Words: Stefan Pertz Photos: Jacqueline Pertz

(December 3, 2025) Be it for business or pleasure, Japan is, and remains, the darling of international travellers. Be it for business or pleasure, the choice of the hotel one is staying in has a huge impact. 

For those wanting to stay away from a more common experience, or need a bit more space, MIMARU is a brand that should catch the attention of seasoned travellers who value a more personal touch while enjoying the comfort of a sophisticated space. MIMARU is an apartment-hotel brand with two series—MIMARU and MIMARU SUITES. While the SUITES series offers exclusively suite-type layouts, both series provide spacious apartment-style accommodations across Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, with 27 properties on their roster.

The Experience 
When booking a hotel room, one would not just pick four walls, but a heart and soul that embodies the brand. Aimed at two distinct groups of travellers, MIMARU offers a variety of apartment layouts—from studio-type units to one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments—comfortably accommodating groups of four or more. Thus, the first group are travellers that require a base for a prolonged period of time. Once settled in, MIMARU anchors guests nicely, as will be explained. The other type of travellers are families or groups of friends that would prefer to have an apartment-style hotel, accommodating up to 10 persons, rather than splitting into separate rooms. 

With staff from all over the world, speaking some 40 languages, there is surely an immediate connection one can make upon check-in. Many hotels claim to be a home away from home. However, very seldom does the level of familiarity reach the state where one will claim to be going home when referring to the hotel. MIMARU is different. 

MIMARU is truly different in many ways as travellers will experience when making use of the facilities. While the property described here is their Tokyo Nihimbashi property, one is to expect the same when opting for any of their other apartments. 

The Lobby that Ain’t
No matter where, checking into a hotel almost always means that the lobby is the first point of contact. At the MIMARU, the lobby is not just a lobby. It is a gathering space, a social area and a second living space. Minimalist, functional and thoughtfully decorated, the space around the check-in counter serves as a nook where one can retreat to read a book. It is also a café. With the idea of it being a social place in mind, MIMARU has rented out the space to an independent F&B operator. 

It is here where the guests come together in activities that the hotel staff curate. A nightly sake-tasting not only educates but provides the opportunity to bond others who have the same passion for Japanese rice wine. Kids can be entertained with activities that are both educational and fun: mask painting and crafting Halloween decoration were the theme during my stay. 

The absolute stand-out during this visit was the tableware, crockery and tools on ‘display’. As this display is not just a display, it could well be the most thought-through aspect of staying in any apartment hotel! Not only are these items samples from another nearby shop, but they are available for guests to be used in their apartments. When cooking in the kitchenette, these items become Instagrammers delights as well as allowing the chef to spruce up the dishes with varying plates, cups and accessories. Combining it, one can take the sake from the sampling area to the room, complete with a set of sake cups. 

Room to Unwind
The MIMARU properties are designed to allow guests to unwind. Thus, there is no workstation in the apartment. Guests are meant to leave work at the office. One will immediately appreciate the minimalist, functional style of the rooms. A living room with kitchenette is part of all MIMARU apartments. Serving as a hub, the other rooms can be accessed from here. 

Plenty of storage space, closets and shelving support the idea of either serving for long-term stays or groups of people settling in. There is a full set of kitchen utensils that can be supplemented from the aforementioned displays in the lobby. 

Stemming from the onsen culture, bathtubs can be found in many hotels in Japan. MIMARU does not make an exception and dipping into the hot water after a long day on the road will be welcome. Bedrooms may either feature en suite bathrooms in addition to common, shared ones. MIMARU has taken the art of minimalism to a different level, a reflection of Japanese culture in many ways: there is nothing unnecessary in the rooms, yet everything one needs is on hand. The zen this achieves extends into the bedrooms, which are havens of calm and unclutteredness.  

With the focus on families travelling, MIMARU has also in place an ingenious service that may be unique to them (at least the author has never heard of it being offered anywhere): parents may enjoy time to themselves with the kids being looked after in their indoor play space kids’ club. MIMARU’s staff are present to ensure a safe environment for the children. Enjoying an evening out, watching a show or meeting friends in another city without having to look after filia or filius has never been made easier.  

Fully Immersed
The neighborhoods in which MIMARU properties are located are carefully chosen to support the very idea of the hotels being a home. Within walking distance, there will be all of what is needed for extended stays. From local (and very yummy) ramen shops to supermarkets, Daiso and banks. On the weekend, it is not uncommon for roads to be closed for activities, which MIMARU guests are naturally invited to partake in.

It is a hallmark of the brand to find interesting buildings, such as office towers that MIMARU refurbishes to suit their needs. Connectivity plays an important role in the selection of the locale with train stations always within easy reach. The MIMARU Tokyo Nihimbashi can be reached within a few moments walking from the Ningyocho station. Ningyocho station is one station along the Toei Asakusa Line that allows direct access to both Narita and Haneda airports. 

Dolls, Kabuki and Merchandise
This MIMARU is located in an area known as Ningyocho, meaning ‘Doll Town’, that originated in the early Edo period as a major entertainment district in Tokyo. It is home to numerous kabuki theatres and puppet shows. The area developed around these theatres and the artisans who made and repaired puppets, which is how it got its name. Despite fires, the relocation of its theatres and the survival of WWII bombings, the district preserved its traditional atmosphere through events like the move of Suitengu Shrine, and retains elements of old Tokyo's charm.

On display in the MIMARU are several dolls that are on loan from a nearby shop that has been making and selling artisanal dolls for decades. Acting as a display case, the MIMARU features a number of them as talking points or suggestions for souvenirs. In particular the samurai helmet turned pen holder on the check-in counter caught our attention. 

mimaruhotels.com  

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