Whenever I am in Tokyo, there are a few areas I like to stay in, with Shinjuku being my top priority and Ikebukuro as my second choice. When I was checking hotel prices, Shinjuku prices were getting really expensive, so I decided to take my friend’s recommendation to stay at Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo in Ikebukuro
The hotel is directly connected to Ikebukuro Station through the Lumine Ikebukuro shopping mall. The hotel is closer to the Yurakucho Line ( Gold Line) and about 3 3-minute walk, while the Marunouchi Line and Fukutoshin Line are both about 10 10-minute walk away, connected through the underground shopping street. The hotel is located on the quiet side of Ikebukuro and has 2 convenience stores within a 1-minute walk. To get to the main Ikebukuro shopping area, like the Sunshine City area, you will need to walk through the MRT station for 10 minutes
The hotel is quite big and grand with a typically old-school design. The lobby is extremely spacious, with up to 10 counters for check-in and check-out. There was also a large sofa area for customers to sit and wait or rest. As we visited in December, there was a performance area set up for Christmas Carols and performances
I was pleased upon entering the room, as it was very spacious and bright. The 2 beds were placed next to each other, closer to the bathroom and toilet side, making room for a good space near the window for either eating or chilling. The layout is dated, but well-maintained enough to feel comfortable for the stay. The mattress is semi-firm, but the pillow is too soft for me
The toilet size is normal for Japanese hotels and comes with a bidet toilet. The area around the basin is quite tight, but they manage to fit in full sets of amenities for use on the counter area right next to the basin. There is not much storage area for you to put your facial or skincare products, so I left everything outside the toilet. Water pressure was good, and the bathtub was also spacious enough for my legs to stretch fully
The view from our room was also quite pretty, with nice sunset views and the whole area of Ikebukuro. Overall, the stay was comfortable enough, and the location of the hotel was also good with the proximity to the station and restaurants and shopping malls
Address: 1 Chome-6-1 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima City, Tokyo 171-8505, Japan
Room rates from SGD 150
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