Lonely Planet Review

You may be staying in a dorm, but these dorm rooms have spectacular five-star views over Shinjuku-ku. Though the interior of the building's two floors feels like an anonymous office (there's even a conference room), it's a model hostel.

Every room in the house boasts dazzling views of Shinjuku-ku and the remnants of the Imperial Palace's Edo-era moat snaking along the side of the building. Just south of Iidabashi station, the hostel occupies the 18th and 19th floors of a towering office block belonging to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. As such, the structure is a bit institutional in feeling, but the views more than make up for that. Each floor has separate men's and women's wings, each with their own immaculate bathrooms and laundry facilities. Even the bathrooms come fitted with wide windows for city scoping while you soap and soak. Reservations can and should be made up to 90 days in advance, since it books up quickly. Two Japanese-style rooms are available, a more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing choice if you're travelling with friends or family.