The neon jungle of Tokyo’s Toshima district is home to a very special hotel geared towards family-friendly stays – and it just got even better.

Already renowned for its family-friendly stays, MIMARU has unlocked a new level of adventure with a playful renovation of its Pokémon rooms.

Location

Pokémon rooms are available in 10 MIMARU locations across three cities: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. We are staying at the Ikebukuro site in Tokyo’s Toshima district, which is every bit the neon jungle your mind’s eye might conjure when considering this great city. The well-connected Ikebukuro station is an easy walk away and popular haunts such as Shinjuku, Shibuya and Harajuku can all be reached within a few stops. Ikebukuro itself is a high-energy haunt packed with shopping, dining and entertainment options.

Style and character

Oh, you want character? MIMARU will give you character!

Middle child – a daughter, seven – squeals with unabashed delight as we enter our room, which is decked with the colour and joy of the Pokémon brand. We had kept the unique nature of our accommodation a secret from the kids, hoping for such a reaction. Victory! Pokémon burst across the walls and ceiling via shiny decals, including in the kitchen and bathroom, and the Poké Ball motif features across plates, mugs and more.

Soon, the kids’ attention turns to the enormous Snorlax sitting on the bottom double bunk. He is quickly renamed Bluey – a nod to his vibrant hue – and becomes a soft, cuddly and much-loved part of our stay. On our last day, a mini Snorlax is on our souvenir shopping list – something for Master Three to remember Tokyo by. He still insists on snuggling with Lil’ Bluey each night. A take-home memory that we can all treasure.

Rooms

Beyond the explosion of fun that hits you on arrival, MIMARU’s Pokémon rooms showcase thoughtful design elements that offer not only a sense of space, but also a sense of place. In our room, the double-bunk – while not an arrangement we’re about to adopt at home – was a playful and practical configuration for a family holiday. The bedroom is also laid with tatami-style mats, traditional Japanese flooring that has an uncanny ability to invoke calm underfoot.

A shoji blind – a traditional sliding screen door – closes the bedroom off from the kitchen/dining area, allowing for privacy, though it was no match for our efforts to quietly fill balloons with confetti and blow them up the night before Miss Seven-Turning-Eight’s (STE) birthday. Thankfully, we only woke up Miss 11, who found her parents’ antics to be ‘cringe’ – a glimpse at our future, I suspect.

Food and drink

Most MIMARU properties do not have in-house dining, but are equipped with kitchens and utensils, which was perfect for our stay. For meals, we either took advantage of the incredible nearby dining options – sushi, ramen, yakitori, sukiyaki; we didn’t eat a bad meal – or hit up the local 7-Eleven (they’re everywhere) where the snack and meal choices are abundant, cheap and delicious. I could live off their egg salad sandwiches, and Master Three did!

At MIMARU Ikebukuro, the check-in desk was well-stocked with Japanese snacks that kids, and kids at heart, could access in various ways: Show us your kendama (cup-and-ball game) skills? Have a snack. Complete a colouring-in sheet (provided in the lobby’s kids’ corner)? Have a snack. Fulfil the tasks on the tourist bingo card? Have a snack. And, as Miss STE discovered, brazenly include in your colouring-in that it’s your birthday? Have a snack, and another and another and another.

In some MIMARU locations, but not Ikebukuro, you’ll find a coffee counter in the lobby, operated by an external vendor. In others, vending machines

Access for guests with disabilities?

Accessible rooms are available at MIMARU properties across Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Guests with specific needs are invited to contact the reservations team to be matched with the most suitable room.

Family-friendly?

I think I’ve made my thoughts clear on this subject. MIMARU’s Pokémon rooms are an excellent choice for parents who crave both space (relatively speaking) and locale, while also keen to inject a little extra magic for the benefit of the tots in tow. A bonus for bigger families, children six and under can often share a bed with an adult, in which case they are not counted towards the room’s occupancy limit. Since Master Three inevitably crawls in with us each night anyway, this was a no-brainer and a money saver.

For further proof MIMARU have families in mind, look no further than ANO-NE, a dedicated kids club (suitable for aged four to 10), the brand launched in Ginza earlier this year.

Details

Best for: Family or group stays

Address: 2 Chome-61-1 Ikebukuro, Toshima City, Tokyo

Cost: Prices start at around JPY 50,000 (approximately $520) per night (tax included), with a maximum occupancy of four guests.