Staying in Tokyo can be a really confusing process. The city is huge and is easily one of the most lively on the planet. For our first trip to Japan, we genuinely did not know where to start. However, we stumbled across the Shiba Park hotel, found in the Shiba District, and thought that it would be perfect for many reasons, especially its quiet but highly-convenient location. Here is our review of the Shiba Park hotel and everything you need to know before staying in this little gem.
Shiba Park Hotel Review | Staying in Tokyo
About the Shiba Park Hotel
The Shiba Park Hotel is not just a regular hotel. For me, the biggest draw had to be the hotel’s mission the merge the art of reading with luxurious travel. I think that these two themes go hand-in-hand; I often associate traversing the world with a good book to keep me company. The hotel accomplishes this by having a truly wonderful library embedded within it. On the first and second floor you can find shelves lined with books from all different genres, teaching travellers about the history, culture and traditions of Japan, as well as many classics.
It is not just books on offer here though. There are thoughtful areas to sit, relax and enjoy the books in a style which reflects the Edo Period of Tokyo, whilst drawing upon the modern location and ancient traditions. In fact, these areas have artisan crafts which have been hand-selected to showcase this area of Tokyo.
All of this culminates to perfectly show the way of thinking from the hotel. They wanted to create a space where travel is both relaxing and culturally enriching. Before you read the rest of my Shiba Park review, I can honestly say that they succeeded in this. No wonder then that Forbes named them as the Best Hotel for Families in Tokyo in 2025.
The Location
We arrived in Tokyo at 07:00am following a 14 hour flight. Needless to say, we were exhausted and wanted to get to our hotel quickly and without fuss. The Shiba Park Hotel was only a 20 minute Monorail ride from the airport (exiting at Daimon) and then a 10 minute walk after this. The Shiba District is surprisingly quiet and is a far-cry from the lights and buzz of Shinjuku. Where the hotel is in particular is also near-perfect. The surrounding streets are quiet and local; it feels like a miniature oasis in the bustle of Tokyo.
The Shiba District area is also elegant, clean and close to nearby attractions such as the Tokyo Tower, Zojoji Temple and also the Imperial Palace. Not only that, but it is just a 10 minute walk from the Daimon station. This is a central hub and connects multiple lines together. Nearby are the districts of Ginza, Shibuya and Asakusa, which makes exploring really easy. What I loved though was that I could retreat to my own calm and quiet ‘home’ in the evening.
The location of the Shiba Park Hotel is also good for exploring further afield in Japan. The hotel is not too far from both Tokyo and Shinagawa Station (which is where you catch the bullet train). It means that you can catch a quick taxi here without worrying about the cost or wrestling your luggage around the Metro. Lastly, the location is perfect for people departing Japan via Haneda Airport.
Overall, the location is perfect for exploring Tokyo. If you want the hustle and bustle, this probably isn’t the location for you. But, if you want your own miniature slice of harmony in an eclectic city, this is for you.
The Rooms
When we were planning Japan we had heard that the rooms in Tokyo hotels were famously tiny. We did experience this later on in the trip, but not in the Shiba Park.
Our room was a King Room and featured a large (and very comfortable) bed, a lovely bathroom and a delightful little seating area complete with sofas and table. What was most impressive though was the layout. The room had been cleverly configured to fit all of this in and, whilst it was not large by any means, it did not feel small. In fact, we felt that we had plenty of room.
The owners of the Shiba Park Hotel clearly have a good eye for detail (as you will see in the photos later). In particular, the toiletries given with the room fee were really high-quality. Not only that though, but there were little extras which you wouldn’t usually get. For instance, we both received a lovely little wooden hairbrush.
It genuinely struck the perfect balance between modern comfort in the hotel, mixed with thoughtful Japanese design. I loved the simplicity that came with the room and the thought that had gone into it. For those few days it felt like our home from home.
The Library: A Hotel with a Story
Let’s talk about my favourite aspect of the Shiba Park Hotel. Did I mention that this is a library which you can stay in? If you love books, reading and cosy mornings with a hot drink, this is the hotel for you.
When you start in the lobby, you’ll find an open wooden staircase which curves upwards towards the second floor. Not only is there a lovely fountain underneath it, but the entire wall is covered in books and Japanese artefacts. It has to be one of the coolest displays I’ve seen in any hotel – I loved it.
If you walk up to these stairs, you’ll then get to the perfect reading lounge. You have plenty of seats to relax in and, once again, the walls are covered with books. The hotel encourages you to select your favourites and to enjoy the space; you have everything from classics to manga! We did this a few times and it was just what we needed after exploring busier parts in Tokyo.
However, if that’s not enough for you, each floor has their own little nook dedicated to a specific element of reading. You can visit the Travel Library for instance, a room I made sure to check out for my own personal research!
Even if books aren’t your thing, there is something wonderful about the careful curation of the collection. Nothing is random and each book has its own designated space. The result is a highly elegant hotel with some of the nicest seating areas I’ve seen in hospitality. If I could encourage you to do one thing in the hotel, it is to ensure that you spend time with a drink enjoying the spaces. They’re works of art.
Dining
Let’s talk about food in the Shiba Park hotel. The hotel has its own on-site restaurant on the first floor. It specialises in beautifully prepared dishes which reflect Japanese culture and the seasons. Any time we go travelling I do like to explore restaurants nearby to get an idea of the local food, but this time the hotel restaurant was incredibly inviting.
Breakfast has a highlight of the day in Japan. As you’d expect, there is a strong level of attention given to the small details to produce the sanctuary vibe of the hotel. The restaurant was a peaceful place and, to add to this, they even had suggestions of combinations to try to help you plan your meal. Another detail I enjoyed was the descriptions of how different food and drink would taste.
The breakfast had a selection of Japanese and Western dishes, but also plenty of tropical fruit. There is of course a great coffee machine, and other hot drinks are available. What I loved most of all though was the fresh mandarin juice – seriously this was incredible.
The Dining, the hotel’s signature restaurant, specialises in celebrating seasonal Japanese food. We ate here during our stay as it just looked so inviting. The menu is really simple; you have a set menu for Japanese, Western and Chinese cuisine and this costs up to ¥8200 (around £40) per person. However, for what you pay you genuinely get a lot of food as it includes multiple courses. The food was all made using fresh ingredients from local sources. The wagyu in particular was perfect.
If The Dining isn’t for you, the local area has loads of good restaurants. If you are on a budget, or just fancy a room picnic, there are also 7/11 and Family Mart shops here too.
Service
One big take-home from Japan was that service was always good wherever we went. There is a custom of being respectful to all, as well as incredibly friendly and welcoming. The Shiba Park Hotel was no exception and the staff here definitely upheld – and exceeded – this trend.
Because of our flight time we arrived at check-in at 07:00am, which was hours before the official time. Of course we left our bags here, but the staff made us feel welcome and suggested coming back slightly earlier so that we could rest after an incredibly long journey. We were able to check-in 90 minutes before the official time, which really helped us. To be honest, this is a rarity nowadays without paying a huge premium.
Whilst we were staying in the hotel the staff were incredible. The interactions seemed warm, personal and genuinely welcoming, whether that be a cheerful “ohayō gozaimasu” in the morning or simply a helpful instruction to moving around Tokyo. There was also a sublime attention to detail, which was a theme emerging throughout the Shiba Park. We were offered umbrellas on our rainy days and taxis were arranged quickly (we were in one within 5 minutes of ordering)
The Shiba Park staff also took pride in their work and delivered a calm, unhurried kindness to all. It added to the homely feel that we had come to expect here, something which is a rarity in 2025.
Final Thoughts | Shiba Park Hotel Review
If you are looking for a homely hotel, perfect for families with what had to be my favourite location to stay in Tokyo, this is the hotel for you. The Shiba Park hotel oozes luxury, style and convenience but maintains that down-to-earth friendliness to make you feel right at home, even if for some of us we couldn’t be further from it.
The location is the hotel’s biggest sell, but I still can’t get over the library theme. It is entirely unique and was something I never knew I needed to enjoy – and understand – Japan.
Overall, I cannot recommend this hotel enough.
📍 Shiba Park Hotel
1-5-10 Shiba Koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
🚆 Nearest Stations: Daimon Station (5 min walk), Onarimon Station (6 min walk)
🌐 www.shibaparkhotel.com
