Hotel Niwa Tokyo

Hotel Niwa Tokyo takes its name from the Japanese word for garden, and the theme runs throughout the building. The hotel has four garden spaces, and its design blends modern lines with traditional Japanese materials and details, creating a quietly elegant atmosphere at a mid-range price. It sits on a side street in Kanda-Misakicho, a calm residential and office area between the Tokyo Dome and the book shops of Jimbocho.

Guest rooms come in five types, each using different Japanese design elements, such as washi paper, wooden lattices and soft natural colours. They are comfortable and well designed, though compact by international standards, as is common in central Tokyo. The public spaces are a highlight: the lobby looks out on to greenery, and the gardens bring light and a sense of the seasons into the building.

Two restaurants face each other across the courtyard. Dining Lieu serves relaxed French cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while Yukuri is a Japanese restaurant serving seasonal dishes in a more traditional style. Both have their own phone lines for reservations, and they are popular with local diners as well as hotel guests. There is also a function room for meetings and private events.

The hotel suits couples, solo travellers and business visitors who want something more characterful than a standard business hotel without paying luxury prices. It is a good choice for a longer stay, as the area is quiet at night but well connected. Families with young children may find the standard rooms small, so check room sizes when booking. Booking enquiries can be made through the official website's online form, and the restaurants take reservations on their own phone lines. Breakfast at Dining Lieu, looking out over the courtyard, is a pleasant way to start the day before heading out to the sights.

Suidobashi Station on the JR Chuo-Sobu Line and the Toei Mita Line is about four minutes' walk away, giving quick access to Shinjuku, Akihabara and central Tokyo. Tokyo Dome and its amusement park, the Edo-period Koishikawa Korakuen garden and the second-hand book shops of Jimbocho are all within walking distance, as is Glitch Coffee & Roasters.