What makes a great family-friendly hotel? Is it location? Or staff? Perhaps it’s the amenities? It’s certainly the types or rooms on offer. During his most recent visit to Japan, Karryon’s MARK HARADA checks into the Mimaru Tokyo Ikebukuro, a hotel that pretty much has it all covered.
From capsule pods and luxury highrises to traditional ryokan, Tokyo has a hotel for just about every type of traveller. But for families, finding that sweet spot between comfort, space and importantly, affordability can be a challenge.
Enter Mimaru Tokyo Ikebukuro – and more broadly, the Mimaru apartment hotel brand, which from humble beginnings just seven years ago, has aimed to redefine family-friendly stays in Japan’s most popular cities: Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.
Surprisingly, Mimaru is one of the few hotel chains in Tokyo offering apartment-style accommodation, not just as a niche product, but as its core focus – and that matters when there’s a record number of Australian families descending on the city, seeking the conveniences of a modern hotel, but with the perks of self-contained stays.
First impressions count
Before we (my wife, 9-year-old daughter and I) even enter the hotel, the property makes an impression, thanks to a stunning exterior – think manicured greenery, striking timber beams, Japanese noren and elegant branding.
But as soon as we enter the property, we get a real taste of what’s to come. The hotel’s automatic doors glide open to reveal a colourful mural filled with Japanese cultural icons – rickshaw, bonsai, koi, taiyaki, crane and Maneki-neko. It’s playful and welcoming – a good omen for parents travelling with kids in tow.
We’re then greeted by cheerful staff who speak fluent English, and after a quick and easy check-in, we’re off to explore our new Tokyo home base. No waiting – and thus, family-friendly.
Room to move
Tokyo isn’t known for generous hotel sizing. Many families visiting Japan for the first time are surprised by how compact city hotel rooms can be. But not here. Our Two-Bedroom Family Suite measures 58 sqm – much larger than a typical Tokyo room – and every bit is cleverly used.
There’s space to unpack, stretch out and just be without stepping over each other. In our abode, there are four single beds, a bunk bed (the apartment can sleep up to six adults!), a fully equipped kitchenette (including a full-sized fridge, cooktop and microwave), two bathrooms and a dining table to eat real meals together.
It feels like an Airbnb, but with all the reliability and service of a hotel, including daily towel replacement, optional cleaning every second day and thoughtful extras like a dehumidifier – plus one of my favourite things about Japan: a fully automated Japanese toilet (a heated loo seat in winter is a wonderful thing).
The apartment design hits a perfect blend of traditional and modern. There are shoji-style screens and tatami mats, but also a large flat-screen TV, fast wi-fi and enough storage to handle our holiday haul – Tokyo’s shopping scene is hard to resist.
In addition, the layout helps parents keep routines on track (think bedtime and breakfast) while still giving kids space to wind down after full days of sightseeing.
Something for everyone
Beyond our accommodation, Mimaru Ikebukuro offers a mix of room types to suit different family sizes and setups.
There’s a One-bedroom Loft Apartment with bunk beds (huge hit with the kids), a Japanese-style room (tatami for the win), and even an Accessible Apartment designed with extra-wide areas and thoughtful fittings. There’s also a unique eSports Room, complete with five gaming PCs for those who want to stay and play.
But the standout for many will be the recently-launched Pokémon Room, packed wall-to-wall with Pikachu and friends – because only in Japan, right?
Amen to amenities
One of the unique features of a Mimaru hotel is its complimentary rentals. Need a rice cooker or a toaster? Just ask. Pyjamas for the kids? Done. Forgot your adaptor plug or phone charger? Mimaru has you covered.
Mimaru’s free rental service means you can travel lighter, knowing you’ll have everything from extra pillows to mobile charging cables ready on request. Select rooms even come with in-room washer-dryers, and there’s a coin laundry onsite too.
And unlike some apartment-style stays, you’ll never feel on your own. The front desk is staffed from early until late – and the team is multilingual, friendly and always willing to point you in the direction of the nearest ramen, themed cafe or sento (public bathhouse). Or explain to you Mimaru’s Ikebukuro bingo game, in which children (and big kids!) can win prizes for experiencing some of the Ikebukuro’s sites.
A great base
And speaking of Ikebukuro… the location here hits a sweet spot, too. Ikebukuro might not have quite the same intensity as Shibuya or Shinjuku, but that’s part of its charm. It’s a little calmer and relaxed, but still has enough going on to keep you entertained. Better yet, it’s on the Yamanote Line, meaning you can zip around Tokyo’s hotspots in minutes.
The hotel is an easy stroll from Ikebukuro Station, even with two large suitcases and a sleepy child in tow.
Built for (Aussie) families
If you’re planning a family trip to Japan, put Mimaru Tokyo Ikebukuro on your radar. It’s more than a place to sleep – it’s a place to stay, play and recharge after big days exploring one of the most exciting cities on the planet. Plus, it’s reasonably priced, especially when you factor in what you’d pay for two rooms elsewhere.
And it’s not just this property. Mimaru has 15 locations across Tokyo, including family-favourite areas like Shinjuku, Ueno, Asakusa and Ginza, and each promises something a little different.
The writer was a guest of Mimaru Apartment Hotels. All images by Mark Harada.
For more information, visit mimaruhotels.com/en.
