Pencil House | Shinjuku | Close to Central Park

** HIghlights **
Big group? No problem. 3-storeys, 3-BR house conveniently located just a few minutes walk to Shinjuku Central Park, Park Hyatt, Tokyo Metropolitan Buildings and a variety transport options.
This is a newly built house in the unique "pencil" style - tall and thin houses on small parcels of land. Experience Tokyo modern living in one of the world's busiest, and most populated cities.
This brand new house contains 3 bedrooms, spacious kitchen, sitting room and accommodates up to eight guests with options for two more. Or share between two or three couples for a relaxed retreat in Tokyo. We welcome groups and families with children and can provide toys for little ones to keep them entertained at home. This narrow house is big enough for large families and fast fibre WiFi internet for business travelers and heavy gaming teens plus portable WiFi for sightseeing.
Houses in Tokyo are usually only enjoyed by the wealthy and are extremely rare this close to Shinjuku station. See for yourself how Japanese architects can make the smallest patch of land into a comfortable living environment.
** Bedding **
2 x Full sized double bed comfortably fits two adults (1 & 2 BR)
Bunk beds that will suit children or two adults comfortably. (3 BR)
Single sofa bed comfortably fits one adult (LR)
Additional bedding upon request:
Futons for two adults or children;
A portable cot/crib is also available for toddlers or babies.
** Services & Amenities **
There is an eat-in kitchen, washing machine, washlet toilet and a roof balcony offering a lovely view of Shinjuku highrises.
The kitchen is equipped with a gas burner, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, rice cooker, fridge, dishwasher, kettle, pans, cooking utensils, plus crockery and cutlery for 8 people. We include complimentary coffee and tea.
All essentials like soap, shampoo & conditioner, toilet paper, towels and linens are included. All you need to bring is your clothes and personal items. Please note there is only one bathroom and there are stairs to climb inside.
You will have full private use of the house and this is professionally cleaned between guests. There are always plenty of clean linens and towels. If you would like a cleaning and linen service mid-stay, let us know and we can arrange this for a fee.
High-speed WiFi internet is inside the apartment plus a portable WiFi unit is also available for you to carry around town with you. TV and DVD player with a selection of DVDs are included. AppleTV is included so you can easily stream from your smart phone or laptop over WiFi through the TV. Or log into your own iTunes or Hulu or Netflix account and watch on-demand TV and movies.
There is some space for luggage in the closet however if you have large amounts of luggage or ski gear it might be best to ship these directly to your ski resort using a baggage service - cheap and reliable in Japan.
If traveling with children, we can also recommend a wonderful English speaking babysitter who can take care of your little ones in the house while you experience the bright lights of the big city or romantic dinner.
We love living in this area and our own house is 2 minutes away. We will personally meet and greet you and show you through the house and how to use everything.
Let us know if you need anything and we will happily accommodate most requests.
** Neighbourhood **
The house is in a quiet and safe street. The streets are fairly typical of suburban Tokyo and some urban hiking reveals interesting architecture as well as many green spaces.
On days when you want to stick close to home, the neighbourhood bustles with restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and other amenities. There is a grocery store nearby perfect for stocking breakfast and for snacks, we suggest any of the nearby convenience stores which are open 24 hours. Opera City is two minutes away and this has many restaurants, English pub, French bakery and excellent Japanese restaurants with views from the 40th floor.
The Park Hyatt tower is 2 minutes in the other direction and is also full of Japanese homewares stores and restaurants including the incredible New York Bar and Grill overlooking the city.
We've drawn up a neighborhood map to help you find what you need.
We have also included a selection of novels and travel brochures, walking maps and a Lonely Planet for you to use during your stay. We are happy to recommend out of the way places and local knowledge of our combined 20 years living in Tokyo.
** Transport **
Sightseers love the location. Enjoy a 20 minute stroll through lively Yoyogi Park to the quiet gardens of Meiji Shrine and Harajuku's funky shopping streets and beyond to Omotesando, the Champs-Élysées of Tokyo.
Shinjuku station itself is around 20 minutes walk through Central Park but there are plenty of closer stations to choose from.
Hatsudai station (Keio New Line) is just two minutes walk from the house in the Opera City complex. This is a great station to come home via as there is a supermarket right inside Opera City as well as coffee shops and restaurants.
Walk ten minutes to Yoyogi Station and you can catch a train for any of these locations:
Shinjuku: 2 minutes
Shibuya: 5 minutes
Roppongi: 7 minutes
Ginza: 17 minutes
Akihabara: 17 minutes
Ueno: 24 minutes
Tsukiji: 26 minutes
Asakusa: 26 minutes
Sangubashi (Odakyu line is just 7 minutes walk plus there are buses to Shinjuku, Shibuya and Omotesando within minutes of the front door.
The Japan Sword Museum is a nearby and worth a visit if you are interested in weapons, history, or smithing. There are some truly beautiful blades on display.
Younger guests may enjoy the free pony rides every day at the Tokyo Equestrian Center a short walk away near the entrance to the Meiji Shrine gardens.
** Getting Here **
After you have confirmed your booking, a PDF will be emailed to you with all of the best options for getting into Tokyo from either airport or from other cities around Japan.
From Narita airport, take the Narita Express train to Shinjuku and it is a ¥1,000 yen taxi ride from there if you have lots of luggage. If you travel light, hop on the New Keio local metro line for one stop to Hatsudai for ¥150.
Alternatively, take the Airport Limousine Bus to the Park Hyatt hotel, the house is just a few minutes walk from there.
** Other things to note **
When you make the booking, we will send you a welcome pack with lots of transport information and confirm a convenient meeting time and location to ensure you will be able to settle in quickly.
If this space is booked, we do have other listings for a smaller apartments very nearby.
If you have any questions about our listings or Tokyo in general, please just ask.
*** Frequently Asked Questions ***
1) ARE MY CHOSEN DATES AVAILABLE?
Our calendar is ALWAYS up-to-date. We also have instant book facility so feel free to book immediately. Last-minute bookings are usually not a problem. Please introduce yourself and your group in the first email so we can get to know you and assist you with any special requests.
2) CAN I CHECK IN EARLY AND/OR CHECK OUT LATE?
Check-in time: 3pm or anytime after this. We are fine with late arrivals. Check-out time: 10am or anytime before.
A courtesy 1-2 hours may be available ONLY if asked within 24 to 72 hours of arrival or departure (that is when we will know). More than 2 hours will require a fee or for you to book another night. We mostly have back-to-back bookings so please consider your travel plans when you make your booking. We are happy to adjust your if availability allows but please plan early as we do book up.
3. DO YOU HAVE LUGGAGE STORAGE?
The short answer is sadly no. Many of the larger train stations have lockers big enough for a full size suitcase. Shinjuku Station has plenty of large coin lockers.
Alternatively, we recommend you use a baggage shipping service. Japan has a few companies to choose from - just do a web search for "Takkyubin Japan" to find the most commonly used companies. These are very reasonably priced, safe and extremely reliable. If you ship your luggage from the airport, you can move about the city easily and have your luggage delivered directly to the house at a time convenient for you.
3) HOW DO I ACCESS THE HOUSE?
Our contact details, the house address and excellent walking directions from the nearest train station(s) are provided in your WELCOME PACK. We will send this to you a few weeks before your arrival date. Please print off the Welcome pack in case you don’t have internet access when you first arrive.
4) HOW CAN I CHECK IN?
Closer to your arrival we will be in contact to arrange a suitable time and place to meet with you. It will either be one of us or a trusted friend or relative. We will meet you, hand over the keys, run through the facilities of the house and also give you a tour of the local area if time allows.
5) CAN I ADD EXTRA PEOPLE / BEDS?
Our houses always have a variety of bedding options but we do not advise trying to squeeze in more than the maximum number of people on the listing. We want you to be comfortable and there are restrictions on the number of people who can sleep for safety reasons.
6) DO YOU CHARGE FOR CHILDREN?
- Under age 2 are free
- Age 2 and up are counted as guests.
We have a baby beds or baby futons for your use at no extra charge.
7) WHY IS THE PRICE DIFFERENT THAN I AM CALCULATING?
The total price is composed of three parts: 1. Nightly price x # of nights (plus any nightly charges for extra guests when applicable) 2. Cleaning fee(one-time fee) 3. Service fee(one-time fee set and collected by the website, typically between 6 and 12%)
Weekly Price: Price may fluctuate based on peak holidays, and special events. Enter in your specific dates to see the current price for those days.
8) IS THE PLACE CLEANED DURING MY STAY?
It is professionally cleaned prior to your arrival and after you depart. For your privacy, no one enters the house during your stay except for you and your group. If you wish to have a mid stay clean and linen service, this is possible for additional costs.
9)ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
Please email us at any time.