Shinjuku
Kid-Friendly Hotels in Shinjuku: Station Access and Disney Shuttles
From luxury towers in the skyscraper district to affordable hotels by the station, Shinjuku works for city sightseeing and for the night before an early departure
Search for a family hotel in Shinjuku and you get luxury high-rises in the skyscraper district sitting right next to budget business hotels by the station, with no obvious way to compare them. The 8 properties we list here are all within walking distance of one another, yet their prices and facilities could hardly be more different. What decides your choice is less the budget itself than what you plan to use Shinjuku for on this particular trip.
If you need a base for the night before or after Tokyo Disney Resort, Keio Plaza Hotel is the straightforward answer. A free shuttle bus runs there and back every day, reserved in advance and open to hotel guests only, and an underground passage connects Shinjuku Station's west exit to the hotel. One preschool-age child per adult sleeps free in a parent's bed at no extra charge, and baby cots are available in limited numbers for infants up to around 10 months, before they start pulling themselves up to stand. Families with children under 3 can book plans limited to rooms with a Japanese-style bathroom that has a separate washing area outside the tub, which come with a bottle sterilizing set, a baby bath with a water thermometer, and a toilet training seat. There are nursing rooms on the lobby floor and the third floor of the main building, and the outdoor pool, open only in summer, includes a round toddler pool about adult knee-deep.
If sightseeing in central Tokyo is the main event and you also want to relax at the hotel, the high-rises suit you well. At Hilton Tokyo, children under 6 sleep in a parent's bed free and eat breakfast free, cribs can be borrowed, and the indoor pool admits children 4 and up with an adult. At Hyatt Regency Tokyo, children 12 and under stay free when sharing a room with adults, and a free shuttle bus runs between the hotel and Shinjuku Station's west exit. At Park Hyatt Tokyo, children from newborn to 12 can share a parent's bed, and the indoor pool is open to children from age 3 with a parent. None of these has a large communal bath, so bathing happens in your own guest room. If you want to soak your child in a tub, check that the room type includes a bathtub before you book.
For a night before heading to your hometown or catching an early train, there are plenty of affordable options. Shinjuku Prince Hotel is directly connected to Seibu-Shinjuku Station, and children from newborn to 5 can share a parent's bed. Cribs are free but must be reserved, and they are only for babies under 1. The Shinjuku Washington Hotel Main Building has family rooms with three beds and a microwave, and bed guards can be borrowed. One preschool-age child per bed sleeps free. Nishitetsu Inn Shinjuku allows one child from newborn to 5 per bed to share, and only non-smoking rooms are available for this. Hotel MyStays Nishi Shinjuku offers free breakfast for preschoolers, but the room types that sleep three are limited.
Highlights
- checkA high-rise hotel here runs a free shuttle bus to Tokyo Disney Resort for its guests only, ideal for the night before or after a park day
- checkCribs can be borrowed at 4 properties and 7 have rooms with humidifiers, which helps when traveling with a baby in Japan's dry seasons
- checkFrom affordable hotels connected directly to the station or its underground passages to luxury on the upper floors, you can match the hotel to your budget
Family-friendly features in Shinjuku
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Recommended hotels (4)
Hyatt Regency Tokyo
Shinjuku Prince Hotel
HOTEL MYSTAYS Nishi Shinjuku
Illustrative imagePark Hyatt Tokyo
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Nearby attractions
Travel tips
Shinjuku Station has a great many exits, and the street-level crowds are hard going with a stroller, so choose a hotel linked by the west exit underground passage or connected directly to the station to make getting around easier. Ask at the station information desk for elevator locations rather than hunting for them yourself. None of the listed properties has a hot spring or a large communal bath, so bathing takes place in your guest room. If you want your child to soak in a tub, avoid shower-only room types when booking. At many hotels the room types available change with the number of children, so confirm the age limit for sharing a parent's bed and the number of people allowed per bed before you reserve, and there will be no surprises on arrival. Most hotels have a convenience store inside or nearby, so you can buy formula and baby food after you arrive.
Best season
Because most of the stay happens indoors, Shinjuku works year-round. Spring brings cherry blossoms at Shinjuku Gyoen and fall brings easy walks among the city's autumn colors, while some hotels open their outdoor pools in summer. During the rainy season and in midwinter, a hotel linked by the underground passages lets you move around regardless of the weather. Over long weekends and summer vacation the family rooms fill up first, so book early to be safe.
Getting there
Many hotels connect to JR Shinjuku Station's west exit by underground passage, and if you use Tochomae Station on the Toei Oedo Line, some are just steps from the exit. Airport limousine buses run directly from both Haneda and Narita airports to the Shinjuku Station west exit, and the Narita Express is another option from Narita. From Tokyo Station, the JR Chuo Line Rapid gets you here without a transfer. Some hotels run free shuttle buses between the Shinjuku Station west exit and their front door, which is a relief on days when you are loaded down with luggage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Shinjuku hotel is best for families with a baby?
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Keio Plaza Hotel has the widest range of baby gear. Families with children under 3 can book plans limited to rooms with a Japanese-style bathroom that has a separate washing area outside the tub, and these come with a bottle sterilizing set, a baby bath with a water thermometer, and a toilet training seat. There are also nursing rooms on the lobby floor and the third floor of the main building. Cribs can be borrowed at 4 properties in this area.
Is staying in Shinjuku inconvenient for a trip to Tokyo Disney Resort?
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Keio Plaza Hotel runs a free shuttle bus to Tokyo Disney Resort and back every day, reserved in advance and open to hotel guests only, so you can get there without a single transfer. Shinjuku is also close to the departure points for the shinkansen bullet train and airport limousine buses, so if you are coming from far away, visiting the park, and heading home from Shinjuku, you can keep transfers to a minimum.
Which hotels suit families watching their budget?
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Shinjuku Prince Hotel is directly connected to Seibu-Shinjuku Station, and children from newborn to 5 can share a parent's bed. The Shinjuku Washington Hotel Main Building has family rooms with three beds, and one preschool-age child per bed sleeps free. Nishitetsu Inn Shinjuku also allows children from newborn to 5 to share a bed, though only non-smoking rooms are available for this.
Do Shinjuku hotels have hot springs or large communal baths?
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None of the listed properties has a hot spring, a large communal bath, or a private reservable bath, so bathing takes place in your guest room. Some room types are shower-only, so if you want your child to soak in a tub, confirm that the room has a bathtub before booking. Keio Plaza Hotel also has rooms with a Japanese-style bathroom that includes a separate washing area outside the tub.
Is it easy to get around with children on a rainy day?
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Many hotels connect to Shinjuku Station's west exit by underground passage, so you can reach them without opening an umbrella. Indoor destinations such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory and the Tokyo Toy Museum are close by, and at Hilton Tokyo or Park Hyatt Tokyo, which have indoor pools, children can burn off energy whatever the weather.