Shimokitazawa Sanctuary , Spacious Stay for Families & Romantic Getaways

We really liked the spaciousness of the place. We are a family of four, and it was an ideal space for us. The folding mattresses were comfortable, there was plenty of linens and good quality towels, and a real working kitchen with utensils. The shower/bath and bathroom was clean. The location is quite convenient with easy access to three train stations within walking distance. There’s also a convenience store within a 3-minute walk. The owner was responsive and made sure everything was ok for us.

Not much we didn’t like

The pictures don’t do justice to the space. The care, thoughtfulness, and details make this one of the few places we’ve stayed at just the best. We hopped around Japan in other aesthetically pretty homes but you can feel that they were set up for rent—nothing sturdy, nothing fully functional., cheap towels, etc. But at the Shimokitazawa Sanctuary, you get real cutlery, great knives for cooking, not-IKEA plates to eat off of, unique and almost collectible items to use. When we saw the collection of massage rollers and balls, we were in heaven after commuting for 5 hours with heavy bags. Coming into a “home” and not a hotel is just a great feeling. And every part of the space has clear, simple instructions. The loft design makes it feel HUGE for Tokyo standards. Discovered “étéco bread” nearby for the prettiest and best breakfast to go and “Arvo coffee” nearby that lets you eat bring your food in to eat with their coffee. We were two moms and two tweens and with extra futons, we slept well and the overall space didn’t make us feel cramped at all. It’s all so worth it.

Getting in was a bit confusing bc this loft is above a “share house” set up. So know that there are actually 2-3 flights of stairs to walk up with your luggage past the “shared house” space!

Very nice and easy

The layout and size of the apartment and the location

Nothing