We're headed to Finland via Tokyo in late January. I'd be grateful for any recommendations vis-a-vis hotels and such in Tokyo
2 years ago.
13 comments so far
Depends on your price range and what part of Tokyo want to be in for work or sightseeing. The Mandarin Oriental is my favorite and I know a good sushi place nearby.
For the full-on Tokyo experience, nothing beats staying in Shibuya. The Cerulean is a great, luxurious hotel, stayed on the 40th once with great views on Shibuya towards Shinjuku. If you want total luxury, I recommend the Park Hyatt Shinjuku (seen Lost in Translation? that's recorded there...). For travelling with kids, the Kodomo no Shiro (National Children's Castle) is a great place we stayed in September, very central between Shibuya and Omotesando on Aoyama-dori, and the bottom 4 floors of the hotel are a children's playground. It's affordable, so rooms are basic, but you're in Tokyo, so not spending much time in your room anyway....
Thanks for the tips, this is helpful. After poring over the options I went for the Park Hyatt. It's the predictable option, but our liaison indicated that'd be a proper place to stay. I guess it's one of those places where it's good to stay once since it's referred to pretty often.
We're incidentally going to be in Japan for Ulla's birthday. I though it might be a neat experience to visit hot springs for the weekend. I noticed there are hot springs at Arima onsen near Kobe. I've never visited an onsen, so I don't really know what to look for when selecting a place.
Onsen are great, very relaxing once you get used to everybody walking around naked. To me it doesn't matter too much what onsen it is as long as it's not crowded.
@LonelyBob Thanks, good to hear. Being Finnish, walking around naked is something we get used to in saunas so I wouldn't expect it be too much of a shock
There are also onsen in the Hakone area (about an hour and a half from Tokyo) or Izu (hour and a half to two hours from Tokyo). A lot closer than Kobe, which is about 2 hours 45 minutes by bullet train from Tokyo.
13 comments so far
Depends on your price range and what part of Tokyo want to be in for work or sightseeing. The Mandarin Oriental is my favorite and I know a good sushi place nearby.
2 years ago by globalflight
If your visiting Tokyo you'll prably enjoy visiting Akihabara but I'd guess it was already on your list of places to visit.
2 years ago by LonelyBob
For the full-on Tokyo experience, nothing beats staying in Shibuya. The Cerulean is a great, luxurious hotel, stayed on the 40th once with great views on Shibuya towards Shinjuku. If you want total luxury, I recommend the Park Hyatt Shinjuku (seen Lost in Translation? that's recorded there...). For travelling with kids, the Kodomo no Shiro (National Children's Castle) is a great place we stayed in September, very central between Shibuya and Omotesando on Aoyama-dori, and the bottom 4 floors of the hotel are a children's playground. It's affordable, so rooms are basic, but you're in Tokyo, so not spending much time in your room anyway....
2 years ago by jeroen020
I like the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka because I can be sure of getting a long bed.
2 years ago by topgold
Thanks for the tips, this is helpful. After poring over the options I went for the Park Hyatt. It's the predictable option, but our liaison indicated that'd be a proper place to stay. I guess it's one of those places where it's good to stay once since it's referred to pretty often.
We're incidentally going to be in Japan for Ulla's birthday. I though it might be a neat experience to visit hot springs for the weekend. I noticed there are hot springs at Arima onsen near Kobe. I've never visited an onsen, so I don't really know what to look for when selecting a place.
2 years ago by jyri
@jyri happy christmas!
2 years ago by silversurfer
Onsen are great, very relaxing once you get used to everybody walking around naked. To me it doesn't matter too much what onsen it is as long as it's not crowded.
2 years ago by LonelyBob
@LonelyBob Thanks, good to hear. Being Finnish, walking around naked is something we get used to in saunas so I wouldn't expect it be too much of a shock
@silversurfer merry xmas Ken!
2 years ago by jyri
There was just an article in the NYTimes about visiting an onsen in winter...sounds incredible.
2 years ago by arwen
You need to go to top floor bar of Park Hyatt and have a Suntory whisky... It's the Lost in Translation hotel.
2 years ago by PanuK
ditto @PanuK. The top bar Park Hyatt experience is a mandatory camera moment.
2 years ago by topgold
There are also onsen in the Hakone area (about an hour and a half from Tokyo) or Izu (hour and a half to two hours from Tokyo). A lot closer than Kobe, which is about 2 hours 45 minutes by bullet train from Tokyo.
2 years ago by globalflight
@globalfight thanks, I'm going to look up the Hakone and Itsu onsens
2 years ago by jyri