Has anyone here ever stayed at this hotel? Is it as nice as some of the online reviews indicate? Is it worth the money?

hi emd, when are you going? if you can wait till mid-october, i'll give you a first hand report. i'm staying there in early oct. this is the one in roppongi, right?

Hey Ken. Yes, that one in Roppongi. I am considering a mid-Nov. trip. I have a chance to bid on a non-profit auction for airfare and 6 night stay at that hotel (or the RC in Osaka, but that one does not get the good reviews that the one in Tokyo gets). It looks like a very sweet hotel.

Rally beautiful hotel with stunning views (esp at night). I have to say that the rooms are a little bit on the boring side, esp if you compare them to something like the Mandarin. The bathrooms do not overly impress. Don't get me wrong, you still will know you are in a luxury hotel; I think it was that for the view I was expecting a bit more wow for the rooms/bathrooms. But fantastic service, great restaurants (be sure to visit the 300-year old tea house that was reconstructed piece by piece.) It's a very popular hotel. Nice location and near the newish art museum.

I have not stayed at the one in Osaka, but understand it is quite nice, although of course not as new as the Tokyo one. I have to say that given a choice for a 6-night stay, I would probably choose Osaka. IMO Tokyo does not offer a whole lot to see and do, and will not give you the chance to see more traditional Japan. Osaka is smaller and would offer perhpas a better view (but not as good as say Kyoto. You could make day trips from Osaka to Kyoto as there are trains which take about half a hour between the two.) If there is any way to split the pacage into 2 nights in Tokyo and the rest in Osaka that might be ideal.

Thank you, Cicerone. I have been to Kyoto twice before for week-long trips (and Osaka for day trips from Kyoto), so have no reason to go back to Osaka/Kyoto again in particular. However, I have only stayed in Tokyo for 4 days at the start of both of those trips, and I have not been to Nikko and other places around Tokyo, so I think a 6 night stay at the Ritz Tokyo would be better for me than the Ritz Osaka.

I have a chance to add days onto this trip if I win it, so I can go on to other paces I can get to within my time frame. I can open-jaw also so can land in Narita and take off from Nagoya or KIX or wherever, as long as I fly out on the same airline I flew in on, The airline choices are United or American (from Dulles).


So I think Tokyo would be best. I am hoping to catch the Nov. leaves...

Yes, the Ritz-Carlton is at Tokyo Midtown, one of the more recent upscale developments.

The hotel is quite elegant, has great views, and is well-located, being on top of a central train station which can easily get you anywhere in Tokyo.

There's a starbucks out the front for your morning coffee (and quite an elegant one at that), and a lot going on in the complex and around the area in Roppongi.

Value-for-money wise, I can't comment. We own a travel agency, so have had a look at the property and it sure is elegant, but it also is very expensive, even for a luxury hotel.

We used to stay at the Oakwood T-Cube in Roppongi, a stunning, spacious, modern apartment building, but the government cracked down and they can no longer sell it for short-term stays. It was not as well-located as the Ritz-Carlton as it was on an offshoot train line, but it was spacious and great value for money.

We now stay at the Westin in Ebisu, which is very nice, and the area elegant, but not as centrally located. The price is probably similar to the Ritz, but we are platinum, so we get some perks from that.

If money is not your main concern, and you are happy to pay the price for the Ritz-Carlton, I can't see how you could go wrong! It is lovely and well-located.

I've stayed at the Westin Ebisu twice and love it so if RC is anything like that I will be happy.
I won't be paying the RC rates. This is a package deal w/airfare for 2 and a deluxe RC room for 5 nights. It is a silent auction item for a private school, so whoever bids highest wins. Bidding starts at 1K. My guess from prior auctions is this will go for around 3-3.5K, a very good deal.

aloha eileen, i hope you were successful in getting this hotel. in a word, fabulous. the best hotel i've stayed in, and i've stayed in alot of the best, like the bossotel(smile bob)

as others have described, its in a great location, service impeccable, great room(i think about 300 sq. ft).

my room was on the 50th floor(ck in on 45th fl), two queen beds, work desk, separate show(with rain shower head, fantastic) and bath. and of course, the famous japanese toilet(in english). it is a delightful, almost deviant experience to be doing your thing on the toilet. also made me wish i had dehli belly(does this sound gross?) also, a small ice box what is filled with drinks. daily wsj. ice buck always filled at sunset. fantastic view of the park, and the palace of the prince.

the mid-town complex is filled with shops, restaurants, several bakereys, a supermarket, and other services.

the don quiote shop is located about 5 min. away. go there, as it is quite a store. its on five narrow levels, and it must have about 10000 line times. its next to fridays, and across from the hardrock cafe. there is also a 100Y store across the street. ask the con. at the hotel, and she will give you the easy directions.

i took the limo bus from nrt to the hotel,about a little less than 90 minutes. when you buy the bus tkt, be sure to buy the 2 day metro pass for 100yen more for unlimited rides on the tokyo metro system for two consecutive days. also, when you go to the station, look for the chika-tabi booklet. this booklet list vendors who provide discounts and special deals for those who present the metro pass at time of purchase. if you can't find the booklet, as the station agent.

for you sushi lovers, show your metro pass at any sushizanmai(two locations within 5min. from the ritz), and you will get a free sea eel nigiri sushi. the eels is about 6-8 inches long over a tiny rice roll. this item is on the menu for 400 yen. i've used this benefit more than once.

domo.

It certainly sounds like you enjoyed yourself, Ken!

okaerinasai kuranosuke-san

looks like you know how to live a little walking that dog,lol

great review and very useful. we are going to have to look at how many marriot points we have in our acct,lol.

did they have any kaarage or the like on that conveyor belt at sushizenmai? you know how i love the fish would like to take linda there and just watch for a while.....

Aloha!

karaage

yes kathie, just had a great time overall. i also stayed at a great hotel in kl, the palace of the golden horse. will write about it later.

ht, gomen, no karaage. i did not eat at the kaiten sushi, just the regular sushi bar. just substitute the karaage for some daiginjyo. the only items i saw remotely compared to the karaage were geso, ebi tempura and crab miso.

Ken, reading your report was almost as good as being there. I did not get to go to Japan this fall. My daughter has been in a medical treatment facility out of state (in PA) for a few months, and I got an apartment there to be close by. But your report is wonderful and took me away from the cares here for awhile- thanks for posting it.

hi eileen, i hope your daughter gets better. the ritz will be there, waiting for you.

btw, for those that are interested, there is a v van gogh exhibit at the tokyo art museum, just 5 min. from the hotel. 126 pieces of his art are on display until the end of december.