nantucketgirl

I will be accompanying a friend going to Japan on business in mid-November. After the work portion (outside of Tokyo) - we would like to stay in Tokyo for a few extra days. Never been to Tokyo...any suggestions for hotels (good location) and things to do for our (short) extended stay? We're pretty well travelled but Japan is a first. Thank you so much!!

Tim_and_Liz

What type of budget do you have?

nantucketgirl

I definitely should have included that in the first post...I'd be willing to go up to the low (MAYBE mid) $300's. Thanks!

Tim_and_Liz

Well we were looking in a price range just lower than that, and almost everyone here recommends the Keio Plaza or the Park Hotel Tokyo. We went with the latter and are traveling next March.
Hope that helps!

PS We are paying 19,000 yen/night for the smallest room. They have larger rooms that you may enjoy more.

Tim_and_Liz

Also see
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34998331

gard

Hi

My wife and I went to Japan in May a couple of years back and we stayed at New Otani in the Akasaka distric. You can check out my trip report with pictures and links here: http://gardkarlsen.com/japan_tokyo.htm . Maybe you can find some useful information there.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

W9London

You can search for other posts on Tokyo attractions. Just highlighitng the obvious: Tsukiji fish market (early morning), Asakusa temple (possibly include kappa-bashi for super-realistic wax food models), Meiji shrine--strolled through Omote Sando (Oriental Bazaar on the right), a Japanese park--either Hamarikyu or Rikugien. Edo Museum (I found it much more interesting than National Museum). People-watching along new Roppongi developments. The rest depends on how many days you'll be in Tokyo.

Manisha

Try the Westin Tokyo. It is in the low $300s I believe and very very nice.

Debi

I was there a few weeks ago on business and stayed at the Park Hotel. It was nice and the staff was quite friendly.

nantucketgirl

Thank you so much to everyone for their helpful responses...sounds like the Keio is well thought of - and in general staying near a train station is a good idea. We'll be coming from Oiso Station (I believe?) which goes to Shinjuku station...not that I have to stay in that area - but just fyi. Tim/Liz - your thread was very helpful, thank you. And I checked out the Westin as per a helpful request and that looks great. One thing I'd like to do is check out the Park Hyatt (note: Tim/Liz, boy did you luck out - the days I'm going it's $500 per night! - so that's out) for lunch at least. If it's not too out of the way. I was thinking the Westin, Keio or Hyatt Regency (is that near the Park Hyatt?) - all with reasonable pricing. There's the Hilton too which was under $300, so that may be in the running - not clear on that location though. Any more thoughts on these - those hotels - or others as to the best hotel/location combo?. Either way, I did receive some excellent information to make an informative decision as to where to stay and I thank you!!

Tim_and_Liz

nantucketgirl-
We are staying at the Park Hotel Tokyo, *not* the Park Hyatt! I wish!

http://www.parkhoteltokyo.com/

I'm glad you found the thread helpful!

hawaiiantraveler

nantucketgirl,

To answer some of your questions:

The Hilton is located across the street from the Century Hyatt in Shinjuku. The Park Hyatt is down the street from the Century Hyatt.....maybe two blocks. The Keio Plaza is a block and a half away from the CH.

We now stay at the Century Hyatt while in Tokyo. It is a good location for us and we love the service and room size of this hotel.It should fit right in your budget of $300. You might even be able to book the concierge level which entitles you to breakfast and evening cocktails and all day refreshments with private check in/out and private concierge service. You can also get a Mt Fuji view in the mornings in the winter/early spring months if its clear.

They also have a nice park right in back which we like to stroll in the mornings.

The Keio Plaza Hotel is a little closer to all shopping and action in Shinjuku but the others are right there too.

The Westin is liked by others on this forum and gets high marks. It is located a little southwest of Shinjuku in Ebisu .

If you choose to stay in Shinjuku you will not lack for things to do and the train station is a sight in itself.
Some Shinjuku information:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3011.html

http://tinyurl.com/2q4vwz

http://www.tokyoessentials.com/shinjuku.html

I could go on and on about Shinjuku and Tokyo but.......enjoy!

Aloha!

W9London

I must say I was not that impressed with Hilton Shinjuku. The place didn't look like it's been refurbished for at least a good 10 yrs.

All Shinjuku hotels you've mentioned--Century Hyatt, Keio Plaza, Park Hyatt are on western side of Shinjuku. You walk along underground pathway for about 10min to get to Keio Plaza and Century Hyatt. Park Hyatt (the one in Lost in Translation) is the furtherest one, about 15-20min walk from the station though I understand they have shuttle buses.

You don't have to stay there to enjoy the view--there are cocktail lounges, popular steakhouse(?) and a very posh-looking Japanese restaurant. Also I spotted Mt Fuji from the top-floor restaurant at Westin. Though Ebisu is totally a different, more residential (though very posh), less crazy, neighbourhood compared to Shinjuku.

Are you sure you'll be coming from Oiso? We stayed there close to a friend's house this summer. It is on Tokaido line, VERY tiny rural station. I think they have a few train to Shinjuku a day, but you'll need to change at Shinagawa or Tokyo to get to Shinjuku.

hawaiiantraveler

The Park Hyatt, Hyatt Century and Hilton all have free shuttle buses to and from Shinjuku station every 20 minutes all day until 22:00.

There are also beautiful Mt. Fuji views from restaurants in the top floors of the Sumitomo bldg and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The view from the NY Grill at the top of the Park Hyatt is spectacular

Aloha!

nantucketgirl

W9London - thank you for the tips - not knowing anything about these hotels myself, I'll take your word and take the Hilton off of my list. Also your recommendations have been printed in terms of things to see so thank you. Do you you think the Westin is in a convenient location? Oh, and the quote about the train from where I'm staying for business was "The Shounan Sinjuku line connects Ikebukuro/Sinjuku/Shibuya and Oiso station directly. 1 hour 10 mins from Shinjuku station by Shounan Sinjuku line" - does that make more sense? Hawaiian Traveler - those are some great tips and I'll be checking out those links for Shinjuku - sounds like a solid destination choice w/i Tokyo. I'm fairly (well, maybe not for this board) well travelled but know nothing about Japan so I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of your time and advice. Tom and Liz - I'm laughing at myself - Boy I really had you upgraded! (Park Hyatt)...but I did love the link for the Park Hotel - great reviews too - #2 on TripAdvisor for Tokyo?. Hmmmm - Westin, Park HOTEL or Century Hyatt - all sound great and in a good locale. So torn! I'll play around a little more - I don't think I can go wrong - sounds like I'm in for an interesting stay.

W9London

Trains from Oiso--they do have a direct service to shinjuku but it is far less frequent, maybe once or twice an hour. The same trains would stop at Ebisu, so it would probably take about the same amount of time either to Westin or Century Hyatt. About 1-1.5hr from Tokyo makes sense.

Westin is connected to JR Ebisu station by moving walkways, about 10min or so. Slightly longer connection to Metro. The station is far less crowded than Shinjuku, though there is a department store and office/shopping/restaurant complex across from the hotel. My only gripe is about airport transportation--the airport limousine bus makes too many stops, and you'll have to transfer from Yamanote Line to catch Narita Express.

nantucketgirl

W9 - thank you again. Where would you stay with my budget? Before I get to Tokyo, The Prince Oiso is where I'm staying for work (hence the train info) - anyone ever go to that area or see that hotel? Appears to be on the ocean but not much info about it on the net otherwise. Not a totally modern and fab hotel but seems very nice, on the water - and sounds like that area will allow me to get an interesting flavor of Japan outside Tokyo. My understanding is that we're taking a 'field trip' the last work day to Yokohama (China Town?). Sounds like this is all well worth the 14 hour flight!

Mealea

I live in Tokyo, not far from the Ebisu area. I can share some thoughts with you. I personally don't like Shinjuku, though some travelers enjoy the bright lights and swarming crowds. It really depends on what you're looking for and what you want to do here.

Shinjuku is a business district where you'll find many office workers going out for a drink after work and heading to restaurants and karaoke. There are also big department stores. West Shinjuku is a business district with skyscrapers. Parts of Shinjuku are considered the red light district of Tokyo. Shinjuku Station is extremely crowded and and can be disorienting. You can spend quite a long time just trying to get out of the station. Shinjuku is good if you like to be in a very busy commercial part of Tokyo with neon and crowds. Some tourists do like it since it's non-stop action.

Ebisu is mostly a lively and hip residential area, It's known for its many restaurant and is called a gourmet ghetto. It's big enough to be lively and interesting, but not so huge that you'll get lost in the station. It feels more manageable than a huge station like Shinjuku. Lots of shops and cafes around. You can take the Hibiya subway line one station to Naka Meguro, one of the coolest neighborhoods in Tokyo - young, funky, and artistic. From Ebisu it's two stations on the Hibiya line to Roppongi and walking distance to Daikanyama and Shibuya. I think Ebisu is an excellent base for exploring Tokyo.

Just thought I'd write since I see so many travelers head to Shinjuku and I always wish they could see other areas and more of what makes Tokyo a great place. Have a nice trip!

angethereader

We stayed in Ginza and it was a nice mix of neon, high end stores and access to the subway.

mjs

I also like Ebisu as a place to stay in Tokyo. Shinjuku is ok but the train station is large and rather confusing. I think I have been through that station over 100 times and I still do not always end up where I want to go without an ocassional detour.