Why MIMARU Is the Best Apartment Hotel for Families Travelling to Japan

A personal review from a mum who was solo-parenting two kids under five in Tokyo — and is already planning her next trip back.

The moment we opened the door to our room, my kids made a beeline for the bunk beds.

They didn't end up sleeping there (we co-sleep), but for the entire trip, those bunk beds were their play area: trains laid out on the top bunk, playdough on the bottom, up and down the ladder more times than I could count. If your kids are older and actually sleep in them, I imagine it would be even better.

My first impression, before any of that, was how clean and modern everything was. Cleanliness matters to me, it always has, and it matters even more now that I'm a mum. MIMARU passed that test the moment I walked in.

My husband left for a business trip 36 hours into our Tokyo holiday. To be honest, I was feeling very nervous about this trip because I'm not sure how I would survive travelling without him. I have a 1.5-year-old, a 4-year-old and they are both very active. What saved me wasn't a travel hack or a perfectly packed bag.

It was my dad sitting in the living room with my kids, whether it was watching Thomas the Tank Engine on TV, having some snacks with them or just keeping an eye on them… It gave me 15 uninterrupted minutes to shower and breathe.

We were travelling as an extended family: my husband for the first day and a half, our two young children, my parents, and my brothers.

Morning routines are always crazy. My mum and I took one kid each and got them ready. My dad took the evenings — kids in the living room, TV on, fruit and yoghurt snacks while I washed up. My brothers weren't in the same room as us, but every single morning without fail, they went down to the Family Mart nearby and came back with fresh coffee. At night, when we headed back early with the kids and my parents, they would go out to the nearby supermarket or convenience store and come back with water, juice, bread, fruits — whatever we needed for the next day.

None of this sounds dramatic. But when you're travelling to Japan with toddlers, it's everything. And none of it would have been possible in a standard hotel room where everyone is in separate rooms with nowhere to gather, no kitchen to stock, no table big enough to sit around together.

On our previous family trip to Japan, we travelled with just our daughter when she was also around 1.5 years old. She spent most of her time on the bed — because that was the only space. Ate yoghurt on the bed. Watched TV on the bed. My husband and I washed her water bottle and fruits in the toilet sink.

This time, we had a proper kitchen sink with a drying rack. Enough space to wash bottles. A dining table for meals. A living room where the kids could actually move around and play. I told my husband when we got home: this is what every family needs when they travel to Japan. It felt like a home away from home — not in the way hotels use that phrase as a marketing line, but actually.

If you've been on the fence about whether a family trip to Japan is manageable with young kids and elderly parents, this is your answer: it is, if you get the accommodation right (and navigating the train system with strollers — we did it with 2 strollers, but that's a story for another time).

MIMARU is one of Japan's most popular apartment hotel chains for families, with properties across Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. When it comes to where to stay in Tokyo with family, it consistently tops the list — and for good reason. The Ikebukuro property sits a 5-minute walk from Ikebukuro West Exit on the JR Yamanote Line. Every room comes with a fully equipped kitchen, dining table, and living area — built specifically for families and groups, not retrofitted as an afterthought.

For Muslim travellers, MIMARU Ikebukuro offers dedicated kitchen utensils, prayer mats, and qibla compasses on request — quantities are limited, so we recommend making an enquiry in advance or requesting these during your booking. Staff can also guide you to halal and Muslim-friendly restaurants nearby.

We stayed in the Two-Bedroom Family Suite — 58 square metres, two bedrooms, two restrooms, a full bathroom, a separate shower room, and an in-room washer-dryer. Four adults and two children. Workable in a way no standard Tokyo hotel room could match.

P.S. My brothers stayed in a separate room — we didn't want to be waiting to use the bathrooms.

The two bathrooms matter more than they might sound when you're managing young kids and multiple adults on a tight morning schedule. One thing worth knowing: in one of the bathrooms, the toilet area is separate from the sink — you'll need to step out to wash your hands. A minor layout quirk, but worth knowing ahead of time so it doesn't catch you off guard.

The in-room washer-dryer was very much needed and detergent was provided. My son has eczema and his skin flared in Tokyo's dry weather, so I dressed him into long pants — the three pairs I'd packed. I washed them after every wear. I also washed food-stained clothes the same day they got dirty because the machine was right there. On a family vacation, that changes the entire packing calculation.

Every night, bath time in that proper bathtub became the highlight of my kids' day. If you're travelling to Japan with young children, pick up a few bath balls from the nearby convenience store or 100-yen shop. You'll thank yourself.

Most hotel rooms in Tokyo are designed for two adults. Even rooms that technically sleep four are often configured in ways that make it impossible for grandparents to meaningfully help. The MIMARU living room solved that. My parents could be present in a real way, not just physically nearby. When you're doing multigenerational travel in Japan, that shared living space isn't a luxury — it's the whole point and lots more time spent together.

For Muslim families specifically, the kitchen is a genuine game-changer for travelling to Japan with kids. Navigating halal food in Tokyo with toddlers on a schedule is stressful. The fully equipped kitchen includes an induction stove, refrigerator, microwave, electric kettle, pots, pans, cutlery, and cooking utensils — everything needed for simple meals.

The property sits on a quiet residential street — a welcome contrast after full days of sightseeing in Tokyo with kids. Ikebukuro Station is a short walk away on both the Yamanote and Yurakucho lines, giving easy access to Shibuya, Shinjuku, and central Tokyo. Multiple convenience stores are steps from the hotel, and a supermarket open until midnight is about five minutes on foot.

• Baby cribs and bed guards are available to rent free of charge. Availability is limited — contact the hotel in advance and specify your needs at booking.
• Luggage storage is available at ¥500 per day for days outside your stay period — useful if you're arriving before check-in or heading out after check-out.
• Early check-in is available for a fee, depending on the room’s availability. Worth it when you've just landed from a long-haul flight with young children who need to eat and sleep immediately. Remember to check for room availability beforehand!
• Due to MIMARU's environmental policy, toothbrushes and room slippers (including kids' sizes) are not provided in-room. Please pack your own, or request them at the front desk as a complimentary service. Cotton swabs and combs are provided upon request as well.
• Late check-out cannot be confirmed until the morning of departure due to room availability. Factor this into airport transfer planning if you're travelling with elderly family members or young children who take time to get moving. If you want to ensure you can use your room after 11:00, we recommend booking another night.
• The Pokémon Room books out fast — if your kids would love it, and they will, reserve early.
• Connecting rooms (78㎡, up to 8 adults + 4 children – below 6 years old) are the best configuration for larger extended families who want togetherness with some separation.

Ikebukuro has one of the more developed halal dining scenes in Tokyo, making it a practical base for Muslim travel in Japan. Here are a few options within walking distance:

1. Halal Wagyu Ramen Shinjuku-tei Menu includes spicy, miso, shoyu, and yakiniku ramen — most available as a set with karaage and wagyu sushi. Prayer space with wudu facilities on-site. Menu available in English, Indonesian, and Malay.

📍 B1F, Manseido Building, 1-21-13 Nishi-Ikebukuro
🕒 Daily 12pm–10pm (Fri–Sat till 10:30pm)

2. Marhaba Pakistan Restaurant Established in 1990, this is one of the oldest Pakistani halal restaurants in Tokyo. Menu covers karahi, biryani, tandoori chicken, seekh kebab, and samosa — all halal-certified meat, no alcohol.
📍 Palace Garden Milano 1F, 2-63-6 Ikebukuro
🕒 Mon–Sat: 11am–3pm, 5pm–10:30pm | Sun: 11:30am–9pm

3. Malaychan Satu (マレーチャン１) Over 30 years in Ikebukuro and the first restaurant in Japan to receive JAKIM certification. Menu features Penang Assam Laksa, curry mee, chicken rendang, and nasi goreng, with ingredients sourced directly from Malaysia.
📍 3-22-6 Nishi-Ikebukuro
🕒 Daily 11am–2:30pm, 5pm–10:30pm (Closed Fridays)

4. Al-Flah Halal Supermarket Run by the same family as Marhaba, a halal supermarket just a 5-minute walk from MIMARU selling halal-certified imported ingredients. Buy halal meat, spices, and pantry staples and use MIMARU's kitchen.

On our last Japan family vacation, my daughter had her yoghurt on the bed because there was nowhere else. This time, both of them had lots of room to run around.

That's the difference an apartment makes. Not just a nicer room — a different way of travelling altogether.

P.S. We visited during the Mother’s Day long weekend and the hotel had a really sweet activity celebrating mums.

If you're planning a family trip to Japan, whether it's your first or your fifth, do yourself a favour and choose an apartment hotel. And if you're going to be in Tokyo, MIMARU Ikebukuro is where to start. I know we'll be back.

Address: 2-61-1 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0014

Tel: +81-3-5927-8877

Email: [email protected]

Official site: mimaruhotels.com