Being stationed in Japan, the opportunity to visit a city like Tokyo is one you can’t pass up. A day trip is always nice, but what about for those instances when we would like to stay overnight or even a couple of days? Luckily for us, we have the option to stay at an accommodating and affordable hotel in Tokyo. Hardy Barracks not only is affordable, but you can’t beat its location - the popular and vibrant Roppongi.

So, for our most recent trip to the big city, we decided to make it an overnight stay and check out Hardy Barracks. The prices for the rooms are unbeatable and the booking process is easy and simple. The appearance of the building is older, but it is not a reflection of the rooms inside. Ours had all the basic necessities we needed. A bed, couch, television, fridge and a good size bathroom. After seeing the appearance of the room, I understood why people choose to stay here. It has all the essentials of a hotel room and a price you just won’t find in the middle of Tokyo.

And the location in the middle of Tokyo is my favorite aspect of staying at Hardy Barracks. Staying there means just minutes from many local restaurants and bars. There are several restaurants to choose from, and every time I’ve visited Roppongi, I was able to try a new place (and of course revisit the ones that I genuinely enjoy).

On this particular trip, I discovered another restaurant that I will be visiting again very soon. Minmin is the name of the establishment that won my heart this time. It is best known for their gyoza (dumplings), fried rice, and low-cost menu. My husband and I both ordered different lunch sets (gyoza, fried rice, soup and a dessert) and our total bill was less than $20.

The food was delicious, affordable and we both left the restaurant with full and happy stomachs. Another plus to Minmin is that it is about a fifteen-minute walk from Hardy Barracks.

Roppongi is such an amazing area to visit. There are so many things to do and see, and of course restaurants to choose from. If you are ever in Roppongi and decide that one day isn’t enough to complete your itinerary, I recommend stopping by Hardy Barracks to see what they have to offer.

Hardy Barracks Lodge

Location: Five-minute walk from Nogizaka Station

Phone Number: DSN 315-229-3270 / CML 81-36-385-3270

Reservation Desk Hours:

Sun.-Thu.: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.