Kadoya Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
Kadoya is a Showa-era classic by the west side of Shinjuku station — good location, fair price, and a legendary izakaya you can reach by elevator.
Kadoya is a Showa-era classic by the west side of Shinjuku station — good location, fair price, and a legendary izakaya you can reach by elevator.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The Semi-Double runs 14 sqm with a 140 cm bed at about ¥12,300 (roughly $80) a night, paired with a standard unit bathroom, a traditional tea maker and a yukata hanging in the closet. The carpets and curtains tell you the building has been here a while, but everything is clean and well maintained — cleanliness scores 8.9, the work of housekeepers who pay attention. This is a classic city room, not a design statement, and it knows it.
Food and amenities
The charm of Kadoya starts with Hibiki, the izakaya that has shared the building since the hotel opened — over 40 years. Local office workers file in after their shifts, so the room is all regulars, not tourists. The standouts are charcoal-grilled chicken at ¥180 a skewer, grilled saba at ¥850 and Suntory highballs at ¥500, with set courses from ¥3,000 including a drink. You ride the elevator straight down from your room — no gambling on an unfamiliar back-alley spot. Upstairs there is free Wi-Fi, luggage storage, vending machines and non-smoking rooms.
Location and getting there
Nishi-Shinjuku is the west side of Shinjuku, the side of skyscrapers and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, whose free observation deck climbs to the 45th floor (202 m, open 09:30-22:00, with Fuji visible on clear days). Kadoya is a 5-minute walk to the Shinjuku West Exit and 6 minutes to Busta Shinjuku, where the highway buses leave for Kawaguchiko and Mt Fuji. This side is far quieter than Kabukicho across the station — no host-club touts or pachinko noise late at night, which suits light sleepers.
Things to know before booking
The trade-offs are honest. The building and rooms are firmly classic — dated carpets, curtains and unit bathrooms, none of the polish of a new boutique. West Shinjuku is quiet after dark, a plus for sleep but flat if you came for nightlife at the door. And the Semi-Double is a standard 14 sqm, fine for one or a close couple but tight for spreading out luggage. Set your expectations to old-school comfort, not modern flair.
Our take
Kadoya suits solo travellers, business trips and couples who like an old Showa mood and want to drink at a real izakaya with locals in the heart of Shinjuku. At about ¥12,300 (~$80) for a 5-minute walk to one of the world's busiest stations, the value is real — just do not expect the gloss of a boutique hotel.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A 5-minute walk to the Shinjuku West Exit puts you 350 m from the world's busiest station, so the whole JR and metro network is on your doorstep, and Busta Shinjuku for Mt Fuji buses is 6 minutes away.
- Hibiki, the izakaya that has shared the building for over 40 years, serves charcoal yakitori at ¥180 a skewer and Suntory highballs at ¥500 to a crowd of local office workers — you ride the elevator down instead of hunting an unfamiliar alley.
- Rooms are small but spotless: cleanliness scores 8.9, and several front-desk staff have worked here 15-plus years, so service is warm and unhurried rather than corporate.
- The free observation deck on the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (202 m, open 09:30-22:00, Fuji visible on clear days) is a 9-minute walk, costing nothing.
- At roughly ¥12,300 (about $80) a night with a steady 8.9 guest score, it is honest value for this part of Shinjuku, well below the boutique and chain hotels nearby.
- The building and rooms are firmly classic: carpets, curtains and the unit bathrooms make the age obvious, and there is none of the design polish of a newer boutique hotel.
- West Shinjuku is calmer than the Kabukicho side after dark — a plus if you sleep lightly, but dull if you came for the nightlife right outside your door.
- The Semi-Double is a standard city-sized 14 sqm with a 140 cm bed, fine for one or a close couple but tight if you want room to spread out luggage.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Head down to Hibiki in the building for after-work yakitori and highballs with the local office crowd, not a tourist menu.
- Walk 9 minutes to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and ride up to the 45th-floor observation deck for free city and Fuji views.
- Ask for a higher or interior-facing room: the west side is already quiet, which suits light sleepers chasing a solid night's rest.