OMO5 Gotanda - Tokyo
People often say Tokyo is expensive, and while that can be true, you can also find some great deals if you just know where to look. We were so pleasantly surprised with OMO5. I honestly can’t believe what you get for the price, and it’s a perfect hotel for larger families or a group of friends.
THE PROPERTY
OMO5 is located in the Gotanda neighborhood, which is known for its endless options of restaurants and food. When you enter the building, you go up to the 14th floor, where the elevator opens up to the reception area. Behind the elevators is a dining area where they serve breakfast in the morning, and also has a little café where you can get treats and snacks throughout the day. It’s also just a lounge area during the day, with games where you can relax and play while you grab a drink. Ahead of the elevator is the lobby, where you check in, and there is also another lounge area with lockers to hold your bags if you check out early or need to hold them when you check out. They can also hold your bags for you in the back if need be. There is also an aerial garden on this floor where you can relax around the shallow pond. There is an amenities station with things like wash clothes and toothbrushes, and you can take them as you need.
On the 15th floor, there is a laundry room with a water station to fill up your bottles as well as a vending machine. Also on the 15th floor is a full gym.
The most unique part of this hotel, though, is its personal offerings. They offer “Go-KINJO” Service, helping hotel guests discover places within walking distance to the hotel. There is a Go-KINJO map in the lobby, which is a map of the immediate area that pinpoints local spots not found in guidebooks, specifically restaurants, and it is color-coded and categorized by genre/type of food. The hotel is surrounded by 1300 restaurants within a 2km radius, so it’s really nice to have this helpful guide because it’s a bit intimidating finding somewhere to eat with all the options at your fingertips. This is especially helpful if you have any dietary restrictions. Every day from 4-6 pm, they have staff in the lobby ready to recommend places to eat and visit in the neighborhood.
Something fun they also do every night is an OMO Chill night party, where you toast to a good night with non-alcoholic sparkling wine. They decorate the lobby and roll out a cart where you can order alcoholic drinks and a variety of treats served in the café. Then, at 9 pm, it’s Kanpai time, when everyone cheers for a wonderful night. I didn’t realize they did this every night when we participated, and it really is a fun element of the hotel. The fact that they offer all these things at this amazing price point is kind of mind-blowing. You get SO much for your money.
Other offerings include the Gotanda Gourmet Express pass, where you can purchase a ticket and, for 30 minutes, experience a popular, high-traffic restaurant that would otherwise be difficult to book. They also offer a guided tour through the Gotanda hills building, which is home to 40 unique restaurants and a popular spot amongst locals. They can help guide you as you try different snacks and foods. Because Gotanda is known for its food, I love that this is heavily incorporated into the hotel offerings. If you love food, this is the area for you.
Another unique amenity the hotel offers is a dog garden (Yes, the hotel is dog-friendly). In the dog garden, you will find an indoor dog lounge, an outdoor dog run, a shower room, and a photo spot. There is a lush, open area for dogs to run and play.
THE ROOM
OMO5 offers the traditional 2 and 4 person guest rooms, but they also have rooms that can house up to 6 people, as well as rooms that are dog friendly. We stayed in an OMO House Suite, which comfortably fit all 5 of us. It had 3 single beds, with 2 of them a bottom and 1 on a top bunk, and then a large “sofa” that could be transformed into a bed. When I say it was large, I mean larger than a King-Size bed once it’s converted. The room also has a small kitchenette with a stove top, cutlery and dinnerware, a tea kettle, a fridge, a microwave, and a small table that seats 4. The bathroom had two sinks and a water closet with bath and shower, and a separate toilet. The bathroom is divided so that if 5 friends are staying together, they can have privacy while using the bathroom at the same time. I want to note that even the budget hotels in Japan have heated toilets and bidets, which is the best thing ever. (heated toilets I mean, I’ve never used a bidet) They even had pajamas laid out for us.
But the best part of the room was the view. Our room was on the top floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides. The entire wall is windows, and the view is amazing. Because Gotanda doesn’t have many tall buildings, you can really see so much of the city from up high. These views are thousands of dollars at other hotels, so it’s such a treat to get them without breaking the bank.
THE FOOD
Because the area is riddled with more restaurants than you can count, the hotel does not offer a large selection of food. They offer breakfast every morning for purchase, with options for a Western-style or a more traditional Japanese-style breakfast. The western breakfast is a simple eggs-and-toast breakfast, while the Japanese breakfast features rice balls with a variety of high-quality fillings, such as grilled salmon and simmered beef. There is also a small buffet table with salads and drinks. Breakfast is served at the OMO Café & Bar, an all-day café with large floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping views of the city. The Café is open to everyone, not just hotel guests. Outside of breakfast, the café menu consists of drinks, sweets (ie, parfaits and croissants), vegan curry, and alcoholic beverages. They even offer an appetizer plate with grilled or fried chicken from a Gotanda specialty shop. We had the tiramisu at the café, and it was so good that we ended up ordering it again on our second night.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Gotanda is known for its food life. Instead of shopping malls, they have food malls and 1300 restaurants in a 2-km radius, which is honestly insane. When you walk down the street, it’s literally restaurant after restaurant at your fingertips. You will literally never be out of options. The neighborhood is a little farther from central Tokyo, so I would take that into consideration. It's only a 6-minute walk to Gotanda Station on the Yamato Line, which covers most of Japan, so public transport is very easy from the hotel. I have a slightly restricted diet, so I couldn’t enjoy as much food in Japan as I would like, but if you are a foodie, this is the neighborhood for you. I love that area felt less touristy, with mostly locals around, so you know you're going to get a more authentic Japanese experience and more authentic food options.
Full honesty, I loved this hotel. If you are coming to Japan on a budget, and even if not, I highly recommend it. To me, it felt like having your own apartment with the extra amenities of the hotel, so you still have this independence while also having the anchor of a hotel staff to help you navigate a new city. I can not believe the price of this hotel because for what you get, it’s a STEAL. OMO5 Gotanda, I am truly impressed and would definitely stay here again.