Trunk Hotel

Adored by young, stylish travelers and trendy locals, the Trunk (Hotel) has a social club atmosphere and a great location on a charming side street in the heart of the Shibuya neighborhood.

• The buzzing lounge, where locals often outnumber tourists
• The central location in Shibuya
• The DJ who plays in the lounge on weekends

The concept behind Trunk (Hotel) is the idea that individuals can make substantial social contributions in their daily lives. To that end, everything at the hotel is sourced locally, and all the public spaces are designed to encourage people to gather and collaborate. Indeed, the lobby of the Trunk feels a bit like a co-working space, with locals typing away on their MacBooks and guests chatting over coffee or the Trunk’s own branded beer.

Located just a 10-minute walk from the Shibuya, Ometesando and Harajuku Stations, Trunk is a great base for travelers who want to explore some of Tokyo’s most exciting neighborhoods. The boutique hotel has just 16 rooms and suites, but it feels like a much larger property, thanks to the always buzzing lobby lounge and bar. The rooms range in size, with the smallest intended for just one person. The suites are much larger; the Terrace Suite has plentiful outdoor space, the Dining Suite is furnished with a dining table that can accommodate up to 10 guests and the Living Suite is equipped with a wet bar and record player, with records ranging from Madonna to Marvin Gay and the Grateful Dead. While all the rooms are different, they all have the feel of a hipster friend’s apartment—provided said friend had sourced everything, from the bedframe to the coasters and coffee syrup, in Japan.

The hotel’s main restaurant, Trunk (Kitchen), is bright and airy, with a homey feel and patio seating. The menu focuses on innovative Japanese cuisine, which guests can enjoy in the dining room or at the Chef’s Table, located in a private section in the back.  The second restaurant, Kushi, serves grilled skewers in different varieties.

While the hotel has few amenities (there is no gym or spa) and the service is rather casual, Trunk does offer gift shop, which is fashioned more like a convenience store, with locally sourced items such as bento boxes, organic ice pops, t-shirts made from recycled cotton and more. The hotel also has many event spaces, including a diamond-shaped wedding chapel.

Young travelers who will appreciate the central location in hip Shibuya and don’t mind relaxed service