Tokyo Hotels with Pools

I come to Tokyo several times a year, staying a fortnight or more each time. This time I spent seven nights at The Capitol Hotel Tokyu. The room faced Hie Shrine. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows I could see the shrine's copper roof and half of Tokyo's skyline. The décor was modern without excess; the layout flowed easily, Bose speakers hidden in the walls, another set in the bathroom ceiling, connected by a 3.5mm jack. The curtains were motorized, though you hardly needed to close them. The turndown service. I would leave in the evening and return late to find the room changed: only the hallway light and bedside lamp left on, a bottle of water and a glass on the nightstand, two chocolates beside them. The evening tea and teacup, previously stored in the cabinet, had been moved next to the coffee machine. These changes were so slight you had to think back carefully to confirm they had happened at all. The temperature and humidity had been adjusted. As if the room itself remembered your habits. Room service fell short of the ryokan in Hakone or Lake Toya, but well above the ordinary hotel. Each day I made two or three cups of complimentary coffee, played music, read, wrote. In seven days I finished three books. The research ahead began to take shape. There were drawbacks. No washing machine, but a decent laundromat ten minutes' walk away—a chance to wander the streets of Akasaka. The room provided HDMI and ethernet ports but no cables; for those who came to rest, perhaps a mercy. The minibar fridge was mostly occupied by drinks for purchase, same as the Imperial, though there was still room for my sparkling water. The day I left it was half past five and fully dark. I could barely make out the faces of the bellhop and the taxi driver. Together they loaded my luggage into the boot. I wished the bellhop a happy new year in Japanese and told her I liked her hat. She smiled and returned the greeting. As the taxi pulled out of the underground drive, I thought of the inns Kawabata once wrote about: what had to be sought in the mountains of snow country can now be reached by elevator from the B2 exit of a metro station. I have watched the Shinagawa Prince Hotel loosen quietly over time, slip a little. That kind of decline is rarely one great error. It begins the day someone forgets to leave a glass of water, neglects to move a packet of tea, omits a newspaper. As for The Capitol Hotel Tokyu: in Japanese, what I experienced over these seven days is called ちょうどいい.

I know the Andaz brand identity involves replacing the standard check-in experience with a “check-in host” experience where you are seated and an Andaz employee comes to you to check you in. However, for this specific Andaz, the concept is flawed as the check-in area is the same as the actual residents’ lounge which is awkward and unpleasant for guests using the lounge. The lounge should be a dedicated area for more exclusivity and comfort. Also, the gym is frankly abysmal. I can appreciate that space might be limited, but why not solve this with a double pulley machine that allows anyone to improvise a complete workout? The standalone lat pulldown machine inefficient as far as your setup. The Smith Machine is fine, and that paired with a double pulley machine combined with your existing benches solves a lot of problems. I couldn’t get a full workout in and had to rely on my access at the Tokyo American Club to workout. As this is very nearby, it wasn’t an issue, but I imagine someone without this access would be extremely disappointed with the existing gym setup. Lastly, I suspect it’s due to the confounding check-in/lounge dual purpose setup, but the lack of spatial separation makes the experience far less like a luxury 5-Star experience than something you might get at Hyatt Place or Hyatt House. It must be made clear the rooms are clean, the staff is excellent and they pass the hospitality check in spades. But for a property that positions itself amongst the upper tiers of luxury hotels the issues highlighted above are not just trivial, in my opinion.

Janu, rather than feeling like a younger, secondary brand of Aman, feels more like a modern European luxury private residence tucked away in Azabudai. There isn't a grand, ceremonial hotel entrance in the traditional sense. The entrance is either through a garage or directly connected to the shopping mall, creating a hidden sense of tranquility. The entire hotel, from the public areas and wellness center to the rooms, exhibits a very consistent design. Even the basic room types don't feel like 'downgraded' versions; the details and finish are impeccable. The amenities are also very refined and thoughtfully designed, not just a simple collection of expensive brands. The flow design is also excellent. Guests, restaurant and lounge visitors having afternoon tea, and service staff are largely kept separate. I had seen complaints on Google Maps reviews about noisy groups having 'girls' gatherings, but during my stay, the guest areas had significantly improved in this regard. The presence of the service staff is also very subtle. You rarely see them bustling through the hallways, yet the staff-to-guest ratio is incredibly generous. The internal pathways must be very well-designed, allowing them to reach all areas of the hotel quickly, ensuring consistently high service efficiency. The Mini Bar was replenished promptly, and the ice bucket was replaced during both cleaning and turn-down service. When I arrived early, the hotel calmly arranged my room in advance, without that rigid 'no room before 3 PM' feeling. The one-touch concierge in the room was also very effective, pretty much granting every request with quick response times. The overall service isn't overtly warm or effusive, but it's very reliable and never intrusive. Breakfast offered a wide selection, and there was absolutely no waiting. During my stay, I was always seated at a table directly facing Tokyo Tower, which was a fantastic experience. And most importantly, Janu Tokyo currently offers incredible value for money. For a similar price, I believe it easily surpasses the two Four Seasons hotels in Tokyo. Considering the hardware, design, service, and actual stay experience, it can absolutely contend with Bulgari for the second-best luxury hotel spot in Tokyo.

The hotel's location is top-notch, with direct access to the Hibiya Line right downstairs and the Imperial Palace East Garden next door. It's incredibly convenient for exploring Ginza. The room was also very spacious and luxurious, and the walk-in closet was a good size and very practical. The service was even more exceptional; from check-in to check-out, guests felt warmly welcomed. Absolutely fantastic! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

The hotel's location is excellent; you can see it right after exiting Odaiba Station on the Yurikamome Line. You can even wheel your luggage directly from the platform to the hotel lobby. The rooms offer fantastic views, either facing the Odaiba Rainbow Bridge or the ocean. Iconic landmarks and attractions like the Gundam statue, Statue of Liberty, and Rainbow Bridge are all within walking distance, and Fuji TV is right across the street. For dining, you have three restaurant choices. The sushi restaurant on the 30th floor offers a set menu, not a buffet, and there are no self-service soft drinks. For getting around, the Yurikamome Line is your best bet. If you head out early and return late, you'll be traveling against the peak hour traffic, and since the hotel is at the line's terminus, you'll almost always get a seat, which is a huge plus.

There are many hotels in Tokyo's Asakusa area, and this one is right by the subway station, within walking distance to Senso-ji Temple. I chose this hotel because it's generally a higher-end option, but I didn't opt for the best floor or view since I didn't want to spend extra money. On the bright side, I could see Senso-ji Temple and the distant Skytree. The photos with the Skytree were taken while dining at the hotel's upstairs restaurant; the others were taken from my room. It was my first time experiencing how truly small Japanese hotel rooms can be. The service was quite attentive. When leaving, I asked an English-speaking staff member to help explain the address to the taxi driver. My takeaway is that I could have booked a better room for the same price, but I procrastinated, and by then, all the prices had gone up, so I didn't want to spend even more.

Room and bed were very comfortable, immaculately clean and modern. 2 mins walk from train station, if you need lift access to train then a 6 mins walk, we had a stroller. Breakfast was a bit of a zoo, we went during Christmas, very busy! But tables were spacious so even though there were so many people you don’t feel cramped. Good variety of food selection. We had dinner at the Japanese teppanyaki restaurant. Delicious, especially the tuna salad. I found the lobby staff a little lack of personality, at check in, no mentioning of where breakfast will be, what time check out is. Just checked you in and that’s it, no personal notes in the room. When I expressed I’ve lost my phone at the shop in Tokyo, no sign of empathy (it was a western male staff) no gesture of helpfulness, very cold and robotic. This goes for concierge also, he is an older western gentleman, he needs to use Google translate also which is frustrating cause I could do exactly the same research with Google translate. Overall, hardware is solid, need to fine tune the staff, sprinkle a little bit of personality in them.

This was my very first visit to Tokyo, and staying at Dai-ichi Hotel Tokyo was an absolute privilege. From the front lobby to room service and the Club Lounge, I was deeply moved by the incredible hospitality and kindness of every single staff member. Coming to Tokyo without knowing much about the city, I couldn't have picked a better location. It provided seamless access to all the places I wanted to visit, including Ginza, Tokyo Station, the Imperial Palace, Azabudai Hills, and Shibuya. On top of that, the vibrant izakayas surrounding the hotel were so inviting that I wished I could visit them all. Without a doubt, I will choose this hotel again for my next trip to Tokyo. Thank you once again to the entire team for a memorable stay.

The hotel was clean and tidy. The front desk staff were incredibly patient and helped me print my travel tickets. The surrounding area is very convenient for dining, shopping, and transportation, with a supermarket nearby on the ground floor. The breakfast was rich and varied. Both the subway and bus stations are very close.

This hotel offers direct access to the Yurikamome Line's Odaiba Station from its second floor, and is within walking distance of the life-sized Gundam statue and Odaiba Marine Park. A complimentary shuttle bus to Disneyland is provided, and Haneda Airport is just a 20-minute drive away, making transportation highly convenient. All room types feature private balconies, with ocean view rooms directly facing the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Bay's night skyline. The room sizes significantly exceed those of similarly priced hotels in central Tokyo. For families with children, amenities for kids are proactively provided upon check-in, ensuring excellent comfort during your stay. The facilities are well-maintained, and both Chinese and English services are seamless. There's a complimentary gym and multiple restaurants on-site. The drawbacks include the hotel's age and the fact that the pool requires an additional fee. It's also a bit further from the central city shopping districts. Overall, this hotel is ideal for guests who prioritize exploring Odaiba, appreciate scenic views and spacious accommodations. High-floor ocean view rooms are highly recommended.