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It is virtually impossible to get a room at Claska — it’s got just fifteen rooms, nine Western, three in traditional tatami style, and three unique designer-conceived rooms, all of which are much in demand among the fashionable souls who populate Claska’s lobby scene. So it’s not out of lust for your money that we bring this fantastic hotel to your attention; it is simply for the love of a well-made hotel.
And a well-made hotel it is — possibly the finest small hotel we have come across, and certainly the coolest. The Japanese culture has a way of seizing upon and then perfecting trends born elsewhere, so it is not surprising that the original Tokyo boutique hotel is possibly the definitive entry in the genre. The interior design is beyond cutting-edge, from the entryway by the English design firm Tomato, to the rooms and lobby lounge by a motley crew of hip Japanese designers, to the D.I.Y. rooms — not for you to do yourself, but done from bottom to top by three celebrated contemporary Japanese designers. Vestiges of the original New Meguro Hotel (sort of a Sixties jet-set business hotel) remain, adding an authenticity that elevates the interiors beyond mere set design. If you are a design groupie, or just the sort of person who appreciates the delightful absurdity of an upscale pet salon called Dogman (servicing Meguro’s pups since 2003), then this is the place for you.
Services are rather minimal, in classic boutique style, just as the nightlife is appropriately maximal — Claska’s lobby bar is pitch-perfect, the kind of place the locals go out of their way to visit — a surprisingly vast space with sleek modern furnishings and high ceilings, where DJs spin and drinkers drink until 2am.
We mean “out of their way” quite literally — Meguro is not hugely convenient for travelers, or even for Tokyo residents, and is nowhere near the city center. If you’re looking for that Lost in Translation experience, try the Park Hyatt in Shibuya or the Grand Hyatt at Roppongi Hills. Claska is a long taxi ride from these districts, and even the Meguro train station is not quite within easy walking distance.
But that’s the trade-off. This is a wonderful hotel, possibly our favorite city hotel in all the world, and the starting rates are low, ¥12,600 (around $120 US) for room 505, the most basic single room — though if you wish, you can pay Park Hyatt prices for rooms 401 and 402. So it’s only natural that the hotel should be booked solid for months in advance. If you manage to get a reservation, and you survive the trek to Meguro with your patience intact, we can assure you that you will not be disappointed.
How to get there: From Narita Airport, Claska can be reached via the Narita Express train, a trip of approximately 90 minutes.
- 15 Rooms
- Style: Cutting-Edge
- Atmosphere: Happening
- 88 Guest Reviews
- Claska
- 1-3-18 Chuo-cho, Meguro-Ku
- Tokyo, Japan
Hotel amenities and services
- 24 hour concierge
- 24 hour front desk
- Babysitting (on request)
- Bar
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Central air conditioning
- Free parking
- Free wi-fi
- Lounge
- Luggage storage
- Multi-lingual staff
- No pets allowed
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Spa treatments (on request)
Other Tokyo hotels
88 Guest Reviews
All reviews are from Tablet guests with verified stays.
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- Dominic
- Stayed August 2012
- Rating: Excellent
What I liked:
The rooms were great. I stayed in one of the unique rooms the first night and the attention to detail (and view) were fantastic. I was in a modern Japanese room the next two nights and that was also excellent.
The hotel provided great information and recommendations for transport, food and shopping. They give you a well printed and detailed map of the vicinity with their suggestions for food, drink, etc. Staff were very helpful and friendly
What the hotel could do better:
Nothing, had a wonderful stay!
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- Greg
- Stayed October 2012
- Rating: Excellent
What I liked:
The style overall, the decor in our room, the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. In an email exchange the day of our travel to Japan, they arranged tickets for us for the Opera and then escorted us to pick them up once we arrived. They were also helpful with restaurant recommendations, even printing us a map and giving us an image of a building nearby as a landmark so we could find it.
What the hotel could do better:
Nothing, had a wonderful stay!
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- Melissa
- Stayed July 2012
- Rating: Good
What I liked:
Claska is away from all the mayhem, but still close enough to get to areas like Shibuya in about 15 minutes via Train
Each Room is Unique and very well though out. Staff are very good, but also the amount of people they have to look after is heavily reduced compared to most hotels because they only have 16 or so rooms in total
What you get is a very personalized approach from the staff
What the hotel could do better:
Nothing, had a wonderful stay!
