Votre 2ème maison à Tokyo, Shinjuku

Excellent home stay! This is a family that like to welcome foreign people, they have great food and are very kind. If you need help with planning or traveling they will provide the needed guide. Once you visit this family you will want to visit them again.
The house is very clean and the location is very good with an ATM at the 7-Eleven in the corner and the bus stop is close that takes you to Shinjuku. You only need only 1 bus to get to Shibuya. There are several Convenience stores nearby and one supermarket.

I had a wonderful time at Yoko's house and would definitely stay there again and recommend it for others. Yoko is a great host and, with her husband Aki, provided a very welcoming, clean and fun environment.

I never stayed in a homestay before so I will detail my experience to encourage others to consider this instead of a hotel or an Airbnb.

The location (Minamidai) is just west of Shinjuku (about a 5-10 min bus ride). I think Shinjuku is one of the best areas in Tokyo to stay in. It has awesome shops, food, nightlife and nearby attractions (eg, if it's clear weather, the free Metro building observation desk is down the road and you can see Fuji in the distance). I liked that this house is ever so slightly away from Shinjuku - it's quieter, good for exercise (running or nearby cheap community gym), and only 5-10 mins away from Shinjuku on the very frequent buses. There are not quite as many food options on your doorstep as other areas (there is a good soba restaurant which I went to a lot), so you may end up eating in other areas (although there is a great area for food about 5-10 mins further west from Shinjuku - bit more local too). For those wanting to eat cheaply, there are convenient stores which have very good 'Japanese fast foods' (eg, their sushi rolls and rice balls are better than high end sushi in the west), and the rooms come with a kettle and microwave. I never enquired about home cooking but I believe Yoko and her husband would probably provide dinner at very reasonable cost.

The house itself stand-alone, 3-stories in traditional modern Japanese architecture. Guest rooms are on the bottom floor where the bathroom is. Floor 2 is the the living and dining space (where you are served breakfast each morning) and you will become very acquainted with Yoko's two friendly cats. The single room I stayed had enough space for my bags and I was provided all the linen, blankets and refreshments I needed. There was a tv although it's all in Japanese so I never used it. The room does not have a chair however, so you will be chilling on your bed whenever you are at the house (I think the larger room has a chair). The room has a lock, so everything is safe.

Yoko and her husband Aki are very friendly hosts and go out of their way to make your stay perfect and to help you plan your time in Tokyo if need be. I was there 2.5 weeks with a very fluid itinerary and found their suggestions about tackling areas together and which times to go very helpful. They cooked a Christmas dinner for me and Yoko even took me out to a memorable 'local' yakitori restaurant which you simply would not know about otherwise. They will help you as much or as little as you want.

When I return Tokyo, I will definitely stay there again. It's much better value for money than hotels, warmer and more helpful than airbnbs, and more memorable spending time with locals.

Yoko and Aki were absolutely wonderful homestay hosts. Yoko was very communicative, spoke fluent English, and was easily accessible via Whatsapp and e-mail, answering any and all questions that I had. The room was really large and comfortable, with great AC, lights, windows, a fridge, and a comfy futon and pillows. My room was right near the front door so I didn't worry about coming and going and making too much noise. The bathroom and toilet were clean and very nice. Breakfast with Aki each morning was a delight! All the food was delicious and carefully prepared. Some of my favorite meals in Tokyo, since Aki would tell me about the news and discuss interesting topics with me in simplified Japanese and some English. I learned a lot from him, and was really delighted with the hospitality and also the cats. The location was very convenient with buses going to Shibuya and Shinjuku just around the corner, and kinda near a train station. There's supermarkets and 7-11 right next door too! All in all, a really perfect and wonderful stay, and I highly recommend having a fantastic time with Yoko and Aki.

Yoko and Aki were amazing hosts! Yoko speaks great English and it was easy to communicate. Breakfast in the mornings were a nice touch and they accommodated me not eating meat. The room itself was lovely, with a wardrobe, desk, fridge and kettle! The AC was powerful and great after a humid day. It is a convenient location, 10-15 minute walk to the tube station and 2 minute walk to a bus stop straight to Shibuya! Would definitely recommend for any solo travellers! Thank you Yoko and Aki for hosting me :)