InTokyo, I wanted to try out different types of hotels, so after staying ina capsule hotel and a budget chain – APA Hotels – I was looking for slightly higher-quality accommodation.

I love bustling, iconic places, so I was looking for a hotel with a view of the world-famous Shibuya Crossing.

And the only hotel that offers rooms with a guaranteed view of the Shibuya scramble crossing is Indigo.

I only found out what the reality was once I got there.

Booking and price

Indigo is part of the IHG group, but you can book a room through booking.com for practically the same price.

The problem with Booking.com, however, is that you don’t know exactly which room you’re booking, whereas on the IHG website you can choose a room with a view of the Shibuya crossroads straight away.

In the end, I’ll only be staying here for one night, for which I’m paying 72 300 jpy including breakfast.

That’s a fairly average price for a 5* hotel in Tokyo – nothing out of the ordinary.

• 👉 Book your stay on booking.com
• 👉 Book your stay onIHG.com

Location and check-in

Hotel Indigo is situated in a high-rise building approximately 350 metres from Shibuya Crossroads.

However, as soon as I step out of the underground station, I find myself wondering just how good a view I might have of this iconic crossroads.

The building really isn’t anywhere near the crossroads, and when I’m standing at the pedestrian crossing, I can hardly see it at all. Strange. We’ll see.

The main entrance to the hotel is located in a side street, whilst the alternative entrance is at street level via the shopping centre’s lobby.

The reception is on the 12th floor.

I arrive at the hotel around 10:00, but check-in is strictly at 15:00, as is the case in the vast majority of hotels in Tokyo.

I leave my luggage at reception free of charge and head off to Yoyogi Park to see the sacred Kiyomasa Well and the Meiji Shrine.

I return at 3.30 pm and go up to my room.

Check-in is very quick; I simply show my passport and am given my room card. The whole process takes less than three minutes. I’m also given a small welcome drink – a fruit juice.

I’m struck by the interesting design of the carpets in the corridors, the pattern of which resembles the main entrance to the building.

A cosy room, but where’s the view of Shibuya?!

At first glance, the room looks more like a modern, yet very tastefully and beautifully cosy little flat.

It’s as if I were staying at someone’s home. I really like this style!

The floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides create an airy feel – I’ve got a corner room. To be honest, it’s one of the nicest I’ve seen in a while!

I walk over to the window, but no matter how hard I look, I can’t see Shibuya Crossing.

Ah, I see. A 10x zoom on my phone does the trick…

Although the room is lovely, this is a big disappointment. I booked the Hotel Indigo precisely because it’s the only one with a guaranteed view of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. But you can barely make it out with the naked eye.

In the dark, the Shibuya Crossing looks like this from the room:

But apart from the fact that I can’t see Shibuya, the views of Tokyo are really great!

As the Tokyo skyline is lit up all night long, I’m a bit worried about how dark the room will be. All the windows have sun-blocking blinds, but more importantly, they have 100% blackout blinds, so the room is completely dark at night.

Comfort above all else

There’s nothing to be done about it; there are worse things happening in the world.

My opinion of the hotel is largely shaped by the bed. I can say with a clear conscience that I’ve never experienced a more comfortable hotel bed on any of my travels!

I simply slept brilliantly.

And overall, the room is very comfortable.

There’s a sofa with an armchair and a small table (though there isn’t a comfortable desk for working on a computer), and, most importantly, plenty of storage space and wardrobes.

Other facilities in the room include:

• 2 free bottles of water (1 litre)
• Coffee machine
• Electric kettle
• Paid minibar
• Slippers
• Bathrobes
• Standing scales
• Glasses
• Safe
• Iron

Sockets, including USB-A and USB-C ports, are located both by the bed and on the counter with the coffee machine. The only thing that bothers me a little is that the air conditioning controls are located only in the entrance hall and not directly by the bed.

The bathroom is unusually spacious by Japanese standards.

The toilet is separated from the rest of the bathroom by a door, as is the shower cubicle with a bath. Everything is, of course, spotlessly clean and works perfectly.

In the bathroom, you can make use of the following items free of charge, for example:

• A razor (though no shaving foam is provided)
• Toothbrush with toothpaste
• A comb
• Cotton buds for cleaning your ears
• Hairdryer

A fantastic breakfast

I get up at around 7.00 in the morning and go for breakfast in the hotel restaurant, which is located one floor below the reception.

The restaurant is very spacious, so it’s no problem to find a seat even at peak times.

I find the breakfast perfect; it’s a combination of à la carte dishes and an extensive buffet.

The buffet selection is very varied, and the individual dishes on offer are of high quality and tasty.

I may well have come across even more extensive buffets before, but the varied selection and the excellent flavour of everything really impressed me at the Indigo Shibuya hotel.

I’d particularly recommend the lovely sweet canapés and chocolate desserts, which I still remember to this day.

The hotel’s restaurants, bars and cafés

As well as breakfast, you can also enjoy standard dining options right in the hotel.

On the 11th floor, in the same room where breakfast is served, you’ll find theGallery 11 restaurant and bar.

I was particularly taken with the beautiful outdoor terrace, which offers a divine view of Tokyo.

I’d had my fill from restaurants outside the hotel, so in the evening I just popped into the local bar for a drink.

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Prices for alcoholic cocktails range from 1 800 jpy to 2 200 jpy.

The atmosphere at Gallery 11 is very pleasant and, much like a bedroom, I find it cosy and comfortable.

Other hotel services

On the floor where the reception is located, you can make use of a nice, modern but very small fitness centre. It feels crowded even with just three people using it. It’s open 24/7.

Of course, there’s also a laundry service available.

The ‘Laundry Service ’ service is simple to use. You place your dirty clothes in a special bag in your room; the housekeeping team will collect them and usually return them to your room, washed, by the following day.

Prices are relatively high – for example, you’ll pay 1 000 jpy for a T-shirt.

Conclusion – both a disappointment and a delight

I booked my stay at the Indigo Shibuya hotel mainly because of the guaranteed view of the Shibuya crossroads.

I did technically get that, but to be honest, I’d imagined it to be very different indeed. You need binoculars to see Shibuya.

On the other hand, the Indigo Hotel really did pleasantly surprise me in every other respect.

It’s exactly my sort of place. Cosy, understated luxury with a brilliant breakfast and the most comfortable bed I’ve ever had in a hotel.

So, unless you need a view of Shibuya, I can definitely recommend this hotel.

• 👉 Book your stay on booking.com
• 👉 Book your stay onIHG.com