Miscellaneous Tips, Tokyo-to

In Tokyo, cramped hotel rooms, small beds and big prices are the norm. Tourist hotels tend to be pretty and convenient facilities with ajoining restaurants and spas. Business hotels on the other hand are not pretty and don't offer any of the frills of the tourist hotel, however the cheaper price definitely reflects that. However, Hotel Villa Fontaine Shiodome is one of the new breeds of business hotels that is offering an appealing environment without the pricepoint of a tourist hotel.

The friendly, english-speaking staff make it easy to communicate if your Japanese is not the best. Hotel rooms are nicely decorated and offer a little more walking space than the average hotel room in Tokyo. The regular rooms have a small LCD screen with free local channels, LAN jacks, a refrigerator, a small table and two chairs. The beds are queen-sized (definitely a rarity in Tokyo) albeit they are the hardest beds I have ever slept on. The seats are also quite stiff which is totally fine as I tend to spend as little time as possible in my room, however it could be a deal breaker if you enjoy staying in among a see of comfy blankets and cushions. Other features include a small closet stocks a complimentary unisex nightgown, slippers, ironing board and iron. The bathroom is small but navicable.

Bad points: At night, this hotel is tough to locate if it's your first time there as it is situated INSIDE an office building 3-4 blocks away from the main train station, although it is located at the doorstep of the Metro rail station. Additionally, if you're lost and trying to find help, many of the locals unfortunately do not know where it is located either. Your best bet is to follow my directions below or print out a map of the location (on the hotel's website) to navigate - if all else fails you can show the map to a local and they should be able to lead you there. Located in a business district, you'll have to take the train to areas of interest, but the station is about a 7-8 minute walk away so it is convenient.

For the price, Hotel Villa Fontaine Shiodome provides nice decor and queen sized beds - a rarity in Tokyo hotels. The hotel also provides free LAN inside the rooms (bring your own cord) and refrigerators to chill your tasty beverages. Aside from the regular bathroom ammenities such as soap and shampoo, Hotel Villa Fontaine also provides a fresh toothbrush, small tube of toothbase and a comb everyday, so no need to bring your entire bathroom cabinet with you when you travel.

Aside from regular rooms, the hotel also has special rooms. The Ladies room offers all the ammenities of a regular room but includes a foot massager and some additional spa products. The relaxation room also provides a foot massager and special "low resistance" pillows. Premier rooms offer more space and some extra furniture - a desk or couch depending on if your room is classified as a "business" room or a "relax" room.

The hotel also offers a free contental breakfast in the lobby during the morning. The breakfast won't win any awards but it is a good option if you don't have enough time to grab breakfast elsewhere or are trying to save money in pricey Tokyo.

Tokyo-to Hotels