My oldest son is a huge train fan, and my second son loves anything with wheels or an engine.
Since we live nearby, we rarely get the chance to stay at hotels in Tokyo, but I’ve always dreamed of staying somewhere with a view of the trains. This time, my husband had some business in the city for two days, so we decided to tag along and make a stay of it!
It turned out to be the ultimate hotel for vehicle lovers, so let me tell you all about it.
Basic Info and Access
Shinagawa Prince Hotel
For more photos, guest reviews, and current rates, check these platforms:
The Shinagawa Prince Hotel is more than just a place to stay—it’s a massive complex that blends standard hotel services with business facilities and leisure spots like restaurants and an aquarium. When we actually arrived, the buildings were so spread out that I got a bit lost!
- Main Tower / Annex Tower: Great for families and travelers here for leisure and sightseeing.
- East Tower: Features all single rooms, making it a more budget-friendly and accessible option.
- N Tower: Tailored for business. There’s a dedicated lounge that makes it really easy to get work done.
Please note that the Main Tower and N Tower may have separate booking pages, so be careful when making your reservation.
Walking up the slope from Shinagawa Station toward the hotel…
You’ll find yourself in a bit of an open space. When I walked straight into the black building right in front of me, it turned out to be the N Tower.
I actually had a reservation for the Main Tower. I didn’t realize it and ended up checking in at the N Tower by mistake… but they were still able to handle the check-in for me there!
Inside the Room
Here’s what our room looked like (a 21m² Twin Room in the Main Tower).
The room is a bit cozy and compact, but it’s very clean and well-kept.
They also had amenities for children. The slippers are so cute!
Looking out the window, we saw a stunning view of the city!! The kids were absolutely thrilled.
Vehicles in sight
We could see the Narita Express (N’EX) ,Nozomi Shinkansen,
The Tokiwa Limited Express,the Shonan-Shinjuku Line,
The Keikyu Line (it runs right next to the hotel side),
The Toei Asakusa Line, along with the Keihin-Tohoku Line, the Saphir Odoriko, the regular Odoriko, the Yokosuka Line, and so many others!
Since Haneda Airport is nearby, you can even spot some airplanes, too.
Additionally, since the road is right below us, we could see plenty of buses and taxis. We could also spot many construction vehicles due to the ongoing Linear Chuo Shinkansen work, the Namboku Line extension, and the massive redevelopment around the station. My younger son loves construction machinery, so he was overjoyed with the view. I heard the work will continue until around 2029, so this might be a special sight you can only catch right now.
If you look as far as you can to the left side of the room, this is what you see. You can even spot Tokyo Tower from here.
I heard they’re building new skyscrapers as part of the redevelopment, so I wonder if it might become harder to see the trains once they’re finished?
Looking towards the right side of the room, it looks like this. And if you squint your eyes…
You can see a “railway crossing that never opens.” This area seems to be quite famous as a prime train-viewing spot.
This time, I booked a guaranteed “Train View” plan.
Given the building’s layout, I think you can see the trains from most rooms facing the station, but you won’t be able to see them at all from rooms on the opposite side. It’s a good idea to check the specific plans when booking. They also offer slightly larger corner view rooms and rooms with bigger bed sizes as well.
Shinagawa Prince Hotel
You can check the availability and details of the Train View Plan here.
They were so excited to see all the vehicles!
Since the kids tend to jump on the beds, we pushed them together (the bedside table in the middle was fixed, so we couldn’t move that, but we managed to slide the headboards together). Even after moving the beds, I noticed that the floor underneath was perfectly clean.
Dinner in our room
We enjoyed the yakitori and onigiri we’d picked up at Tokyo Station, along with some bread we grabbed at Shinagawa Station. As expected, the yakitori and rice balls were a huge hit. They were devoured in no time!
The bread was from a shop I happened to stumble upon and was curious about. It was so delicious that I really wish I’d bought more…
The onigiri and yakitori are from the same shops I introduced in my previous post. I just couldn’t forget how good they were, so I had to get them again!
Bath time!
Since letting them hold the yakitori would have left their hands a sticky mess, we decided to head straight to the bath right after eating.
Initially, there was a slight scent—perhaps from the disinfectant—that reminded me of being inside an airplane, but it didn’t bother us anymore after we finished bathing. The place seemed very well-cleaned, which was lovely.
The faucet was the type where you have to mix the hot and cold water yourself to adjust the temperature. My younger son, who wasn’t really listening to my instructions, struggled a bit with it being too hot or too cold (lol), but after a few failed attempts, he seemed to have learned his lesson.
The water pressure was great, so the tub filled up quickly. The bathtub itself was a bit on the small side—not quite enough room to fully stretch out your legs.
Services
They had everything you might need—laundry facilities, coin lockers, and even a luggage storage counter.
There were coin lockers located right around the lobby area.
They also have a storage area for oversized luggage, which is a huge relief when you want to walk around the neighborhood.
The signs said the service is available from 8 AM to 10 PM, so it’s probably best to double-check the operating hours beforehand.
Shinagawa Prince Hotel
For more information about the facility, please check here.
A Nighttime Stroll
Since my eldest son had taken a nap, he was still full of energy. We decided to take the opportunity to go on a little exploration of the neighborhood. My younger son, however, seemed to have pushed past his physical limits and was fast asleep in the baby carrier.
We decided to walk over to the other side of the station, and as we were strolling along, we came across some beautiful illuminations!
My eldest son was drawn to them like a magnet. As we were wandering around freely, we suddenly discovered a ramen shop. It was 8:00 PM—there was me, the fast-asleep younger son, and a very hungry eldest son. The shop looked clean and inviting from the outside, and it seemed like there was plenty of seating, so we decided to head inside.
The broth was a bit on the “kotteri” (rich and heavy) side. Since I personally prefer clear, light soups, it wasn’t exactly my favorite… but my eldest son absolutely loved it!
One great thing was that you could customize the flavor as you liked. Personally, I found the vinegar and yuzu powder to be a delicious addition. For those who prefer a spicy kick, they also provided spicy miso, shichimi (seven-spice blend), and ichimi (chili powder) on the table.
While the shop wasn’t completely packed, there was a steady flow of customers, mostly men in their 20s to 40s.
It operates on a ticket system—you buy your meal ticket at the machine first, and then pick up your tray once your number is called. I was glad to see they accepted credit cards and digital payments! We eventually met up with my husband and headed back to the hotel by 9:00 PM.
Safety in Japan
Even after dark, the area felt safe enough for a woman and children to walk around. We always made sure to stay aware of our surroundings, of course, but the high level of public safety is truly one of the wonderful things about traveling in Japan.
Time to sleep.
We were able to borrow two bed guards. A quick tip: if you need them, you should call “Housekeeping” rather than the front desk to make the request.
My eldest son spent quite a while watching the trains with my husband. I thought my younger son might wake up once we got to the room, but he was clearly exhausted—though he woke up a few times during the night, he managed to stay down until morning.
Breakfast with Yesterday’s Leftovers
We had leftover rice balls and bread for breakfast while watching the trains. During the morning rush hour, there were so many trains passing by that we never got bored.
Around 8:30 AM, the morning sun became quite dazzling, so we had to be careful with the glare.
Next Destination: Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa
Check-out was at 11:00 AM. Since Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa opens at 10:00 AM, we decided to head out to match the opening time.
By the way, guests staying at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel can receive a discount for the aquarium. To get the discount, you just need to show your room key or provide your hotel name, stay dates, and room number.
Some accommodation plans even include tickets, so I highly recommend checking your plan in advance!
Shinagawa Prince Hotel
You can find the best rates and book your room through the link below.
While searching for hotels with train views in Tokyo, I found several options around Tokyo Station. However, I personally chose Shinagawa Prince Hotel because it offered the best balance between cost and location. We had a wonderful time as a family, seeing so many of the trains we had only ever seen on TV right before our eyes.
Check out these hotels around Shinagawa Station for your reference.
