Minimalist rooms with record players, cool coffee shop
Japan, 〒155-0031 Tokyo, Setagaya City, Kitazawa, 3 Chome−9−19 マスタードホテル 1F Get directions
"Neighborhood: ShimokitazawaPrice: From $117 per night Nestled in the heart of the ever-so-trendy Shimokitazawa, Mustard embodies the neighborhood’s laidback vibe. Mustard acts as a meeting place for creatives to build community, create art, and hold performances. A fun bit of urban planning history is on display in the surrounding area: When officials buried the tracks of the Odakyu suburban metro line underground, a new opportunity arose to create more green space in an already cramped Tokyo. From there, the path from Higashi Kitazawa station all the way down to Setagaya Daita was created and is now home to shops, restaurants, and a handful of new hangouts." - Paris Wilson
"In heart of trendy Shimokitazawa, Mustard embodies the neighborhood’s laidback vibe; a hostel-vibe haven for streetwear savants who gather to co-work or grab lunch on the outdoor patio and steps that lead down to the pedestrian thoroughfare connecting the area’s disparate side streets. A fun bit of urban planning history is on display in the surrounding area: when officials buried the tracks of the Odakyu suburban metro line underground, a new opportunity presented itself to urban planners: create ample swaths of green space overtop; a novelty in cramped Tokyo. In came a long path from Higashi Kitazawa station all the way down to Setagaya Daita with shops, restaurants, and a handful of new hangouts like this trendy budget stay." - Brandon Presser
"Why book? A hostel vibe with young, international guests and visitors who sip flat whites in the cafe-cum-lobby. Set the scene In heart of trendy Shimokitazawa, Mustard embodies the neighborhood’s laidback vibe; a haven for streetwear savants who gather to co-work or grab lunch on the outdoor patio and steps that lead down to the pedestrian thoroughfare connecting the area’s disparate side streets. The backstory When officials buried the tracks of the Odakyu suburban metro line underground, a new opportunity presented itself to urban planners: create ample swaths of green space overtop; a novelty in cramped Tokyo. In came a long path from Higashi Kitazawa station all the way down to Setagaya Daita with shops, restaurants, and a handful of new hangouts like this trendy budget stay. Rooms No-frills rooms do have one little perk: a record player; apropos at a hotel that curates a fresh playlist from local artists every month. Carpeting—to reduce noise of rolling suitcases and other guests—could use a refresh. Neighborhood Over the last decade, the gravity of Tokyo’s coolest neighborhoods has continued shifting southwestward, beyond the circle of the Yamanote train line and out into the boroughs of Setagaya and Meguro. Shimokitazawa reigns supreme as the coolest district in all of Tokyo; a scatter of tradition and modern construction replete with chic espresso shops, vintage clothing stores, and plenty of curry parlors and ramen joints. Anything left to mention? Mustard has a sister property in Shibuya (no, not Ketchup) which earns high marks as well; we’re just partial to this more neighborhood-y location." - Brandon Presser
"The Mustard Hotels group aims to add the “secret ingredient” to travel in Tokyo, and its location in the Shibuya’s nightlife district is nothing if not flavorful. There are no fewer than nine different floor plans for guest accommodations, from hostel-style compartment bunks divided by gender to varying sizes of bright and airy twins and doubles. Guests share a common bathroom on each floor, with a laundry facility on the third. All have access to the seventh-floor common room, an open space for socializing, including balcony access, TV and mini-kitchen. And, fittingly for one of Tokyo’s more youthful corners, there are not just bikes for rent, but skateboards as well." - Tablet Hotels
"Opened in late 2021, the 60-room Mustard is a minimalist boutique hotel in the center of Shimokitazawa; I enjoyed that guest rooms include record players with a selection of vinyl and that the on-site café serves third-wave coffee." - Matthew Kepnes
