OK – so it’s not the Park Hyatt Tokyo but for the price, it’s not a bad stay.

The lobby is somewhat deceiving as it is modestly grand with stained glass windows and 3 stunning chandeliers that literately drop from the high ceiling. Yet once you enter the elevator to your floor, it is drab, dark, and uninviting.

But as per everywhere in Japan, the service is phenomenal. At every touch point with guests throughout the hotel there is always a staff member on hand waiting to assist with a reserved smile.

My room is on the 37th floor. It is sparse in terms of amenities but to make up for it there is a ‘convenience’ card which lists a number if items which can be kept or borrowed for no charge, such as a variety of pillows, iron and board, trouser press, hair tonic, bath salts etc. I order about 5 items to make my stay more comfortable.

Housekeeping is sweet – next to my bed is a little note from the person who cleaned my room welcoming me back to my room and a small Origami swan has been placed next to it. A lovely touch.

The gym and pool is small but well appointed and very clean. When I first enter I am told there is a 2000 yen charge
to use the amenities but when I question this, I am told if I sign up for free to the Hyatt ‘Gold’ club, it will be free. Naturally, I sign up.

Both breakfast and internet are not included in my $230 a night corporate room rate, so I pre-pay breakfast at a discount of $25 per day, and $4.50 for 24 hours of internet usage. Wireless is not standard on the 26th floor and I have to call housekeeping for a router to be plugged into the broadband socket so I can use my iPad and iPhone wirelessly.

Breakfast on the first day is a Japanese set menu – beautifully presented but the fish is a little tricky to tackle. Day two is Western buffet in the cafe adjacent to the lobby. Compared to the Hilton across the road, the offerings here are meager and at 9.30am on Saturday morning the trays of food need quick replenishing – which is not happening.

Although no fault of the hotel, the location is a little bit out of the way from Shinjuku station and the ‘main drag’.

Would I stay here again? Probably not. There are a number of other hotels at the same price point offering more modern amenities and as a HHonors Diamond member, it just makes more sense to stay at the Hilton. Yes, the rooms are a little more, but breakfast, Internet, and upgrades are all free.