Hotel Review - Hyatt Regency Tokyo

The Hyatt Regency Tokyo is located in Shinjuku, a fast-paced business, shopping and entertainment district. This five star hotel in Tokyo is next to the Shinjuku Central Park and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. It is also a 10 minute walk to the Shinjuku station where there are many malls like the Odakyu Department Store, HALC and BicCamera.

There is a free shuttle bus running between the hotel and bus stop 35 outside HALC department store at Shinjuku. The airport limosuine busses also stop here to/from Narita and Haneda airports.

After returning back to Tokyo from a one night trip to Hakone, we rolled our bags from Shinjuku station out the west exit over to bus stop 35 outside HALC. The clean white Hyatt Regency bus was waiting there. A wave to the driver, and the pleasant white-gloved driver came out to help us with our bags into the bus. A 5-minute bus ride later and we were at the Hyatt Regency.

The large lobby was lit by three huge chandeliers. How do they clean those things? A brisk walk over to the reception desk and a pleasant lady efficiently checked us in, informing us that we have free use of the fitness centre and swimming pool. If only we brought our trainers and swimming gear. Then she whispered ..."I upgraded you to a bigger King size room". That put a smile on our faces.

We booked the room online at hyatt.com about a month earlier and got a super saver deal of  ¥ 15,000 (including taxes), for two adults, excluding breakfasts. Not a bad deal, considering that other travel websites were offering higher rates for the same room. I also asked for a non-smoking and quiet room. Both requests were accommodated.

The room was certainly a "quiet" one, as it was down the corridor away from the lift lobby. The room was huge! It fitted a very comfortable king size bed, a two-seater sofa, small round table and chair, all comfortably without feeling cramped.

There was free Internet access via a LAN cable. Didn't try that out because we didn't bring our laptops. No room WIFI, unfortunately. There was the LCD TV with both English and Japanese channels. The refrigerator was well stocked with drinks and beer.

One of the first things I check out in a hotel room is the cleanliness of the bathroom. Hyatt Regency passed - very clean bathroom, full set of amenities, good water pressure from the shower head. No separate shower stall but within the bath tub. And the icing on the cake - a super thick terry cloth bathrobe.

We didn't opt for the breakfast option as we felt we could buy something small on the go. And a good thing too, because I spied on long quese outside the ground floor cafe at around 8:30am. There are two mini marts -7-11 and Family Mart - in the basement. We bought our milk and buns for breakfast on the go. I noticed fresh sushi being brought in the early morning that was quickly snapped up by office workers from the neighbourhood office buildings.

The concierge was very helpful with maps and directions. They also kept our bags with them after checking out as our departing flight was not until 11pm.

Hyatt Regency Shinjuku is in a good location in Tokyo and provides first class five star service you would expect from any five star hotel. Everything worked, service was impeccable. A very happy customer.

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Hotel Review - Keihan Hotel Tokyo

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The Keihan Hotel at Asakusa is a fairly new hotel. It is part of the Keihan chain of hotels.

It is a nine-minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Toei Asakusa Line, the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, or the Tobu Isesaki Line. Alternatively, a seven-minute walk from Tawaramachi Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line.

The rooms are typically small as per Tokyo standards with modern amenities. Our room was a semi double room (14 sq metre), which means a semi double bed - slightly smaller than a regular Queen size bed. There were the standard room facilities: LCD TV with Japanese channels, small writing desk and chair, small refrigerator, humidifier machine, trouble press and very narrow closet.

The very clean bathroom, though small, has the customary high tech toilet, shower within bath tub, set of bathroom amenities like shower gel, shampoo, hair dryer, toothbrushes.

The hotel reception is on the second floor and have some English speaking staff. Also on the second floor is a free-to-use washing machine and dryer. Pay only ¥100 for a small pack of detergent. Caution - it took me one hour to wash my clothes (medium cycle) and another one hour for the dryer to dry them.

Also on the second floor - two internet PCs for free use by hotel guests.

Hotel Keihan Asakusa is in a good area for tourists to be based as it's within walking distance to Senjoji temple. Many mini marts and affordable restaurants are within walking distance of the hotel.

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Photos - Day 6 - Tokyo

Tokyo Government Metropolitan Building > Lunch at Shinjuku > East Shinjuku > Hyatt Regency > Haneda Airport

Checked out of the Hyatt Regency, left our bags with the concierge as our flight only departs at 11pm, and walked 2 minutes to the building next door - the Tokyo Government Metropolitan. It was then a 55-second trip up the elevator to the observation deck on the 45th floor. Stunning views of Tokyo city! On a clear day you could even see majestic Mt Fuji in the horizon.

Looking down into Shinjuku Park.

Looking east and I spot the Tokyo Skytree in the background.

Restaurant, usually on the upper floors of department store buildings, have good deals for lunches and dinner. We climbed up to level 8... OK we took the elevator .... of the Palette building which is right next to the Odakyu building by Shinjuku station, and found this restaurant.

My set lunch of appetiser of pickled vegetables, pork, rice, sashimi and miso soup came to under ¥1,000.

Colourful billboards at busy intersectoin at East Shinjuku - the east side of the train station.

Two devils, with their tails, were roaming around in Shinjuku.

East Shinjuku.

Streets of East Shinjuku.

Walked back to Odakyu department store, and gave our legs a welcome rest at a cafe within the store. Pear tart and English Breakfast tea for me.

Strawberry cheesecake and floral tea.

Side streets of West Shinjuku at night when the colourful neon lights add to the atmosphere. We browsed through a few electronic stores and were amazing variety of mobile phones!

Took the limousine bus from the Hyatt to Haneda airport. This photo was taken from the outdoor observation deck at Haneda airport.

Goodbye Tokyo. Arigato gozaimasu. Hope to be back soon.

More Photos > Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 (am) - Day 4 (pm) - Day 5 - Day 5 (pm) - Day 6

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Photos - Day 5 - Hakone

Japanese Breakfast at Setsugetsuka Hotel > Gora Village > Ropeway > Sounzan > Cable Car > Owakudani > Mt Fuji > Lake Ashi > Pirate Ship > Lake Ashi Hakone Shrine Torii > Hakone machi > Checkpoint Museum > Yumoto Village > Romance Car > Yumoto Station > Shinjuku Station

More Photos > Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 (am) - Day 4 (pm) - Day 5 - Day 5 (pm) - Day 6

Before breakfast, a dip into one of the three private outdoor onsens. This photo shows the hooks to hang your clothes.

A small dressing table and chairs for your basket of clothes and towels.

Outdoors yet with enough privacy. The water was nice and warm. A pleasant soak before breakfast.

A female local guest dressed in the hotel's brightly coloured yukata makes her way to the main onsen.

Free bottles of chilled Yakult were available outside the main onsen.

Setgusetsuka hotel building.

Our Japanese breakfast. What a spread! After breakfast, we headed to the hotel's cafe for a drink of free coffee. Then with the hotel's help, we used the luggage service to send our heavy bags ahead to Yumoto station, while we checked out of the hotel, and continued to explore Hakone, as our train to Shinjuku was only due to depart at 5:30pm.

After we checked out of the hotel, we took a leisure stroll through Gora village.

It always amazes me on the variety of the products in the vending machines in Japan. And their cleanliness! Never encountered a fault or dirty vending machine.

Decided to take the cable car to Souzan...

Then from Souzan, boarded the ropeway to Owakudani..

Once at Owakudani, we stepped out of the station, walked over the the nearest building to admire My Fuji, again.

Saw Hello Kitty and her black egg companion at Owakudani.

Didn't eat these black eggs but were on sale for ¥500 for 5 eggs. The eggs become black after soaking in the sulphur hot spring from this area.

Owakudani stand at 1044m above sea level.

Captured Mt Fuji on the ropeway journey down to Lake Ashi to board the pirate boat.

Some members of the crew were dressed in theme to the delight of children young and old.

The bridge.

At Hakonemachi we walked 10 minutes to the Checkpoint Museum.

This Checkpoint Museum was rebuilt to exact replica of the Edo period checkpoint and used as a gateway for visitors in and out of this area.

To catch our train at Yumoto station, we used our Hakone freepass to catch a bus from Hakonemachi to Yumoto - a mere 30 minute bus ride, if you catch the express bus. Yumoto village has several restaurants, cafes and stalls selling food.

This guy was doing a roaring business selling heart shaped biscuits. ¥250.

Our trip back to Shinjuku was via the EXE model of the Romance car.

Watched the seats automatically swivel to face the forward direction.

More Photos > Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 (am) - Day 4 (pm) - Day 5 - Day 5 (pm) - Day 6

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Photos - Day 5 (evening) - Tokyo

Hyatt Regency Shinjuku > Yakitori and Beer

Arrived at Shinjuku Station from Yumoti-Hakone at about 7pm. Walked out of the west side of the station to Halc department store, and looked for bus stop 35 where the Hyatt Regency bus makes it stop. Arrived at the Hyatt Regency at about 7:30pm and checked into our King Room. Then off to look for dinner of beer and yakitori.

Hyatt Regency Hotel at Shinjuku, Tokyo.

Hyatt Regency Hotel King room with King size bed. A good size room. Very comfortable king size bed. has a sofa, round table and single arm chair, and all the luxury you would expect from the Hyatt.

Hyatt Hotel King Room bathroom. Good set of toiletries. Shower and bathtub together; no separate shower area. Excellent super thick and comfy terry cloth bathrobe..

Took the shuttle bus back to Halc department store at Shinjuku. Came across a billboard advertising Yakitori at the Halc's basement. Since it was getting late and we were starving, we headed down the stairs.

After a few sticks of Yakitori, we spied on something delicious from the next table. It's called Okonomiyaki. We had to have one. It's a savoury pancake made of eggs, noodles, your choice of meat or seafood, and served with stripes of mayo.

We wanted more! More Beer and Yakitori! And so we opened up the Metropolitan free magazine, poured through the restaurant pages and came across an ad for yakitori and free flow drinks. Tucked away in East Shinjuku on the 6th floor or a narrow building, we entered a crowded smoky place. All locals; we were the only foreigners. But that's the fun of discovering new places and enjoying what the locals do. We ordered a variety of yakitori off the menu and was told that we could help ourselves to anything from the drinks counter - beer, juices, fruity flavoured liquor.

More Photos > Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 (am) - Day 4 (pm) - Day 5 - Day 5 (pm) - Day 6

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