Odakyu Hotel Century Southern Tower

Rooms and decor

Try a room up around the 25th floor — pull the curtains and the Tokyo skyline spreads out wide, the high-rises of Shinjuku lined up, city lights glittering after dark, and on a clear day Mt. Fuji floating far to the west. It is a view worth every dollar. Rooms hold to a comfortable 4-star standard, decorated in warm, restrained tones, with a firm, well-made bed and good linens. There is a desk by the window where you can work with the city in front of you, and a roomy, clean bathroom with a separate tub and shower. Soundproofing is good — it stays quiet even in the middle of restless Shinjuku. What guests like most is sipping coffee by the window as the city wakes, then watching the lights come on at night.

Food and amenities

The high-floor restaurant has a city view to rival the rooms. We had dinner there and asked for a table by the glass, looking out over the Shinjuku lights — a romantic setting that works well for couples. The breakfast buffet is solid, with both Japanese and Western dishes, served with the morning view. There is a fitness room, and the common areas are clean and orderly to 4-star standard. There is no pool or large spa — the draw here is the location and the view, not resort facilities. And since the hotel sits in a tower tied into Shinjuku, countless restaurants and shops are just an elevator ride away.

Location and getting there

The hotel occupies the Shinjuku Southern Tower, a 3-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, the busiest station in the world, with access to JR, Tokyo Metro and Toei lines. The detail that matters most here: the building connects straight to the Odakyu Line, so you ride from Shinjuku to Shimokitazawa in just 10 minutes (4 stops), direct with no transfer — the easiest Shimokitazawa run of any hotel outside the neighborhood. Shinjuku itself is a first-rate base too: Shinjuku Gyoen, the shopping districts, Golden Gai and the Tokyo Metropolitan Building are all close, and you can reach any corner of Tokyo in minutes.

Things to know before booking

Rooms start at about $200 a night, which runs higher than staying inside Shimokitazawa itself, so this is a trade of price for the view and the Shinjuku address. Shinjuku is loud and crowded at all hours — if you want a quiet, restful base, this is not it. And because the building is large, check-in at peak times can mean waiting in line.

Our take

The Odakyu Hotel Century Southern Tower closes our list of 8 hotels neatly — a 4-star hotel where every room sits on floor 20 or above, handing you a panoramic Tokyo skyline, with Mt. Fuji visible from some angles on clear days. Set in the Shinjuku Southern Tower beside Shinjuku Station and on the Odakyu Line, it reaches Shimokitazawa in 10 minutes — the most convenient option outside the neighborhood. With its romantic high-floor restaurant and Odakyu-group service, an 8.7/10 score and rooms from about $200 a night, it suits couples, families and travelers who want a high-floor city view at the 4-star tier, using Shinjuku as a hub and dropping into Shimokitazawa's indie vibe in just 10 minutes.