Review / Is Hotel Groove Kabukicho’s new go-to luxury stay? Located in the heart of Shinjuku, Tokyo – known for its buzzy nightlife – the Parkroyal hotel boasts quirky rooms with vinyl and cassette tape decor

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Telephone: +852-2680-8888

STORYVincenzo La Torre

May 16 , 2024

A music-themed room at Hotel Groove in Tokyo features cassette tapes on the wall. It was designed in collaboration with artist Yoshiaki Kaihatsu. Photo: Handout

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Hotel Groove is in entertainment complex Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, where a 900-seat traditional kabuki theatre will open soon – but did you know the buzzy nightlife district is named after the drama form?

Jam17 Dining and Jam17 Bar feature a lively open kitchen, a young crowd and sweeping views of Shinjuku; the eatery and bar are the social hubs of Hotel Groove and a great spot for people watching

If there’s one place that most visitors to Tokyo associate with the city’s nightlife, it has to be Kabukicho.

Located in the heart of bustling Shinjuku, the area – also known as Tokyo’s red-light district – comes alive at night, when loud music blaring from clubs and neon lights lighting up the surrounding high rises create a futuristic landscape reminiscent of a sci-fi movie.

Add to that all the bizarrely themed bars, ranging from robot restaurants to video game-inspired dance clubs frequented by wildly attired teenagers, and you have plenty of kitsch and over-the-top places to explore before grabbing a snack and a drink in one of the lantern-lit old alleys of nearby Golden Gai.

A night view of a busy street in Kabukicho, Tokyo. Photo: Getty Images

Founded in 1947, Kabukicho gets its name from kabuki theatre, the traditional Japanese drama form that was supposed to be the centrepiece of a theatre that was never built in the area after World War II.

A bit seedy but extremely safe, Kabukicho has never been known for its luxury accommodation but last year Hotel Groove, a Parkroyal hotel, opened in Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, a new entertainment complex filled with music venues, a cinema and a theatre.

Tokyu Kabukicho Tower in Tokyo houses Hotel Groove and a number of entertainment venues. Photo: Handout

As its name suggests, Hotel Groove pays homage to the neighbourhood’s history as a music destination. Colourful interiors feature touches such as vinyl record-shaped do-not-disturb signs, psychedelic patterns on floor carpets, and Marshall speakers – not to mention funky artworks that are also inspired by music. One room designed in collaboration with artist Yoshiaki Kaihatsu is decorated with cassette tapes, from which guests can pick and play in one of three old-school boom boxes available at the hotel.

A Japanese-style suite at Hotel Groove in Tokyo. Photo: Handout

The hotel’s only dining and drinking options, Jam17 Dining and Jam17 Bar, stay true to their names. Featuring a lively open kitchen, a young crowd and sweeping views of Shinjuku and beyond, the eatery and bar are the social hubs of Hotel Groove and a great spot for people watching.