I recently stayed at the Hilton Tokyo in Shinjuku for 6 nights on a family trip.  It was our first visit to Tokyo, Japan. We booked two rooms for our stay, and we also requested an extra bed for one of the rooms.

Getting to the Hotel

We were traveling from the Haneda International Airport.  Prior to arrival, I figured out that the best way to get to the hotel is to take the Airport Limousine Shuttle. There were 5 of us and we had a few luggage with us, so a regular taxi wasn’t going to work.  It also wouldn’t be an economical way to get to the hotel.  The airline limousine made the most sense for us, and it was at a reasonable rate of ¥ 1230 (~$11.50 USD) per adult. Best of all, the shuttle service has a stop directly in front of the Hilton Tokyo.

I promptly went to to limousine shuttle counter to purchase tickets once we landed at Haneda Airport.  It was a smooth process and we were given tickets for the next scheduled departure. We went to the loading area where the staff took our tickets and tagged our luggage, and we were soon on our way.

Hotel Check-In

Prior to our arrival, I had contacted the hotel to arrange for an extra bed for one of the rooms.  At check-in, the room with the extra bed was held and ready for me. This was quite impressive, as most hotels tend to deliver the extra bed after check-in.  The hotel was fully booked during our stay, so we weren’t able to get rooms on the same floor.  We had two room reservations. As Hilton Gold members, the staff explained the breakfast benefit and the complimentary internet access for each of our rooms.  There was a minor hiccup over access to the executive lounge (more on that here), but beyond that, the check-in went smoothly.

Location

I would say the biggest negative is that there isn’t a lot going on in the immediate area near the hotel. Hilton Tokyo Shinjuku isn’t in the heart of Shinjuku, but there are transportation options.  There is a subway station close to the hotel.  The station is called Nishi-shinjuku station on the Marunouchi Line, which is a bit of a hike especially during the hot summer months.  Fortunately, the hotel also offers a complimentary shuttle service to Shinjuku West.  The shuttle takes you to the front of the Keio Department Store. The shuttle is always punctual, and it is popular with hotel guests.

Hotel Rooms

The hotel room is on the smaller side, as is the case for most hotels in Tokyo.  With the couch right next to the window, there isn’t a lot of space — especially the room with the extra bed.  Generally speaking, the room is clean and has a minimalist design which I like.

hotel_beds

Bedroom View

bathroom

Bathroom View

couch_area

Desk Area/Couch/Window

corridor

Corridor View

view_from_hotel

View from the Hotel Room

 

I also tend to measure the quality of a hotel room by how great its sound proofing is, since the lack thereof can affect the sleep quality. Hilton Tokyo did OK on this front.  I can’t hear much outside noise as I’m on a higher floor, but I’ve heard footsteps walking above us on a few occasions.

Breakfast at Hilton

The hotel has a nice breakfast spread at the restaurant on the lobby floor called the “Marble Lounge”.  I did not end up taking pictures there, but the service is phenomenal.  I love the omelet station, where you could get freshly made eggs for breakfast.  Note: Be sure to bring your room card cover with you.  At check-in, the staff stamped the room key cover and jotted down the number of guests allowed for breakfasts. When I travel, I tend to intentionally separate the room key card from the card cover.  I forgot bring the cover with me one morning, and let’s just say the attendant did not look pleased. She ended up looking up our room numbers and names in the computer system, though.

Concierge Service

The concierge service deserves a special mention.  Having had an easy ride to get to Hilton Tokyo via the limousine shuttle service, I decided to book the limousine bus service for our return to the Narita Airport. The fare to NRT is at ¥ 3100 per adult, but it is still a great value compared to other options. The expected travel time is 90-120 minutes to Narita Airport.

I visited  the concierge desk to arrange for the limousine shuttle.  There is a published schedule, but our desired time-slot didn’t have enough seat availability.   The time-slot before that was all sold out, so we ended up booking for an even earlier departure.  My advice is to book the limousine shuttle service early – they are very popular.  The concierge service staff was friendly and patient.  She secured my booking  and explained that the charges will be billed to my room at checkout.

Overall

There is a reason why this hotel gets rated highly in the Shinjuku area: the hotel offers all the convenience one would want in a business hotel.  The hotel offers a comfortable room, good breakfast spread, good service, convenient airport transport option, a hotel shuttle service to Shinjuku, and complimentary internet access for Hilton Honors members.

I’d give the Hilton Tokyo a solid 4 stars, taking a star off for the location and the occasional inconsistent service level from staff. Overall, I had a comfortable stay at Hilton Tokyo, and I would return to this hotel.

Have you stayed at this hotel?  What had been your experience?