Hi, Anyone have a stay at this hotel? I just booked it and wondered if there is anything special about it or its surrounds. Thanks in advance!

Kurt

Hi Mango7. I see you may have settled on a hotel. I remember your prior post, that you and your fiance would like new modern type hotels close to the upscale areas of Tokyo. It looks like you found one! Close to Ginza, on the Yamonate loop, and I looked at the hotel site (yeah, I'm a Japanese hotel junkie). Looks minimalistic modern, but also some luxury and not too severe on the "modern" part. Nice views of Tokyo Tower. Our hotel in Ebisu (Westin) had great views of Tokyo Tower (a bit closer as we were a few stations around the JR loop towards Tokyo Tower from your hotel)and I really enjoyed seeing it lit up in orange at night. Also, that aromatherapy place they have sounds intriguing. While on my honeymoon I went to an aromatherapy place and had a special oil made up for me. 20 yrs later, I still use it (sparingly, on special occasions) and it still smells like it did when I had it made up. It was a cool trip memory thing to do for me.

You've seen all the tripadvisor.com reviews, I'm sure. Generally very positive. What kind of rate did you get?

The style of the rooms reminds me of the rooms at the Benesse art complex on Naoshima Island that I really wanted to go to on my upcoming trip (bummer is that the place is closed for remodeling when I coudl go there). Small modern art pieces in the room (I think that is unique). Same feel in the rooms. (http://www.naoshima-is.co.jp/english/stay/index.html)

Looks to me like you've hit on a good place for your taste. I hope someone who has stayed there replies. But if not, you do have the tripadviosr reviews.

I meant YAMANOTE loop. I always do that, switch the O and the A.

Hi EMD,

Much thanks for your input! You are kind. I am excited to find this hotel, since there are others in the same price range (in Shinjuku) where the rooms look very mediocre for the price. I ended up paying just under $US200 a night. I booked directly at the hotel website since every other hotel site wanted too much. The odd thing is that the hotel didn't take my credit card # to hold the reservation. I emailed them inquiring about this and they said I pay upon check-out. Is this standard practice for Tokyo hotels? I'd hate to get to the hotel(physically) and have them tell me that they never had my reservation. That would be a mess!
Thank you again for your help EMD!

I am somewhat surprised that they don't want a credit card as a deposit to hold the room. The Okura hotel in Kyoto asked me for a credit card to hold the room when I reserved online, as did the New Miyako and another hotel where I originally made reservations (and later cancelled them). I have only stayed at the Westin in Tokyo, and they required a credit card deposit even though I stayed (and am staying again next month) on hotel points. However, the ANA Clemont hotel in Takamatsu (also about $200 a night) did not ask for a credit card for deposit. I do have an emailed reservation confirmation in hand for that hotel though.

Did they give you a reservation number and do you have an emailed confirmation in hand that resulted from your online reservation process? I would be nervous if I didn't have a confirmation number and a paper in hand saying I had a reservation and also had no credit card on file for a deposit.

MAngo: At least three of the reviews on www.tripadvisor.com have email addresses of the person who did the review. You could email them, saying you saw their review and explain your situation and ask if they were required to give a CC# for deposit, and if not, did they have any trouble w/their reservation when they got to the hotel.. I would try that if it was me. Although do note that no one who did reviews of this hotel on tripadvisor.com says anything about having a problem w/their reservation (although none of them mention not being asked for a CC# either...)

Also, not that a brand new review of the Park Hotel went up on tripadvisor.com in the last 24 hrs. The reviews for that hotel are very very positive, even from people who have stayed at places like the Park Hyatt, where the rooms are like three times as much.

oops, that should read "Also, note" instead of "not"

I have made reservations both in Tokyo - 2 years ago - and Kyoto for the end of the month and was not asked for a cc card number. The one time I was asked was by a small ryokan in Kyoto (when I had to cancel last year.) I plan to email about 10 days in advance and reconfirm. Then I will bring my email from the hotel with me.

Thank you again, EMD, and Mara

I do have a confirmation # and email copy.
I will also reconfirm 10 days beforehand as Mara suggests.
EMD, I am so excited to go to Tokyo. I usually only stop in Japan for layover in Narita on the way to Bangkok and that is exciting for me (Get a life, right? My Thai wife and I will be there for 3 full days and 2 half days. Should we venture out of Tokyo or is there enough to do there for three whole days? Thank you again. I'm going over to tripadvisor to see the new review and email addresses.
Hope to talk with you again,

Kurt

Kurt, I was in Tokyo for 5 days and 6 nights last March. We had no trouble filling up those days and nights. We had planned to do a day trip to Hakone but the day we set aside was rainy so we stayed in Tokyo that last day. There was so much left to do and experience in Tokyo that I am going back there in April for another 4 full days and 5 nights (with one day trip to Nikko included in those days), and then two days at DisneyTokyo and Disney Sea w/my daughter) before we head to Hakone for a night and on to Kyoto and Shikoku for the second week.

There are many neighborhoods and areas to explore, not only the famous ones but some that are older, more like real neighborhodds that have some Edo period bldgs. still intact. We are hoping to get to some of those this time.

I really do not think you'll have a hard time filling up 3 days and 3 half days. The challenge instead will be deciding what your interests are and fitting some of those in with the other things that people usually do in Tokyo. For example, we enjoyed fitting in a baseball game at Tokyo Dome. That was one of many highlights of our trip.

With three full days and two half days, you could do one day in Hakone or Nikko and the other days in Tokyo. Or just stay in Tokyo. I think you can decide when you get to Tokyo which way you want to go on that. If you see enough of Tokyo after two and a half days, then you can go out to Nikko or Hakone or Kamakura for a day trip on your last day. Also depends on jet lag I guess, since this is the start of your trip and you'll be going on to BKK.

Kurt - I was in Tokyo just about two years ago for five full days plus half on the day I went back to NYC. I found plenty to do in Tokyo - I am a museum person and there are just so many there! Depending on when you go there is a fabulous museum pass - Grutt- that gets you in to many of them. Not sure of the dates you can get it but there is the site:
http://www.museum.or.jp/grutt2005/

It looks like it is too late for the 2005 pass but on the Japanese page it looks like there is a 2006 pass....

I walked a lot in Ueno Park and the one around the Imperial Palace plus I did a free walking tour in Asakusa. (I was the only person who turned up - a private tour, too cool!)

I did take a day trip to Kamakura.

Enjoy your trip!

Kind thanks, EMD and Mara. Perhaps its best to just stay put in Tokyo until the next trip.
EMD- I think going to the Edo period neighborhoods would be facinating. I'm going to search for some tonight. Perhaps a baseball game as well!

Mara- I didn't consider doing any museums since I'm a little bored of what's here in the US, but seeing all the Japanese art has sparked an interest in me, so perhaps we'll try that as well. Thank you again for your suggestions!!

We will be will be going in May I can't wait!
Take care,

Kurt

Kurt
Here is the home page for the Japanese tourist bureau:
http://www.tcvb.or.jp/en/index_en.htm
If you click on Info by Theme, then Museum Guide, you will see all the different museums by area of the city.
The museums are so varied. One of the really cool ones was the Takagi Bonsai Museum - all bonsai - one was 500 years old!! Enjoy!

Mara- That sounds fantastic. I love Bonzais (but at the same time feel sorry for them).
Will check out the link-- I really appreciate it. You've been very helpful and kind.

Kurt

Baseball schedules:

http://www.japanesebaseball.com/teams/index.jsp

You can easily see a game at Tokyo Dome or Jingu stadium in Tokyo. The Hanshin Tigers are playing the Giants at Tokyo DOme one weekend in May. That woudl be a great game - the Tigers fans are just rabid.

Yanaka neighborhood, w/old Edo period bldgs.
See:
http://www.okada.de/archive-japanasi...ka/yanaka.html

There is also another walking tour in Yanaka on Frommer's website - walking tour no. 4. I stayed in Yanaka when I was in Tokyo but didn't do the walking tour til my last day. There is another very cool museum there, sorry. The Asakura Choso Museum - he was a sculptor and this was his home. Japanese style rooms of course plus in the middle a garden and a pool. Also his sculptures in various places including a whole room full of cat sculptures - I am a cat person

MAra, thanks for that! We love sculpture and have an appt. to see the Osamu Noguchi sculpture museum just outside of Takamatsu on Shikoku Island in April (there is also a Noguchi museum in NYC). If we do the Yanaka walk we will try to see the sculpture museum you mention.

emd - Can't wait to hear about the museum you and DD are going to....

According to my Grutt pass booklet the Asakura Choso Museum is open from 9:30 to 4:30 and closed on Mon. and Fri.

Hi Mara. Sorry for the late reply. I am a cat person too

Thanks for the tip on walking tours. I forgot all about frommers! This will really make the trip much nicer. I will try to see the cat room that you recommend. If there is any other thing you recommend please fell free to. Best regards,

Kurt