Saab Lariosa

I’ve loved books ever since I was a little kid. I remember the rush of entering a Booksale shop and my parents allowing me to buy a single book, one that I’d proceed to devour for the rest of the week. Now at 27, I still feel that giddiness whenever I enter bookstores and read new titles. That one-book limit wasn’t holding me back anymore, and I see it as a way of not healing, but treating myself and my inner child. The only thing that held me back was those book prices.

Most of us have that one friend who always brings home quirky snacks, cute stationery, or those limited-edition KitKats from their Japan trip. In my friend groups, that friend is me. I’ve been lucky enough to visit Japan eight times, and I still get excited like it’s my first with each trip. Every visit, I find myself falling in love with the little details: The convenience stores, the way the simplest products feel well-made, and the sheer variety of stuff you can find.

With Japan experiencing a tourism boom this year, we’re taking you on a firsthand look at what two different budget hotels in Tokyo look like, and what you can expect from each one. Kicking off our Tokyo hotel series, we check into one of Japan’s most well-known business hotel chains: APA Hotel. From its signature compact yet comfortable rooms, we’ll see what makes APA a go-to hotel for many tourists around the world.