Mansions at Roppongi
 

I'm going to Japan in Mid March for a couple of weeks and will be flying into Narita. We'll be staying at The Mansions at Roppongi for the first few nights. Can anyone tell me how to get there? We have JR passes and will be taking the NEX Express into Tokyo form the airport but we need to know which stop to get off at and what subway line to take. Has anyone stayed there? I've heard the hotel is fabulous. Thanks.

It is not convenient to use subway lines between Tokyo stn and Roppoingi; you have to change lines, you don't want to drag your luggages around. Get a cab from Tokyo station, it won't cost you more than 2000 yen.

Have a flight attendant write down the address in Japanese and show it to the driver.

can anyone tell me more about this hotel?

go to their website www.themansions.jp. I'm scheduled to stay there in a couple months. I got to talk to a couple plp that works there and I was amazed by how well their English was. Moreover, you can read some personal reviews by going to asia-hotels.com. They have the most extensive personal reviews on that hotels. After reading them you won't regret your choice. I hope you come back to this forum and tell us your experience their as well.

BigFeat, are you sure that is the correct URL for the Mansions at Roppongi? When I tried it, it was a dead link. I've been looking for their homepage for months and haven't come up with one despite extensive searches in Google. You're right about the reviews at asiahotels.com. It's a great site for both booking hotels and getting reviews. The nice thing is, the reviews are unedited. I wrote a few reviews for them for hotels I booked with them in Burma and they didn't change a thing. Anyway, I'm off to Japan March 16 so any information on The Mansions (and Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Miyajima Island) would be welcome. I'm really looking forward to it.

I just tried the link in IE and it worked. For some reason, it didn't in Netscape. Thanks for posting it. I'll report on the Mansions when I get back. I'll be staying there for a total of 6 nights, the first three and last three of the trip.

I wanted to know if you could confirm a couple things. Being that the hotel is next to a cemetery it was said the the best view is from a top room facing the front of the hotel. However, the attendants there say that it doesn't matter which room one stays in the cemetery will always be in view with the exception of lower level rooms. Some of stated the rooms facing the back of the hotel are normally noisy because it is close to a club. I have a 1-bedroom executive room which is on the top floor. It has a view of the Tokyo Tower, but there are conflicting reports about the cemetery view from those rooms. If that's not anything that bothers you then don't worry about it. However, I'd like to get some assessment on what parts of the building really gets one a better view. Thanks.

Looking on a cemetary doesn't bother me. I would actually prefer it because it should be quiet (I hope!) I've booked a studio and I have no idea what floor I'll be on but I'll try and have a look around and let you know. I won't be back until the beginning of April though. Thanks for the tip on the back rooms being noisy. I'll be sure to ask for a quiet room.

hope you guys enjoy partying 'every' night and a drunken/sleazy sort of atmosphere walking through the streets of roppongi 'every' night?
it really depends on what you're looking for, but i would opt to stay elsewhere. not the best area if you have kids either.

Did you have an unpleasant experience at Roppongi? I can't figure out if you've stayed at the Mansions or just have reserves about the area.

BigFeat,
no, i haven't had bad experiences in Roppongi at all, actually i've had some of the most fun and interesting times of my life there, but that's the area you go to party/get drunk, it's really the most 'gaijin' infested area in japan that's notorious as a red light district.
i'm really only commenting on the area itself, i've never heard of, stay at the Mansions.
i think it's an ok area to stay as it's somewhat conveniently located (not so much by train) especially now with the Roppongi Hills entertainment complex, but i just wanted to let you know that the area is the 'gaijin' red light district of tokyo.

Thanks for the tip. I kinda got that impression from some articles that I've been reading about Roppongi. It does sound like a big 'Hook-up' place. I'll be there with my girlfriend who happens to be Dutch. We've survived several walks through the 'Red Light District' in Amsterdam which happens to be frequented by fellas and ladies from all walks of life. Very few of them happen to be Dutch (surprise-surprise). So I'm sure Roppongi could only be a tamer version of that. :)

I've heard that Japan is a very safe place so I think we can probably deal with the druken lewdness. However, I have heard wonderful things about the Mansions. The rooms aren't really that cheap ($180-$340 per night) so I'm sure that factor deters those that wish to frequent it for their one-night stands...

Just back from Japan and stayed at The Mansions at Roppongi for 6 nights, 3 at the start of the trip, and three at the end. First, to get back to BigFeat, the cemetary is actually a bit of a distance from the hotel. In both rooms, we had views of the city and Tokyo Tower, very nice. I did not notice the cemetary from either room. We were in a one bedroom on the 6th floor, and a studio on the 9th floor.

In response to gottheitch, Roppongi is not sleazy at all, in fact it is quite upscale these days with Roppongi Hills a five minute walk from the hotel. We were never woken up by loud noises, in fact, the rooms were very quiet. Nor did we see any visibly drunken people in the streets, unless of course I count myself, after too many sakes at a yakatoria one night! Nor did we see any women who looked like hookers (or men for that matter). Maybe I'm jaded after living in NYC for the past 20 years, but Roppongi is not that wild. Yes there are lots of nightclubs and the occasional person who may try to get you to go to one, but all in all, Roppongi seemed more like Yuppiesville than some wild red light district.I thought it was a fantastic area and very convenient. The hotel is a 2 minute walk to two subway lines.
As for the hotel itself, BigFeat, I think you will be very happy there. The one bedroom unit we had was huge and very well appointed. Everything is new and spotless. Big dining room, full kithen, wquipped with everything you will need, including a corkscrew, silverware, dishes, pots and pans, etc. We didn't cook except to make coffee and toast for breakfast but you certainly could if you want to. The living room has a sofa, coffee table, desk and comfortable chair, dataport for high speed Internet access, and a plasma TV with CNN and Discovery. The bathroom is roomy and has a washer/dryer and the toilet is in a seperate room. It sounds strange to get excited about but the toilet is wonderful! The heated seat and all the settings for the bidet and wash functions would alone be great, but the toilet even has a dryer! Also, the floor in the main room is heated. You are requested to not wear shoes in the apartment but nice slippers are provided, which you may keep upon checkout. The staff is very helpful and will hail cabs for you, make restaurant reservations and generally comply with any reasonable request. When I return to Tokyo, I would not even consider staying anywhere else.

I'm elated about my decision now. From what you described I might not even have to stay in a 1-bedroom Executive suite. It sounds like the standard 1-bedroom is enough. The attendents at the hotel told the Exec rooms were way nice and a bit roomier. However, it's just going to be my girlfriend and I.

I wasn't too concern about the atmosphere being sleezy. After growing up in Chicago and living in NY for some years I've grown accustomed to elements I have to look out for. I'm in Amsterdam at least 4 times a year. So I've seen the extreme in those seeking a one-night special. The only difference is the streetwalkers have stool to sit down on behind a glass window. :D... Did you happen to visit the Ropp- Hills by the way? I see that they have a shopping plaza that is trying to rival with Shinjuku and sorts.. I'm just curious in case I need to do something in Roppongi after the trains have stopped running.

BigFeat, Since the hotel gave us a complimentary upgrade, I'm not sure if they gave us a regular one bedroom or an executive suite. We had a dining room, which the website shows for the executive suite but not the regular one bedroom, but the living room for the one bedroom looks exactly like the one we had, as does the bedroom. In any case, I don't think you can go wrong there, no matter which you choose.

Roppongi Hills is very nice but be advised, the stores are all very upscale and expensive. We had dinner at a nice restaurant there one night, it was reasonable and the food good. I can't remember the name ot the restaurant but it had the letter X as one of the words in it's name.

A bit of advice, there is an Italian restaurant on the corner of the street the hotel is on. I wouldn't eat there. We ate there the night before we were going to Hiroshima because we had an early train to catch and wanted to stay close to home. The food was good and high quality but the place costs a small fortune for what you get. Our bill came to about $80.00 (U.S.) for the two of us and I was starving when we left. I ordered the ravioli with asparagus (about 1700 Yen) and, I kid you not, the dish consisted of some pieces of asparagus and ONE ravioli in some sauce! We are not talking about a lagre ravioli here, it was the size of an egg yolk--that is what was in it. My husband and I looked at each other and started to laugh in disbelief. On top of that, they added a 1000 Yen "table charge", for the bread we were told. The bread was one slice of Italian bread each, no butter. Just thought I'd warn you.

Thank u much for that tip.. That's why I plan on buying groceries and cooking it at the apartment. Moreover, I'm a vegetarian (no meat, chicken, or fish) and I know restaurants that cater to my diet needs may be hard to find around that area. Although I have obtained a list from some generous members on this forum. As far as the room I do remember the subtle differences between the standard and exec rooms is the dinning room. The difference in price isn't entirely that much either. Good to hear you guys had a wonderful stay nonetheless.

Well, it's my turn to experience the Mansions at Roppongi myself!! I may have that opportunity in the upcoming months. Just wanted to get a couple of questions out there first...
1. how are the 'studios' compared to the 1 bedrooms? would it be comfortable to stay in the 'studio' rooms for a short term (1-3 mth) stay?
2. what is the story with the internet connection? is it offered in the room itself? is it complimentary, or must you pay for the time you use it? i was thinking of bringing my laptop, but didn't know if it was free or has a charge.
3. does the Mansions have a workout gym?
Thanks very much!!

Gottheitch- the studio is like a large hotel room with a kitchen area down the hall and washer, toilet and bath in separate rooms off the entry hall as well. I could live there for a month without a problem...there was a full size desk and big chair as well as the big bed in our room. My kids had two beds in their studio.

There is free internet in the rooms and also a computer room on the main floor with free computers as well.

Can't remember anything about a workout room, but we wouldn't have paid attention to it anyway!!

This is so great that this topic came up because I'm staying there too. Thanks lcuy for the description of the studio..the site makes it look like it's a pretty good size but there was a nagging fear I'd wind up in a tin can. The Mansions site states that a Limo Bus from Narita can drop you off at the ANA Hotel(?) and you can taxi from ANA to Narita. From what I gather the Limo Bus is 3000 yen and the ANA is not very far from The Mansions at Roppongi as opposed to Tokyo Station..is that right?

Oop I meant taxi fro ANA to the Mansions! :-)