If you are traveling to Japan with family or a group of friends, the standard hotel room—often just large enough for two single beds and a suitcase—can feel like a compromise. MIMARU is an apartment hotel brand designed to solve that specific problem. Instead of a cramped bedroom, a MIMARU room gives you a separate living area, a dining table, and a full kitchen with cooking utensils, all within a space that sleeps four to ten guests. This guide lays out exactly what MIMARU is, what you can expect to pay, and how it stacks up against capsule hotels and traditional ryokan, based on verified guest reviews and official property listings.

Last checked: 2026-09-14

Type: Apartment hotel / serviced apartment brand · Locations (from inputs): Tokyo (Akasaka, Hatchobori, Shinjuku West), other Japan properties · Room capacity: 4 to 10 guests per room · Standard amenities: Dining table, kitchen, cooking utensils, private bathroom, air conditioning (location-dependent) · Review signal: Excellent rating on TripAdvisor for MIMARU Tokyo Akasaka; positive review on Reddit for Shinjuku West · Brand positioning: Spacious family-friendly apartment hotel

How we researched this

Last checked: [Today’s date in English form].

Sources reviewed: Official MIMARU website, TripAdvisor property pages, Expedia hotel listings, Booking.com property pages, travel blog (thetokyochapter.com), user community (Reddit).

We relied exclusively on written, publicly accessible documentation and verified guest reviews. We did not conduct on-site visits or staff interviews.

MIMARU at a glance

Type

Apartment hotel / serviced apartment brand

Room capacity

4 to 10 guests per room

Key feature

In-room kitchen, dining table, and cooking utensils in every apartment

Brand positioning

Spacious, family-friendly apartment hotel for medium- to long-term stays

What is a MIMARU?

MIMARU is an apartment hotel brand operating in Japan, with a focus on rooms that are substantially larger than the typical Tokyo hotel room. According to the MIMARU corporate brochure, all rooms are described as spacious, starting at approximately 38 square meters (about 409 square feet). This is roughly three to four times the size of a standard business hotel room in central Tokyo.

The defining feature of a MIMARU property is the in-room configuration. Every apartment includes a fully furnished kitchen, a dining table, and cooking utensils. As one TripAdvisor user review of MIMARU Tokyo Station East noted, “all rooms have a bedroom, kitchen, and dining” area, making the apartment suitable for group trips of four to eight people.

Apartment hotel basics

An apartment hotel, also called a serviced apartment, combines the privacy of a rental apartment with the services of a hotel. At MIMARU, that means you get a front desk, daily housekeeping, and hotel-style amenities such as free high-speed internet, air conditioning, and an air purifier in each room. But unlike a standard hotel, you are not limited to a bedroom and a bathroom. The separate dining area and kitchen allow you to prepare meals, which is a practical advantage for families with young children or groups with dietary preferences.

Kitchen and space features

The kitchen in a MIMARU room is not a token kitchenette. The official property listings for MIMARU Tokyo Hatchobori on Expedia list a full kitchenette, a dining area, a flatscreen TV, and a bidet. A detailed review published by Excursions Japan describes a typical MIMARU room as “very spacious, with a comfortable dining area, fully equipped kitchen, toilet,” and separate sleeping quarters. The ability to cook and eat together in the room is a core part of the brand’s offering, and it is a feature that standard hotel rooms in Japan rarely provide.

Takeaway: MIMARU is an apartment hotel, not a standard hotel. The space and kitchen are the primary reasons travelers choose it.

How much does it cost to stay at a MIMARU hotel?

MIMARU positions itself as a moderate-to-premium apartment hotel brand. Because room sizes and locations vary, the cost per night fluctuates significantly across properties. However, the pricing reflects the fact that you are renting an apartment, not a single hotel room. When you split the nightly rate across four to ten guests, the per-person cost often compares favorably to booking two or three separate standard hotel rooms.

For example, the Expedia listing for MIMARU TOKYO IKEEBUKURO shows amenity details and property information typical of the brand, while the MIMARU TOKYO KINSHICHO listing on the same platform provides similar pricing structures. The MIMARU TOKYO SHINJUKU WEST property, located in a busy commercial district, tends to command a higher rate than locations farther from the main train hubs. Across the board, guests should expect to pay more than a budget business hotel but less than a luxury five-star property with comparable square footage.

One notable point for longer visits: because every room includes laundry facilities and a kitchen, MIMARU is well suited for medium- to long-term stays. The corporate brochure explicitly states that the rooms are designed for “medium- to long-term” travel, which means the nightly cost can be justified by the savings on restaurant meals and laundry services over a multi-day stay.

Takeaway: MIMARU is not a budget option, but the cost-per-guest for groups is often competitive with standard hotels when you account for the space and kitchen.

Are MIMARU hotels good? A look at guest reviews

Guest feedback across multiple platforms consistently highlights three strengths: space, cleanliness, and staff helpfulness. On TripAdvisor, the MIMARU Tokyo Hatchobori property holds an excellent rating, with reviews frequently mentioning the practical layout of the apartments. The Expedia listing for MIMARU TOKYO SHINJUKU WEST indicates that guest reviews give top marks for family-friendly amenities and helpful staff, reinforcing the brand’s focus on families.

A Reddit user who stayed at MIMARU Shinjuku West described the apartments as clean and practical, with a decent location for exploring the city. Another TripAdvisor review for MIMARU Tokyo Station East characterized the property as a “great apartment hotel” that is “great for families,” specifically referencing the in-room kitchen and dining setup as the reason for the positive experience.

“Clean and practical apartments, and the staff were friendly and helpful.”

The travel blog The Tokyo Chapter, which focuses on family travel, highlights MIMARU as a strong choice for families visiting Japan. The blog’s assessment aligns with the verified reviews on TripAdvisor and Expedia, which consistently note that the brand delivers on its core promise of space and self-catering capability.

“As an apartment hotel, all rooms have a bedroom, kitchen, and dining area suitable for 4–8 person group trips.”

Takeaway: Verified guest reviews support the claim that MIMARU delivers clean, spacious apartments with helpful staff, particularly for families and groups.

What is a Japanese hotel with small, boxy rooms called?

The question often arises when travelers compare MIMARU to other accommodation types in Japan. The small, boxy rooms that dominate budget travel are called capsule hotels. A capsule hotel provides a sleeping pod—essentially a bed enclosed in a plastic or fiberglass shell—with shared bathroom facilities. Capsules are designed for single travelers who need a place to sleep for a night, not for families or groups.

Capsule hotels are fundamentally different from MIMARU in every meaningful way:

If you are looking for a traditional Japanese experience, a ryokan—a style of inn featuring tatami mat floors, futon bedding, and often communal baths—offers cultural immersion. However, ryokan rooms rarely include private kitchens, and the focus is on the included kaiseki dinner rather than self-catering. MIMARU does not attempt to replicate the ryokan experience; it is explicitly a modern, practical apartment hotel.

Takeaway: If you need space and a kitchen, MIMARU is the practical choice. If you want a cultural or budget-solo experience, a ryokan or capsule hotel serves a different purpose.

Which MIMARU is best in Tokyo?

MIMARU operates multiple properties across Tokyo, and the “best” location depends on your itinerary. Based on verified guest reviews and official listings, here is how the properties compare:

For first-time visitors who plan to use the Shinkansen, MIMARU Tokyo Station East or Hatchobori offers the most convenient access to major transit lines. For families wanting to be near entertainment and shopping, Shinjuku West is a strong contender. For those who prefer a calmer base with easy metro access, Akasaka or Kinshicho provide a more relaxed atmosphere.

Takeaway: Choose your MIMARU based on your daily travel routes; the property near the transit line you will use most is the best “value” for your time.

Sample use case: Using MIMARU as a base for exploring Tokyo

A typical scenario for a MIMARU stay is a family of five visiting Tokyo for five nights. Instead of booking two connecting hotel rooms—which is difficult to find and expensive—the family books one MIMARU apartment at Shinjuku West. They arrive at Narita Airport, take the Narita Express to Shinjuku Station, and walk ten minutes to the property.

Morning routine: parents brew coffee in the in-room kitchen while the kids eat cereal at the dining table. They pack a simple lunch of rice balls and fruit from the convenience store downstairs. They spend the day exploring Meiji Shrine and Harajuku. In the evening, rather than searching for a restaurant that accommodates five people, they buy prepared food from the department store basement (depachika) and eat in the apartment.

The laundry machine in the room means they pack for five days instead of seven, saving on baggage fees. The air purifier helps with allergies. At the end of the trip, the family agrees that the apartment made the trip less stressful than previous hotel stays.

Practical considerations and limitations

MIMARU is not the right choice for every traveler. The apartments are larger than standard hotel rooms, which means they are not located in the most expensive, most convenient spots. Properties like Shinjuku West are a short walk from the station, not directly connected to it. Some travelers may prefer the immediate convenience of a business hotel located above a train station.

Additionally, MIMARU does not offer the traditional Japanese ryokan experience. There is no tatami flooring, no futon bedding, and no onsen. Travelers seeking a cultural immersion should book a ryokan either for a night or two or as a separate leg of their trip. MIMARU fills a specific niche: modern, practical, family-friendly apartment living, not traditional Japanese hospitality.

Finally, pricing is location-dependent and can be higher during peak travel seasons. Because the rooms are in demand for families, booking well in advance is advisable, particularly during school holiday periods.

Takeaway: MIMARU trades a bit of immediate station convenience for significantly more space and a functioning kitchen. Know which you value more before booking.

Sources cited

• MIMARU Corporate Brochure (EN) — official brand documentation
• TripAdvisor — MIMARU Tokyo Hatchobori, MIMARU Tokyo Station East, MIMARU SUITES Tokyo Nihombashi, MIMARU Tokyo Akasaka
• Expedia — MIMARU TOKYO IKEBUKURO, MIMARU TOKYO KINSHICHO, MIMARU TOKYO SHINJUKU WEST, MIMARU TOKYO HATCHOBORI, MIMARU TOKYO GINZA EAST
• Booking.com — MIMARU Tokyo Shinjuku West property page
• The Tokyo Chapter (thetokyochapter.com) — travel blog focused on family travel in Japan
• Reddit — user review of MIMARU Shinjuku West
• Excursions Japan — review of MIMARU Tokyo property