---
title: "Hotel Gracery Shinjuku vs APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Ekimae Tower"
description: "Kabukicho nightlife against an east-side tower with a pool — four-star Shinjuku energy versus three-star Ryogoku value, and almost nothing in common except Tokyo."
url: "https://travelshifu.com/hotels/tokyo/compare/hotel-gracery-shinjuku-vs-apa-hotel-resort-ryogoku-ekimae-tower/"
type: "hotel comparison"
reviewed_on: "2026-08-06"
source: "TravelShifu"
---

# Hotel Gracery Shinjuku vs APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Ekimae Tower

Kabukicho nightlife against an east-side tower with a pool — four-star Shinjuku energy versus three-star Ryogoku value, and almost nothing in common except Tokyo.

## Why this pair

One is the stay you book to walk home from Golden Gai; the other is the stay you book for Skytree, sumo and a swimming pool at three-star pricing. When readers ask whether Tokyo should be a night-out base or a facilities base, these are the two answers on this site.

## Verdict

Gracery if Kabukicho is the point of the trip; the APA tower if you want a pool, a quieter east-side address and more facilities per yen.

Geography is the whole product difference. Gracery sits in Kabukicho, five minutes from JR Shinjuku, with Shinjuku Gyoen 0.6 km away. The APA is in Ryogoku: Sumo Hall 0.2 km, Edo-Tokyo Museum 0.3 km, Tokyo Skytree 1.2 km, Sensō-ji 2.1 km. Location scores favour Gracery, 9.22 against 8.74, which matches the nightlife-versus-sightseeing split.

Facilities run the other way. The APA lists an outdoor pool, a fitness centre, a garden and a children’s playground; Gracery lists no gym, no pool and no full restaurant, and amenities score 7.20 against the APA’s 8.32. That is why the three-star wins for families.

Room complaints land on both. Gracery’s are small room size and some staff not helpful; the APA’s are slow elevators, small room sizes and pricey restaurant options. Cleanliness favours Gracery, 8.71 against 8.03.

Check-in and check-out tip in opposite directions: Gracery from 02:00 PM, out by 11:00 AM; the APA from 03:00 PM until midnight, out by 10:00 AM — the earliest check-out of any hotel we cover.

**Best for:**
- Deciding between a Kabukicho night-out base and an east-side family tower
- Travellers who want a pool in Tokyo without a five-star rate

**Not for:**
- Anyone who wants a quiet Shinjuku street — Gracery is in the nightlife district
- Guests in a hurry at the APA; slow lifts are a recurring complaint in a tower this tall

## Head to head

| Criterion | Hotel Gracery Shinjuku | APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Ekimae Tower | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Official classification | 4-star | 3-star | Hotel Gracery Shinjuku |
| Position | Kabukicho 1-19-1. Shinjuku Gyoen 0.6 km, Meiji Jingu 2.5 km. | Sumida-ku Yokoami. Sumo Hall 0.2 km, Tokyo Skytree 1.2 km, Sensō-ji 2.1 km. | tie |
| Location (third-party guest score, /10 — display only) | 9.22, as of 12 December 2025 | 8.74, as of 8 December 2025 | Hotel Gracery Shinjuku |
| Cleanliness (third-party guest score, /10 — display only) | 8.71, as of 12 December 2025 | 8.03, as of 8 December 2025 | Hotel Gracery Shinjuku |
| Amenities (third-party guest score, /10 — display only) | 7.20, as of 12 December 2025 | 8.32, as of 8 December 2025 | APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Ekimae Tower |
| Pool | No pool listed | Outdoor pool listed | APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Ekimae Tower |
| What guests complain about | Small room size; some staff not helpful | Slow elevators; small room sizes; pricey restaurant options | Hotel Gracery Shinjuku |
| Check-in / check-out | From 02:00 PM, out by 11:00 AM | From 03:00 PM (latest arrival 12:00 AM), out by 10:00 AM | tie |

## Which is better for a night out in Shinjuku?

Hotel Gracery. It is in Kabukicho, about a five-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station, and that is the whole reason to book it. The APA tower in Ryogoku is a ride away from the nightlife and quieter after dark.

## Does the APA’s pool make up for the lower star rating?

For families, often yes. The APA is a three-star with an outdoor pool, a gym, a garden and a children’s playground, 1.2 km from Tokyo Skytree. Gracery is a four-star with a stronger location score but no gym, no pool and no full restaurant listed, and amenities at 7.20 out of 10.

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