‘I couldn’t believe my eyes when I looked out of my hotel window’

It’s one thing to have a hotel room with an incredible view. But it’s something else when you’re staring straight at one of the most iconic locations you’ve seen in movies, TV shows, and social media feeds.
I actually couldn’t quite believe my eyes when I first walked into my King Premium room at Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya during a recent trip to Japan.
The location was in the middle of the action, this I knew, but staring at the world-famous Shibuya crossing from my window wasn’t something I was expecting.
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Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle collection, is located within walking distance of Shibuya Scramble Crossing – one of the world’s busiest and most well-known pedestrian crossings.
As such, it’s nestled within Japan’s most popular shopping and dining districts, the property first opening in August 2023, making it just over a year old.
Shibuya itself is a world-class city and a cultural mosaic. It’s artful and energetic, and the second you step out of the hotel you are in the middle of a city abuzz with exceptional experiences, culture destinations, and unique cuisines.
The Hotel Indigo brand prides itself on being the “world’s neighbourhood hotel”, aiming to provide a gateway to discover some of the most inspiring neighbourhoods, and this property certainly hit that nail on the head.
Other than the crossing, Shibuya is home to several bars and izakayas (traditional pubs), so bar-hopping should be on your itinerary. Plus you can find cafés, restaurants, and food stalls everywhere.
You’re also mere steps from Shibuya Center Gai, the perfect spot to visit at night and surround yourself with the quintessential Japanese neon lights. There’s also the Shibuya Sky observation deck nearby if you want to enjoy the view from up high (though I didn’t need that on this occasion thanks to my room!)
Shibuya Station is less than five-minutes away for easy transport to other areas of the city. Or you can head to the Shibuya Fukuras bus station, also only a few minutes to walk, for a direct airport limousine bus service to Haneda International Airport.
I’ll admit I didn’t spend a whole lot of time in the room, given everything there was to explore and less than 12 hours to do it in.
But, I would stay again in a heartbeat.
Thew views provided by the King Premium Scramble View High Floor Bath (yes, I certainly also made use of the bath after a day of walking and exploring) did for a moment spark a tiny bit of concern.
I had to get up at 4:30am the next morning for an early flight home, so I was incredibly pleased when I discovered some of the best blockout blinds a hotel can have. The ones with an actual channel on either side so you are completely in the dark.
The windows also reduced much of the noise from outside.
It took me a few minutes to work out the air con controls and switch it from fan mode to cooling mode – Google translate really did come in handy in that department. And once that was set I can confirm max comfort levels were reached.
The 272-room hotel features a unique selection of vinyl records in each guestroom – paying homage to Shibuya’s music culture – and during the day (if it’s clear) it also offers more sensational views of Tokyo Skytree and Mount Fuji.
There are linear design features throughout the room and the hotel’s public areas, of course drawn from Shibuya’s much-photographed Scramble Crossing.
There were so many trendy and quirky details in the room. Most were wonderful, although I did remember how much I dislike ticking analogue clocks. I had one on my bedside table which ended up spending the night in the bathroom instead.
Check in was smooth and overall I couldn’t fault the service at the hotel. The wonderful reception staff would have been happy to organise an airport transfer for me if I’d needed it and they also went the extra mile to make sure I would get breakfast.
Again, because I had to leave at an ungodly hour I missed the traditional breakfast service which starts at 6:30am.
So instead, the wonderful kitchen staff put together a breakfast box for me to enjoy on my way to the airport.
We all know Japan do boxed meals very well, and this was no exception. It featured cut fruit, yoghurt, salad, juice, ham and cheese Turkish sandwiches, a danish AND a croissant. Really made me wish I could have stayed longer to enjoy the full spread on offer.
Like I said – I’ll definitely be back!
The writer stayed as a guest of Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya, an IHG hotel.