moreover, police patrols the area regularly. Aside from the “peculiar” night clubs there are a lot of restaurants, shops and many places where to have fun without being into something strange. If you want to have an authentic Tokyo experience, Shinjuku is 100% the best place to stay.
The only rule you’ll need to follow here (as in any other place worldwide) is don’t follow anyone, anywhere. Because yes, Shinjuku is a very fun place to explore but if you deviate into unknown places, with unknown people, here may come the troubles. So, have common sense, stick to your plan, have fun and everything will be ok.
Why Shinjuku is a great place to stay in Tokyo
If you haven’t had any doubt yet, Shinjuku is a great place to stay in Tokyo. Indeed, not many think about it, but this district is the beating heart of the city. Not only for its vibrant entertainment and unlimited dining and shopping opportunities but also because it connects the entire city and even more. Indeed, from Shinjuku you can go literally everywhere within and out of Tokyo. Moreover, for being such a famous district, it’s strangely very affordable compared to other areas such as Ginza or Roppongi.
If you want to deep-dive into all the reasons why Shinjuku is a fantastic place to visit and stay, you can read my detailed article here!
To me, in particular, Shinjuku (and Hotel Groove) won over the many other places I’ve considered for this trip, not only because of representing “the real Tokyo” and its undoubtful cool vibes. But for a much more practical reason. Indeed, our hotel was located literally at 5 mins walk from Shinjuku station. This meant that for any day trip from Tokyo we saved time and money because any single train we needed to take was there, at two steps from us. In practice, we didn’t have to wake up at 5 am to hop on the Mt Fuji train at 7 am or run from the other side of the city hoping to not miss our connection. Many people underestimate how huge is the impact that hotel locations have on travel itineraries but for places like Tokyo this is an essential part to consider for a seamless trip. Hotel Groove’s location definitively saved our day trips and I would 100% stay there again for exactly the same reasons.
Hotel Groove Shinjuku. A ParkRoyal Hotel Review
I’m not sure if it was because of the excitement of being in Tokyo for the first time, but as soon as I stepped inside the Hotel Groove in Shinjuku I loved it immediately! Indeed, as briefly mentioned at the beginning, this hotel is located within the huge Tokyu Kabuchico Tower. This is a 225 mt architectural jewel opened only in 2023 and hosting the heart of Shinjuku’s entertainment as well as two top-tiers hotels (one of which is Hotel Groove).
Hotel Groove’s name is an homage to Shinjuku and Kabuchiko’s cultural, artistic and musical scene symbolising the “groove” within the entertainment district.
Hotel Groove Shinjuku Essential Information
The Hotel Groove Shinjuku is located within the 28th and 38th floor of the Tokyu Kabuchiko Tower offering one of the most amazing views in the area.
To note that the check-in hall is located instead on the 18th Floor (don’t get confused!) giving easy access also to Jam 17 Bar located right under it.
The hotel has 358 guest rooms and suites which feature also special design collaborations, such as the suite designed by the Japanese artists Tomoyuki Washio, Yoshiaki Kaihatsu and Takuro Tamayama.
Hotel Groove is marked as a 4 stars hotel but style, pricing and location are definitely leaning more towards the 5 star side. Service-wise there are some improvements to make (which I will give details below to provide you with a fair review), but overall our stay was amazing and the many positive points would definitely won over the minor issues encountered.
Check-in
Our check-in was pretty smooth, we sent our luggage from the airport through Airporter (a service I booked via Klook here) and they were already there on our arrival. Because of my initial indecision with hotels in Tokyo, I had also my booking split between two providers: 1 night through Klook that was already paid, the other 4 via Pan Pacific which I booked later once I decided to opt for just one place. Luckily this didn’t cause any issue as I’ve emailed the hotel before my stay to match the two reservations.
Giving my gold status with Pan Pacific, I was expecting a little upgrade but this didn’t happen and, to be honest, I was so jet lagged that I didn’t even ask.
The Room
Tokyo hotels are often known for compact rooms, but Hotel Groove manages to feel surprisingly spacious thanks to clever layouts and large windows.
Many rooms feature floor-to-ceiling glass with sweeping views over Shinjuku’s skyline. At night, the city transforms into a sea of neon lights and illuminated towers, creating a view that feels unmistakably Tokyo.
Deluxe Room at Hotel Groove Shinjuku
We opted for a Deluxe Room and landed one on the 30th floor. I choose this option because I wanted a frontal view of the city skyline from our bed and this room matched my request (and the price was quite good). Deluxe Rooms at Hotel Groove space out in 25-28sqm, have a comfortable sofa in front of the bed and a practical desk for laptop use. There is abundance of toiletries available (even face masks and serums!) and you can order even more through the hotel robot.
The room itself was modern and comfortable, with a minimalist design that balanced practicality and style. Amenities included a rainfall shower, Japanese bidet toilet (I want one now), tea and coffee facilities, and a large television. Blackout curtains ensured a good night’s sleep despite the bright lights outside.
One pleasant surprise was the soundproofing. Even though the hotel sits above one of Tokyo’s busiest nightlife areas, the room felt peaceful and quiet. Despite the style of the room is pretty simple, I really like how everything was pretty functional. I admit I wished a little more room for the luggage but, in the end this was our home for 5 nights and we really loved it.
Bed was also super comfortable and I secretly wished to have more time to just be lazy and spend a whole morning just watching the skyline from my privileged position. In this regard, the view was absolutely superb. We were pretty high above Shinjuku and for a couple of times I wondered if I was still that happy in case of earthquake. Luckily, nothing was reported during our stay.
The Breakfast
If you followed me in my past adventures, you know that breakfast is my favourite meal of the day. One of the main things I look when I book all my hotels is how the breakfast looks like. I want options, I want fresh croissants and people who cook tasty pancakes in front of me. Think this is snob? Probably it is, but if I have to pay extra bucks for a service, this has to be the breakfast. Luckily for me, the breakfast at Hotel Groove was absolutely amazing in terms of variety and freshness. The area was slightly busier than I was expecting. We barely found a table (and unfortunately without view) but everything we tried was absolutely delicious.
A small negative note
There was only one small hiccup that ruined my first morning. When we arrived, the waiter at the welcome desk couldn’t find our names/room on the breakfast list. So I showed her the booking reservation with breakfast on my phone and she took note of our room number and let us in. We were accommodated by another waiter who showed us a free table, took our drinks order and explained the buffet. Until then, nothing out of the ordinary. After something like 15/20 mins while I was drinking my coffee, someone very serious looking (who I believe was the restaurant manager), came to me saying that there was an “issue”.
At first I didn’t understand what he meant with “issue”. I thought there was an issue with the food as I was in the middle of my breakfast already and he literally was disturbing my moment (in front of other people, as this wasn’t enough). Then he told me with a slight accusatory tone that (textual) he was informed that we didn’t pay for the breakfast but entered the restaurant anyway (??? seriously your staff accompanied us to a table!).
I was a little confused as the lady at the entrance let us in. At that point, I told him that he wasn’t informed correctly as my hotel booking was coming with breakfast included and I had all the rights of being where I was. Indeed, one of his colleague accompanied us to a table after checking our reservation. He looked unconvinced and asked to see my hotel reservation. I searched again on my phone and showed him my booking confirmation and without even apologising for his mistake he just said “oh” and went back from were he came.
Not a great start
He didn’t come back to us, so I assume he confirmed that we weren’t an “issue” after all. I perfectly knew that we weren’t at fault, but that sudden interruption and that accusatory undertone put me on a bad mood as it could have been handled much better from the hotel. I found the approach very rude to stop people while having their breakfast, in front of other guests sitting next to us, especially without apologising for what it was clearly a mistake of the staff.
Just to be on the safe side, I later visited the reception and double checked that breakfast was added to my booking as per my reservation and they confirmed it. So, I suppose there was an internal miscommunication which clearly shouldn’t have been addressed as the guest’s fault. I hope that if this happens again with other guests, at least they apologise to them. Such a shame as my first impression of the hotel was fantastic and this was the only thing that left me with a bad memory. We booked breakfast only for the first day as the rest of the days we had day trips starting very early, but I feel sad that this is the impression that is still sticking with me from that morning.
Hotel Groove Restaurants
Hotel Groove Shinjuku has two main dining venues. Jam17 Bar and Jam 17 Restaurant. The bar, located on the 17th floor of the striking Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, focuses on cocktails accompanied by light dishes, offering a lively setting with sweeping views over Shinjuku. It is accessible via a staircase from the hotel’s 18th floor, where JAM17 Restaurant is also located. The restaurant itself doubles as the hotel’s breakfast venue in the morning and serves contemporary dishes throughout the day.
Unfortunately, our schedule in Tokyo was packed with restaurants, cafés, and food spots I had carefully planned to visit, which meant we had very little time to properly experience either of the hotel’s dining venues. Tokyo, after all, is one of the world’s great food cities, and every evening seemed to bring a new culinary destination.
There was, however, one evening when exhaustion won. After returning well past midnight from a full day exploring the city, we were simply too tired to venture out again. That evening, our legs completely gave up and we ordered something from Mc Donald’s (don’t judge LOL). Sometimes travel calls for practicality over ambition.
Facilities at Hotel Groove Shinjuku
For guests with a more relaxed itinerary, unlike our rather packed schedule, the hotel also offers facilities designed for a slower pace of travel. On the 47th floor, the Sunya Spa provides a range of treatments for guests seeking a moment of relaxation above the city. With its elevated setting and calm atmosphere, it offers a welcome retreat after a busy day exploring Tokyo.
On the 20th floor, guests will also find a convenient complimentary laundry room, available for use throughout their stay. Although we did not have the opportunity to try it ourselves, it is likely to be particularly useful for travellers on longer trips who appreciate the convenience of washing clothes without leaving the hotel.
Finally, just beside the reception area there is a small original merchandise store where guests can purchase branded items and souvenirs from the hotel. It is a nice detail that reflects the hotel’s playful identity and offers a small memento of the stay.
To note, the hotel doesn’t have any gym area if you were wondering. But after walking 32,000 steps a day in Tokyo, I doubt this would have been used in our case!
Ta-q-bin desk at Hotel Groove
Another facility we found particularly useful, although it is not prominently mentioned on the hotel’s website, is the Ta-Q-Bin luggage delivery service desk. At Hotel Groove, this service is provided through the well-known Japanese courier company Yamato Transport, and it proved to be an absolute lifesaver during our trip.
As we were travelling with several bulky suitcases, we were keen to avoid bringing them onto the Tokaido Shinkansen. When we checked in, we asked the reception staff whether the hotel offered luggage forwarding, and they kindly explained the process in detail.
Because we were continuing our journey to Kyoto, we were advised that luggage needed to be shipped at least 48 hours before departure. So, a couple of days before leaving, we simply brought our suitcases downstairs to the service desk, filled out a few forms, and paid the shipping fee (approximately £60/$80 for two large suitcases) and departed luggage free. As I always use AirTags to track my luggage, I could see them moving live from one city to another and when we arrived at our next hotel in Kyoto, they were magically inside our new room already. What a luxury!
Tokyu Kabuchiko Tower. The unexpected plus we gained from our stay at Hotel Groove Shinjuku
One the hidden perks of a stay at Hotel Groove Shinjuku is that it comes with an included entertainment venue that people don’t take in account. Indeed, being the hotel located within the lovely Tokyu Kabuchiko Tower, this means that guests have prime access to all the many entertainment spaces offered within the tower settings. I remember that one night, just for fun, me and my husband we decided to explore every single floor that was open to the public and we remain shocked about the absolutely mind blowing amount of things available in a single place.
From an underground disco club, to a 900-seats theatre, a cinema, a pool with a bar and view on Shinkjku, a sauna, a Bandai Namco game station and even concert hall! And, of course, several restaurants. I would have probably needed a month to explore every single option this place offered. I was incredibly happy to have this back-up option in case that one of the nights we were to tired to follow our pre-planned itinerary.
Indeed, when we checked-in it was already past 9 pm and after a full day exploring since after our landing, trying to survive the jet lag, we were completely exhausted. Nevertheless, we tried to hop down to the Kabuchiko Tower restaurant area and, despite a few places were already closed because, we found a little space still serving food with some lovely live music.
Overall Rating
My final verdict on Hotel Groove Shinjuku is very positive. Despite a few flaws, I really loved my stay and would definitely come back again. But let’s talk about my star points.
- OVERALL STAY: Is a good hotel with extremely good location and very new rooms. My stay was great and I think it deserves 5 stars.
- ROOM QUALITY: I gave 4 1/2 stars just because I wished a little bit more room for the luggage but, it’s true that I could have booked a bigger room too!
- SERVICE LEVEL: I rated this 4 out 5 stars because of the breakfast accident. I didn’t like how this was managed and I was more inclined to 3 stars out of 5. Nevertheless, because the rest of the staff was flawless and really kind, I didn’t want a single accident to affect the whole score.
- FACILITIES: I rated 3 stars out of 5 because the hotel itself has limited facilities but and doesn’t have a gym. Of course if one considers the whole building the points would increase, but I limited my judgement to the solely hotel area and excluded Kabuchiko Tower.
- CLEANLINESS: The hotel was spotless clean so 5 stars is well deserved for this category.
- LOCATION: location is one of the main reason why we picked up Hotel Groove in the first place. It’s a fabulous spot, very close to central areas and well connected to Tokyo and beyond. 5 stars!
- PRICE: for being a 4 star hotel price is quite on the lower 5 star range. Possibly because of the location. Surely is not on the cheaper side, so I gave 4 stars out of 5 because I believe the price is slightly mismatched compared to the category.
- VALUE: Considering all these elements all together, the hotel offers a good value. There are areas of improvement but still is probably one of the top choices you can do in Shinjuku and definitely an excellent location for a first trip to Tokyo.
Would I come back? 100% yes.
Some useful practical stuff for your stay
Here below you will find some useful practical stuff for your stay.
How to book Hotel Groove Shinjuku
Hotel Groove is very easy to book and you can find it on multiple platforms. Pick the one you usually use for your hotel bookings below:
Room cost at Hotel Groove Shinjuku
Prices of the room are quite seasonal at Hotel Groove Shinjuku with spring and autumn considered high seasons. Superior rooms generally start from $349 per night while suites top at around $558 per night on double occupancy. There are frequently discounts and early saver offers can make you save 10/20% on the booking price. I warmly recommend you to book in advance.
How to get to Hotel Groove Shinjuku
Copying below the directions provided by the hotel directly.
From Haneda Airport
A direct airport shuttle bus operates between Haneda Airport and Tokyu Kabukicho Tower. At Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, the bus stops in front of our hotel entrance. (Travel time: approx. 60 minutes). For the latest timetables, fares, and reservations, please check the following website:
Shinjuku Kabukicho・Haneda Airport | Limousine Bus Tokyo Airport Transportation
Alternatively, if using rail, you can transfer from the Tokyo Monorail or Keikyu Line to JR, then walk approximately 7 minutes from JR Shinjuku Station to arrive.(Travel time varies depending on the station exit)
From Narita Airport
A direct airport shuttle bus operates between Narita Airport and Tokyu Kabukicho Tower. At Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, the bus stops in front of our hotel entrance. (Travel time: approx. 120 minutes). For the latest timetables, fares, and reservations, please check the following website:
Shinjuku Kabukicho・Narita Airport | Limousine Bus Tokyo Airport Transportation.
Alternatively, if using rail, take the Narita Express and arrive at JR Shinjuku Station, which is a 7-minute walk from the hotel.
By Train
- 1-minute walk from Seibu Shinjuku Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line
- 6-minute walk from Shinjuku-Nishiguchi Station on the Toei Oedo Line
- 7-minute walk from Shinjuku Station (JR Lines, Odakyu Line, Keio Line, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
- 8-minute walk from Shinjuku-sanchome Station (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Fukutoshin Line, and Toei Shinjuku Line)
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