Hotel Varkin Annex

"I stayed in a non smoking level. The room smelt like old cigarettes and house keeping could not remove it. They didn't have enough rooms for me to move into. The bed and pillows are too firm, I woke up with a sore head and neck. I wouldn't recommend it based on the room I had. Also, yes it's a love hotel. You will notice guests in and out of the building."

"Room 503 is one of the king rooms with open air tub. A non smoking room was requested well before check in date and the hotel accommodated the request. The level of cleanliness was excellent and met expectation. Very comfortable bed in a room with a nice variety of lighting features and setting choices using a control panel at the head of the bed. A disco ball was also available in the ceiling. The bath room was well laid out with toilet segregated in its own space apart from the sink for convenience and practicality. The shower and tub are also separated from the sink thru a glass door and both areas are spacious. The toilet is like one of the newest models with automated lid and other features associated with J toilets. A large variety of personal care products are available in the sink and shower spaces including bath salts multiple shampoos conditioners various liquid soaps mouthwashes and assorted facial products. Housekeeping provides a couple of airline sized ice creams in the freezer each day during cleaning. Towels are plastic wrapped and stored under the sink and by the folding glass screen door to the outside tub and shower. Room cleaning can be requested as partial or full by hanging the appropriate sign on the door handle when going out. Large smart tv can connect with youtube using a smart phone and the room has good wifi quality. Karaoke equipment and high mounted speakers are also part of the entertainment system. AC had its own RC on the coffee table but the room temp was tricky to get to a steady temp because it could become too hot or too cold so the AC had to be turned on and off accordingly until the temp steadied. There may have been a setting on the remote to simplify that but didn't bother to spend time on translating the buttons in Japanese. Both tubs feature water jets and mood lighting making them even more enjoyable. The outside shower features wand rainfall and water jets as well so it is very nice to use as well. There is also an electric massage chair in the room that is also nice to use. The area is also very convenient with many restaurants and shopping on both east and west sides of Ikebukuro station. There is a Donki store and kombini very close to the hotel. A pedestrian over pass is near so getting to the other side of the tracks and east of the train station is very easy. This is like a luxury hotel by my standard and it wasn't cheap but since it's vacation and infrequent staying here was a personal splurge because it was more comfortable and enjoyable than an econo hotel room. Looking forward to staying here again next time visiting Tokyo. Being an adult hotel the room key is dropped off at the front desk when going out and picked up again when returning to the room. The guest invoice with room number written on it was shown thru the slot each time picking up the key. Interaction with the front desk staff is thru a small slot at the counter for the purpose of customer privacy and it would be handy to have google translate on your phone ready to communicate easier with the staff for those who are not proficient speaking Japanese. Thanks for the excellent service!"

"Everything is great.\nRoom is quite large, clean and comfortable. Bathroom is large with bathtub with amenities.\nComplimentary icecream is provided as welcome gift.\nSofa, fridge, hot water pot are providednin the room.\n\nLocation is near Ikebukuro station that is convenient for travel in Tokyo.\n\nThere are free parking lot (4 spaces) in front of the hotel."