My bizarre travels around the world continue… Yes, that’s me with a T-Rex roboto at Henn na Hotel New York!

Have you heard of the quirky Japanese boutique hotel chain, Henn na? The new NYC location is full of high-tech surprises, and ideally located in Midtown right by Times Square. (Click here for my special discount rate for booking a room.)

Henn na NYC has futuristic surprises throughout. In addition to a robot dinosaur in the lobby, the rooms have LG stylers (garment steamer closets) and Toto toilets. And the suites have balconies or window views that make you fall in love with New York City. (Longtime readers will know I used to live here, so it felt like a homecoming.)

The hotel is also home to Gosuke Restaurant, run by a former Japanese woman pro wrestler! Read on for her story, and photos of the tasty sushi and tempura…

For footage of the tyrannosaurus rex in action, come see my IG video here (the robot dino moves around and roars!)

From the moment we walked into Henn na New York and were greeted by the lovely staff, we knew we were in for an unforgettable stay. (Address: 235 West 35th Street, New York, NY)

Henn na is a Japanese hotel group known for its remarkable robotos that greet guest when they check in. The various Japan locations have uncanny robot women, samurai, and lizard-dinosaurs manning the front desks (and there’s a Seoul outpost too).

NYC’s Henn na has a ginormous T-Rex swishing his head and tail, baring his sharp teeth and roaring! Watch my NYC Instagram stories highlight to see and hear the dinosaur.

Henn na Hotel New York is ideal for anyone who loves funky, artsy boutique hotels (which you know are my preference).

And the midtown Manhattan location is perfection: just a few blocks away from Times Square, with easy access to Penn Station and Port Authority (where you can transit to the airports). Henn na Hotel is also close to my fav cheap / street eats including Los Tacos, Best and Liberty Bagels, Culture Espresso, Maman Cafe, and Joe’s Pizza.

On the balcony attached to one of Henn na’s suites…. now that’s what I call a New York moment. (And I was having a good hair day!)

Looks like I found a new Instagrammable photography spot in NYC. (All photos by Joey Wong.)

I’m back to Y2K era… funny how styles come back around. Wearing a crochet knit bolero or shrug, and Windsor Store linen corset. (Windsor opened 5 stores in Ontario — their first locations in Canada — in May).

My pants are Kuwalla Tee baggy cargo jeans — I’m transitioning to a mostly microplastics-free wardrobe, and loving it. My tan heels are Dream Pairs Shoes 

The ground floor is home to Gosuke, which serves up authentic Japanese cuisine in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The laid-back space is fantastic for catching up with friends while you eat sushi, sashimi, and sake.

Gosuke Restaurant is run by Itsuki Yamazaki, a former pro wrestler from Ieshima. She wrestled for All Japan Women’s Wrestling and was in the American WWF in USA, winning the Survivor Series match in 1987. As you can see from the album covers on the wall, Itsuki was an 80s idol as well!

Itsuki opened Gosuke in order to bring the traditional dishes she enjoyed on her hometown island to the isle of Manhattan.

The lovingly prepared dishes include a chef’s choice (omakase) sushi platter, and amberjack (kampachi) with a jalapeno, tomatillo and ponzu sauce handmade by the chef.

Sit at the long wooden counter, and watch the chef — who has decades of experience in Japan and NYC — meticulously slice sashimi in front of you.

Generous portions, and the freshest cuts… Gosuke is a rising star among New York’s Japanese restaurants.

And the vibe makes you feel as if you’re in Japan.

Try the tempura — the crisp exterior contrasts wonderfully with the fresh vegetables, shrimp, and egg with a soft yolk inside.

You can get takeout at Gosuke as well, and enjoy happy hour discounts.

Thanks to Itsuki for the warm welcome — Gosuke is a smash!

Although my favorite thing to do in NYC is walk around all day, I was just as delighted to come back to my enormous room at Henn Na Hotel. (Here’s a special rate for booking a stay: the hotel has many types of rooms including singles, doubles, and suites.)

The elegant, minimalist Japanese decor puts you in a Zen state of mind.

Rooms are well-equipped for work (with large desks, WiFi, etc), and come with embroidered robes and slippers.

And how about these picture windows overlooking Midtown Manhattan!

The suites also have LG Styler closets, which are a rarity outside of Asia. These devices — which open up like a fridge — use state-of-the-art steam technology to sanitize garments, much like dry cleaners.

The bathrooms have everything you need to pamper yourself, including mirrors with beauty lights, high tech Toto toilets, and large bathtubs (they’re a Japanese hotel, after all).

Henn na Hotel New York is great value: the rooms are luxe and have a boutique aesthetic, but are affordable.

I’d love to stay at their other properties in Seoul and all over Japan.

“Henn na” means strange, but also conveys change in a positive way — which sums up my fabulous experience here! Would you stay at this extraordinary New York hotel?

Find a room here (with my discount code / rate!)

For more of my Goth Y2K outfits and NYC travel tips, check out my Instagram @lacarmina.

All photos by Joey Wong. We were also traveling around Europe, and have tons still to share with you.

PS: Some new travel writing… I did an Osaka, Japan travel guide for Going.com, which includes my recommendations for subculture / heavy metal bars, street food, and more.

Have you been to the Big Apple? If so, what are your favorite places to visit here?