January 2010 Archives

I'm spending my last night in Tokyo at the Sheraton Miyako in a standard room on the 6th floor. A lower floor again but I get a view of the neighborhood. The hotel is next door to a Toyopet dealership and at the bottom of the hill from the Shirokanedai Station off of the Namboku Line. The lobby has an early 60s design that would fit in the world of Mad Men or 花樣年華. It doesn't look retro; it was probably how it was built many years ago and spotlessly maintained since. My room was recently remodeled and was quite comfy and plush. I can only imagine how the "nice" rooms look like.

The bed is awesomely firm, like most nice beds in Asia. The opposite of North America...

Nice desk and loafing couch. I think that's the same TV I have in my bedroom.

Internet here is free but wired. Check out the speed!

Damn fast!

Sheraton Miyako
1-1-50 Shirokanedai Minato-ku
Tokyo, Japan 108-8640
Phone: +81 3 3447 3111

Starbucks at Roppongi Hills West Walk.

I think kimono should be the new dress code

Often, travelers will groan when they check into a hotel and they get a lower floor. Usually, higher floors are reserved for elite guests (much like upgrades and E+ are usually for elite flyers). In some cities, like New York or Hong Kong, a higher floor is a must because you get a feel for the city. Hong Kong and New York are defined by their skylines so it's best to able to see them.

From the sixth floor, overlooking Roppongi Keyakizaka Dori. Happy New Year!

Having a lower floor at the Grand Hyatt Roppongi, for example, isn't the end of the world. In fact, it gives you a sense of having bearings since there's not really an outstanding icon of Tokyo to focus on. No million dollar skyline or Art Deco canyons here. What Tokyo has is street life. It's the best city to explore on foot (provided you've not twisted your ankle before the trip) and its full of neat things you won't find riding on the Hato Bus. The hotel is part of the Roppongi Hills complex and it serves (along with Tokyo Midtown) as an oasis from the silliness that Roppongi is known for.

Hallway from the room to the front door. Nice!

The rest of the room, including a wet bathroom and a properly firm bed!

The question will arise; how could I stay here on my usual low budget? My stay here was an award night from Hyatt's Faster Free Nights promotion. During my last stay in LA, I stayed at two Hyatts, thus earning me a free night anywhere there was availability. What's important is that the service was sublime, the room was comfortable and I had a place to fall flat faced after the 10 hour flight from SFO. Despite being on a "lower floor".

Grand Hyatt Tokyo
6-10-3 Roppongi, Minato-Ku,
Tokyo, Japan 106-0032
Tel: +81 3 4333 1234 Fax: +81 3 4333 8123