I never knew we had Best Western in Japan and now in Tokyo too mind you! I always thought of Best Western as a cheap place to crash kind of a hotel/motel but this one looks pretty extravagant, but then again mostly all the new budget hotels popping up all over Japan are a bit more luxurious than their kind elsewhere. Like I've been saying, another day, another new hotel in Tokyo is getting quite common but this one seems to be a bit out of place, or is it?

Kabukicho's pink businesses complain new hotel brings up the tone
Mainichi Daily News
March 28, 2008

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/culture/waiwai/news/20080328p2g00m0dm012000c.html

In what could be a bit of a turn for the books, operators of adult businesses in Tokyo's Kabukicho district may soon be moaning about a new hotel "spoiling" the neighborhood, judging by Shukan Shincho weekly magazine (3/27).

Though it's common for love hotel operators in particular to face fierce resistance from local residents whenever they build anew somewhere, the shoe is now on the other foot as a respectable establishment sets up in the center of what remains a netherworld.

On March 23, the Best Western Shinjuku Astina Hotel Tokyo opened in Kabukicho, giving the famous U.S. Best Western hotel chain its first establishment in Tokyo, though it does already have hotels in Kochi and Nagasaki.

"(Best Western) has a history extending over 60 years, but compared to companies like The Peninsula or Conrad, awareness of the brand in Japan is not strong," an economic beat journalist tells Shukan Shincho.

"It's not a luxury hotel, but by no means is it lower grade, either. It's a chain firmly in the middle range."

Nonetheless, the foreign-funded hotel aims to serve as an oasis in the busy heart of the capital city. With most of its 206 rooms costing in the vicinity of 25,000 yen a night, the hotel is expected to provide an air of sophistication to a Kabukicho still being targeted by a clean-up campaign. Expectations are certainly high among some Kabukicho proprietors.

"Some people complained that the sudden appearance of such a tall building has ruined their TV reception. But times have been tough recently in Kabukicho and we're hoping the hotel will give us a bit of a spark," a Kabukicho restaurateur tells Shukan Shincho.

Insiders from the adult businesses that have built up the entertainment industry aren't quite as upbeat.

"The hotel is surrounded by cabaret clubs, nightclubs and karaoke joints. Right behind it is the Golden Gai and the love hotel district lies right before your eyes," a Kabukicho adult business source says. "I'm sure the refined lobby and its cafes will be used for all sorts of meetings or places to have interviews for nightclub hostessing jobs. But I wonder whether the call girls will be able to use it..."

Best Western officials, however, send an ominous warning to those involved in Kabukicho's flesh trade.

"We weren't aiming for Kabukicho in particular, but the redevelopment of the eastern part of Shinjuku, in a broader sense, met our needs. We would like to see businessmen and women use our hotel," a hotel spokesman tells Shukan Shincho. "We have consulted with the Shinjuku Municipal Government about adult businesses and we'll work together to keep them under control."

http://www.bw-shinjuku.com/eng/index.html