Books line the lobby staircase at Tokyo’s Shiba Park Hotel.
Since I was a child, one of my favorite places has been the library — a place to find new books, curl up and read, or simply seek a quiet refuge from the clamor of the world. So on a recent trip to Tokyo, when I learned that the city’s Shiba Park Hotel was part lodging and part library, I was intrigued.
Here’s the scoop:
The Shiba Park Hotel in Tokyo’s Minato City district
Tokyo’s Shiba Park Hotel
Under the same ownership as the Park Hotel Tokyo, where many of the guest rooms have been transformed into artists’ canvases, the Shiba Park Hotel has a different theme — books.
More than 2,000 books are available to guests throughout the hotel, roughly half are in English and half in Japanese. There’s also a children’s book section with titles in both languages.
The property is located on a quiet side street in Tokyo’s Minato City district, a short walk from the Tokyo Tower and from Shiba Park, the urban green space that gives the hotel its name.
The book-filled lobby at the Shiba Park Hotel
The building dates back to 1948, when it originally served as a residence for women pharmacy students. But today, after renovations completed in 2023, it’s a 12-story boutique lodging designed for book lovers.
Adjacent to the entrance on the lobby level, the library lounge provides a place for guests to linger, browse, and read. Opposite the nearby reception desk, guests can help themselves to complimentary coffee, tea, and snacks around the clock.
Guest rooms at the Shiba Park have a Zen feel.
Guest Rooms and Amenities
As with many Tokyo lodgings, the rooms at the Shiba Park Hotel aren’t large. Of the 198 guest rooms, the standard rooms, including twin, king, or triple units, measure a compact 225-235 square feet.
For more space, consider the deluxe rooms. The deluxe kings measure 345 square feet, while the deluxe twins range from 345 to 420 sq ft. The hotel also has seven junior suites, at a more spacious 475 square feet.
Most room interiors are similar, with red coverlets and Zen-like floral designs. They’re equipped with mini-fridges, electric kettles, pajamas, and slippers.
At the Park Hotel, the Shiba Park has a sustainability program designed to reduce plastic waste. The hotel provides bamboo toothbrushes and hairbrushes, and bath amenities are supplied in large refillable containers.
Each floor of the Shiba Park Hotel has a cozy book nook.
Facilities and Services
The hotel restaurant on the lobby level serves a mix of Japanese, Chinese, and international cuisine throughout the day, starting with a well-stocked breakfast buffet. You can also browse books while enjoying the “Blissful Afternoon Tea.”
On the second floor, where the meeting rooms are located, guests can linger and browse in the spacious book-lined lounge. There’s a book exchange area where you can take or leave a title.
Each guest room floor has a small reading room with books on a particular topic. On one floor, it’s travel, on another, it’s architecture, and still others have titles on craft, photography, art, or fashion.
If Tokyo weren’t such a fascinating city to explore, I’d have spent all my time in the book nooks at the Shiba Park Hotel. But even if you just appreciate the literary ambiance, it’s a comfortable base for your Tokyo travels.
Rates at the Shiba Park Hotel Tokyo
Double room rates at the Shiba Park Hotel start at approximately US$375 per night.
You can also check rates for the Shiba Park Hotel online at Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda.com, or Hotels.com.
Hotel feature by Vancouver-based travel, food, and feature writer Carolyn B. Heller. Photos © Carolyn B. Heller. The Shiba Park Hotel hosted my stay for review purposes while I was traveling in Japan.
