UNPLAN Shinjuku

UNPLAN Shinjuku is a budget hostel in the 5-chome area east of Shinjuku's main station district, a quieter neighbourhood of offices, small restaurants and bars a short walk from the Shinjuku Gyoen garden. The hostel sets out to make it easy for guests to meet each other and discover the city through chance encounters, with staff happy to share local tips.

It offers four room types: dormitory rooms with original dormitory beds, semi-private spaces, private double rooms and private family rooms. That range makes it unusually flexible for groups and families travelling on a budget, as well as for solo travellers who want a cheaper bed without giving up all privacy. The style is clean and modern, with natural wood and simple furnishings, and shared facilities are well kept.

In the basement, the café and dining bar Encounter by UNPLAN opens daily from 16:00 to 23:00 and is a relaxed place to meet other travellers over a drink or a simple meal. There is also a rental event space in the basement for guests, suited to meetings and workshops, and the hostel hosts events through the year. Bookings and enquiries are best made through the official website and its contact form.

UNPLAN suits budget travellers, solo visitors, young families and groups of friends who want a central Shinjuku base at a lower price than a hotel. Like any hostel, dormitories can be noisy, so light sleepers may prefer a private room. Booking early is wise for the private and family rooms, which are limited in number and popular in the cherry blossom and autumn seasons. The hostel has warned of messages impersonating it, so contact it only through its official channels.

Shinjuku-sanchome Station, served by the Marunouchi, Fukutoshin and Toei Shinjuku lines, is about eight minutes' walk away, and JR Shinjuku Station is also within reach on foot. The bars of Golden Gai, the restaurants of Shinjuku-sanchome and the Shinjuku Gyoen garden are all close by, and the department stores around Shinjuku Station are around fifteen minutes' walk. From Shinjuku, direct trains run to most of the city and to both airports.