If you’re visiting Shinjuku for the lights, the nightlife, or just want a hotel with personality and rhythm, we’ve found the perfect base for you.
Staying at HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU is as much about rhythm, art and nightlife as it is about rest. From the moment you step into the lobby on the 18th floor of the famous Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, you’re entering a living playlist set to the beat of Shinjuku’s wild soul.
As the city’s neon heart pulses below, HOTEL GROOVE is built to mirror that energy – with bespoke rooms high above the buzz. Its interiors were designed in collaboration with local artists like Tomoyuki Washio, Yoshiaki Kaihatsu and Takuro Tamayama, weaving contemporary art with the district’s storied entertainment history.
Smack-bang in the hustle of Shinjuku, GROOVE feels like a curated playlist – art-led, music-fuelled, and unapologetically stylish – with the views (and mood lighting) to match.
This isn’t just a crash pad. It’s a decompression zone for the queer traveller who loves a rooftop cocktail but also needs blackout curtains, a king bed, and a top tier shower to survive Tokyo’s overstimulation.
Whether you stay in a compact Superior Room or stretch out in a Garden Suite with wide views of Shinjuku Gyoen Park, the feeling is the same: culture, music and style at every turn.
We stayed in a Deluxe Room, which is perfect for a couple. The room had a huge King bed which looked out to a stunning view of the city. We’re talking a floor-to-ceiling window to the skyline. This was especially nice to look out to of an evening as we laid in bed and gazed at the city lights.
The room had a giant flat screen TV on the wall, and a Marshall bluetooth speaker on the desk which we gladly connected to and enjoyed music as we got ready each night to hit the town. Between the workspace and the bathroom sink there was more than enough counter space for both skincare and shopping.
The room comes with all the complimentary toiletries you’d hope for. Plus there was a cute pair of pyjamas and slippers for us, and fresh towels and bottled water were delivered daily.
The rain shower and Japanese toilet were a delight to use (if you know you know!) and the room had flawless complimentary wifi and powerful air conditioning to keep us cool during the hot weather.
When it comes to dining, Hotel Groove has got you covered. JAM17 is the in-house restaurant and bar that turns dining into an experience. We enjoyed the buffet breakfast at JAM17 every morning of our stay, and it was the best start to the day you could hope for.
After selecting a dish each from the À la carte menu (the smashed avocado was a winner!), we made good use of the buffet, which had an expansive selection of both Japanese and western breakfast dishes.
JAM17 also serves lunch, dinner, drinks at their funky bar and even has an impressive Gelateria.
When it comes to selecting a hotel, we understand as queer travellers it’s important to feel welcome and comfortable to be yourself. Trust us when we say GROOVE is safe, stylish and completely us.
The staff are warm, the vibe is relaxed, and you’re a short stumble from the red light district, the queer bars of Ni-chōme, drag dens of Shinjuku, and the kind of late-night ramen that heals your inner child.
If you’re looking for a unique entertainment experience just steps from the hotel, we highly recommend catching a performance at Samurai Restaurant – a totally unique live show with dancers, drummers, and incredible atmosphere, A truly unique Shinjuku experience.
If you’re visiting Shinjuku for the energy of the city, the nightlife, or just want a hotel with personality and rhythm, HOTEL GROOVE is the perfect base to make your stay unforgettable.
Book It, Groove It, Love It:
🔗 HOTEL GROOVE website
🔗 Dining at JAM17
