Hoshino Resorts OMO5 Tokyo Otsuka

"Hoshino Resorts OMO5 Tokyo Otsuka, located in Otsuka, offers 125 guest rooms designed for longer stays with split-level configurations. The hotel features a cheery all-day café, and its neighborhood guides, called rangers, provide complimentary tours. It is a budget-minded option from the Japanese hotel chain Hoshino Resorts." - Keith Flanagan, Adam H. Graham

"Start from the top. What's this place like?OMO5 Tokyo Otsuka is like a hotel in bento-box form, with wood paneling in a grid pattern, smooth metals, and all elements compartmentalized just so. Is it a one-off hotel, or is there a brand behind it?Hoshino Resorts, the group behind the elegant and upscale Hoshinoya hotels, launched the far more casual OMO5 concept in 2018. What can we expect from the rooms?The rooms here are cute, cozy, and colorful, with lofted beds that make efficient use of the floor plan. Don't expect luxury here; the name of the game is functionality. Connectivity is pristine, amenities are easily accessed from a centralized daybed, and in-room sake ceremonies are just a phone call away. Any good food options on campus, or are we better off venturing elsewhere?The OMO Cafe does no-frills, fun food: at breakfast, request a vol-au-vent, a classic French puff pastry filled with sweet or savory ingredients. Served piping hot, the dish has a magical contrast of textures, with the flaky dough holding firm against the mushy contents in its core. How's the service?OMO5 is a shrine to efficiency; from check-in to check-out, you are ushered through a world where every last space is filled with intention. But when you're ready to step outside, reserve a tour with the OMO Ranger, which will curate bespoke adventures. Who else stays here?Millennials donning the latest fast fashion and talking about the little-known noodle bar they discovered for lunch. And the neighborhood? How is it?Otsuka is a nostalgic area that recalls Edo (Old Tokyo). The new OMO5 stands out as a marked modernization, yet it somehow doesn't feel out of place. This is a neighborhood on the move, one that increasingly appeals to a younger traveler, and OMO5 feels like an inviting stop along the way. Any constructive feedback?The showerhead isn't affixed to the wall, and some travelers might find that bothersome. Anything we should know before booking a stay here?Guest rooms incorporate elements of Japanese culture, particularly in the in-room wood scaffolding. Known natively as "yagura," the design element is unique to this region of the world. Bottom line: Worth it? Why?Built to be efficient and economical, this is one of the best hotels for the price in Tokyo." - Brad Japhe