Karryon’s Mark Harada checks into Mimaru Tokyo Ueno East, a hotel that feels like home, only in one of the world’s most exciting cities.
Many hotels promise a home away from home, but few truly deliver. Some go over the top, others underwhelm, and many are simply too big or impersonal.
In Tokyo, the challenge is even greater: rooms are far smaller than what most Aussies are used to, and cultural nuances – from service to style – can easily get lost in translation.
But Mimaru Hotels excels in creating a second home for its guests. Repeat visitors to Tokyo, my family (wife and 9-year-old daughter) and I have checked into the Mimaru Tokyo Ueno East property – part of a Japanese-owned and operated apartment hotel chain. The group already has an advantage in Ueno.
With four of its Tokyo properties located in the popular tourist district, it can cater to a wide range of preferences or priorities. But before we zoom in, let’s zoom out a little. The Mimaru Ueno East is located a short walk from Ueno Station – and that matters because this hub is one of Tokyo’s major railway stations, a gateway to almost everywhere, from Narita Airport to Kanazawa.
Step outside of the hotel and you’re within walking distance of Ueno Zoo, Ueno Park, world-class museums and one of my favourite parts of Tokyo: Okachimachi’s bustling Ameya-yokocho market, which serves up everything from street food to sneakers, adding another flavour of Tokyo to your stay. Be sure to spend a good deal of time here.
Size, style, substance
Despite its convenient location, arguably the biggest draw of this Mimaru hotel (and others I’ve stayed in), is space.
In a city where almost anything seems possible, one boundary remains fixed – room size. Standard Tokyo hotels usually come with rooms smaller than the average Aussie abode. Not so at Mimaru. Here, apartments start at nearly 40 square metres and stretch much larger depending on the category. For families, lugging prams, suitcases, and shopping hauls (which is inevitable in Tokyo), that’s a game-changer – and a slice of home.
But at the Mimaru Tokyo Ueno East, the style matches the size.
How many toilets feature in a hotel review? This one does.
In our Japanese Apartment room category, tatami mats, shoji screens and beautiful timber floorboards set the tone, giving the ‘bedroom’ a refined and traditional feel. Alongside the two western beds, two futons can be rolled out at night and packed away in the morning to maximise space – a clever and very Japanese design choice.
And of course, substance matches the style. The apartment-style setup includes a kitchenette with a nearly full-sized fridge, stovetop, microwave, crockery, cutlery and even cooking chopsticks (larger than a conductor’s baton). The simple joy of eating breakfast together around a proper dining table before hitting the Tokyo streets can’t be overstated.
Add in free wi-fi, a large TV, air-conditioning, dehumidifier and – this being Japan – a spotless bathroom designed with a separate washstand and bathing area (allowing multiple people to use the space at once), and you’ve got everything you need for comfort and convenience – just like home, minus the heated toilet sadly. After a long day exploring one of the world’s great cities, soaking in a deep tub feels more restorative than you might expect.
Amenities at Mimaru are thoughtful too. Daily towel changes and regular cleaning keep things fresh, and the hotel rents everything (for free) from rice cookers and toasters to kids’ bedding, games and accessibility items like shower chairs. There’s also a coin laundry, vending machines, luggage storage until 10pm (or overnight for a small fee), and a rooftop terrace with city views.
The various room categories are another highlight. Aside from Japanese Apartments, options range from Apartments with four single beds to Family Apartments with bunk beds, and Connecting Apartments that sleep up to eight. Then there’s the Pokémon Room, launched in July. Imagine 100 Pokémon, from Pikachu to Snorlax, hiding across your room – even on the plates and mugs. For families with young fans (or big kids at heart), it’s a magical Tokyo experience that only Mimaru can deliver.
When it comes to service, Mimaru Ueno East again makes you feel right at home. Its friendly faces provide a warm welcome at the start and end of every day while the multi-lingual (and multicultural) staff guarantee your enquiries are understood – and not underplayed. Mimaru’s staff are indeed one of its greatest assets, so be prepared to be welcomed home – even if it’s your first stay. And if it is your first stay at a Mimaru hotel, by the way, you’ll also love the restrained, yet resplendent Japanese garden that turns the otherwise ordinary exterior into something special.
Brand boost
It’s easy to see why the Mimaru brand is becoming increasingly popular among Australian families. With 15 properties across Tokyo, including in hot spots like Shinjuku, Asakusa and Ginza, there’s a Mimaru wherever you want to base yourself.
But what sets Mimaru apart is its ability to give guests the best of both worlds: the space and facilities of an apartment with the service and polish of a hotel. It’s not luxury in the traditional sense – you won’t find bellhops or sprawling lobbies – but it’s smart, stylish and superbly functional. And in a city that does its best to wear you out, Mimaru leaves you refreshed and ready to explore again.
For families, that matters. Having room for kids to stretch, a kitchen to whip up snacks, and the ability to retreat to a space that feels more like home than hotel is priceless. Stay at the Mimaru Tokyo Ueno East, and you’ll be welcomed home. For me and my family, Mimaru wasn’t just where we stayed in Tokyo – it became our second home. And that’s the sign of a hotel worth coming back to.
Travel tip
Families travelling the popular Tokyo–Osaka/Kyoto “Golden Route” can now take advantage of Mimaru’s same-day baggage delivery service. Previously, the service was only offered between hotels within these cities, but now the group is providing inter-city transfers – for around $50 per piece of luggage. Just drop your bags in the morning, and they’ll be waiting at your next Mimaru hotel that evening, even hundreds of kilometres away.
The writer was a guest of Mimaru Apartment Hotels; however, the hotel did not review or approve the content before publishing. All images by Mark Harada.
For more information, visit mimaruhotels.com/en.
AloJapan.com