Where to Stay - Tokyo - page 82

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or 03/3667-1111), wins my vote as the best for business travelers, with its easy and
frequent access to Narita airport, excellent service (including a Woman's Traveler
Desk), nine restaurants and bars, 24-hour room service, a 24-hour business center, and
comfortable rooms complete with a computerized TV system that allows guests to
access the Internet and send e-mail for free. See p. 100.
• Best for a Romantic Getaway: Nothing beats a weekend getaway to the historic
Fujiya Hotel, in Hakone ( & 0460/82-2211 ). Established in 1878, it is one of Japan's
finest, most majestic hotels, boasting great views, Japanese- and Western-style archi-
tecture, a wonderful 1930s dining hall, and a large landscaped garden perfect for
moonlit walks. See p. 295.
• Best Budget Accommodations: Although the building is rather nondescript, Ryokan
Sawanoya, 2-3-11 Yanaka, in Ueno ( & 03/3822-2251 ), is nestled in a delightful
neighborhood of traditional shops and old wooden houses; the English-speaking
owner goes out of his way to introduce the neighborhood and make guests feel at
home with such extras as complimentary tea and instant coffee, and free laundry
detergent. An added bonus is the free lion dances performed by his son. See p. 118.
• Best for Long Stays: For stays of a week or longer, a comfy home-away-from-home is
Tokyu Stay Aoyama Premier, 2-27-18 Minami-Aoyama ( & 03/3497-0109 ), which
offers rooms complete with kitchenettes, combination washer/dryers, lots of storage
space, and such extras as complimentary breakfast and Internet connections. See
p. 110.
• Best Views: If it's winter, when Mount Fuji is most likely to be visible, the Park Hyatt
Tokyo, 3-7-1-2 Nishi-Shinjuku ( & 800/233-1234 in the U.S. and Canada, or
03/5322-1234), affords great views of Japan's tallest mountain. For city views, nothing
can beat panoramas from Tokyo's highest hotel, the Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, 9-7-1
Akasaka ( & 800/241-3333 in the U.S. and Canada, or 03/3423-8000). See p. 91 and
97, respectively.
• Best Hotel Garden: Hotel New Otani, 4-1 Kioi-cho, in Akasaka ( & 800/421-8795
in the U.S. and Canada, or 03/3265-1111), has a beautiful 400-year-old Japanese
garden that once belonged to a feudal lord. Its sprawling 4 hectares (10 acres) contain
ponds, waterfalls, bridges, bamboo groves, and manicured bushes. See p. 101.
• Best Health Club & Spa: For complete pampering, the spa at Four Seasons Hotel
Tokyo at Chinzan-So, 2-10-8 Sekiguchi ( & 800/819-5053 in the U.S. and Canada,
or 03/3943-222), offers 10 treatment rooms, including two rooms for couples and a
suite with its own private open-air bath. Other facilities include traditional Japanese
cedar indoor baths, a heated outdoor pool with a retractable roof, and a fully equipped
gym. Finish off with a relaxing stroll through the adjacent 100-year-old Chinzan-so
garden. See p. 97.
• Best Hotel for Pretending You're Not in Tokyo: Located on the man-made island of
Odaiba, Hotel Nikko Tokyo, 1-9-1 Daiba ( & 800/645-5687 in the U.S. and
Canada, or 03/5500-5500), has a resortlike atmosphere, is surrounded by parks
and gardens, and is just a short walk away from a sandy swimming beach, museums,
and shopping malls. A glance outside your hotel room, however, serves as a
reminder—the city skyline crowds the edge of Tokyo Bay. See p. 104.

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