TOKYO: Royal Park Shiodome Tower

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During a quick trip toTokyo, I had the pleasure of staying at the Royal Park Shiodome Tower hotel.

Located in the Shiodome district in the Minato-ku area, it is convenient to the famed Ginza district, has views of theTokyo Tower, and is adjacent to stations that serve several train and subwaylines.
With its three restaurants,a lobby lounge, and a variety of amenities including the Mandara Spa, the Royal Park Shiodome Tower, however, could be a destination unto itself.
The property is beautifullydone in a decidedly Japanese motif, but without taking the minimalist approachtoo far. Halls are done elegantly, with dark woods and carpet accented by lowlights.

Room 3428, a standard double

Guest rooms can be small; itis, after all, Tokyo. However, even my basic standard double room wasluxuriously appointed and well equipped.
In just 20 square meters, itcontained a desk and work station with both wireless and very fast wiredinternet access, a queen sized bed, a lounging couch, a modestly-sizedflat-screen TV that fit the scale of the room perfectly, bottled water, a hotpot with china tea cups, and an assortment of teas.
Japanese dressing gowns werewaiting in the bedside table, and slippers were tucked under the luggage rackin the open closet area.
The bathroom was completewith a deep Japanese soaking tub, a TOTO toilet with heated seat and bidetfunction, a heated mirror so one could see after a steamy shower, a hair dryerand a variety of individually packaged amenities, including a razor, toothbrushand paste, and hairbrush.
Ceilings were just over 9’high, contributing to a much more open feel than one would expect given thelimited floor space.
According to the hotel’s website, a basic standard double room starts at ¥18,000 per night including tax,or about US$220, plus taxes of about 16.65%.

View from the lobby staircase

As I’ve noted elsewhere,great service can make a so-so hotel memorable, while the experience at anotherwise beautiful hotel can be severely diminished by poor service. The RoyalPark offers the best of both.
Arriving after a 10-½ hourflight from Seattle followed by a 90-minute bus ride from Narita airport, themembers of our small group were ushered to an area where we were presented withour room keys, Wi-Fi access codes and breakfast coupons without having to stopat the front desk. This enabled us to head to our rooms quickly so we couldfreshen up before going to dinner.
Our hosted dinner in theHarmony restaurant was a buffet of primarily Japanese-style dishes, artfullyprepared and presented, and delicious. The attendants were the perfect blend ofattentive while not being intrusive, making sure we each had the nibbles weneeded, and whisking used plates and glasses away virtually as soon as theywere set down.
After dinner, and despite mylack of sleep, I determined to go on a photo safari of Tokyo’s Ginza district.The concierge was busy with other guests, so a front desk attendant beckoned meover and offered to help. He provided advice of what to see, noting that manydepartment stores would already be closed because it was after 9 p.m., and gaveme handwritten instructions on which train lines I should take to get to mydestination.
Virtually every hotelemployee I encountered, whether assisting me directly or passing in the hall,would give that slight Japanese bow, offer a “Gozimasu!” or, at the very least,a pleasant smile. It was Japanese hospitality at its finest.

Several of the Japanese breakfast items

Attendants at the buffetbreakfast the next morning displayed the same high level of hospitality.Gracious yet efficient, they seated guests quickly and kept tables cleared.
Offerings included bothJapanese and Western-style items, with a station that made omelets, scrambledeggs, and fresh-cooked waffles to order.
The Royal Park also strivesto accommodate its guests who smoke, which appeared to be much more common inTokyo than in the U.S. or Canada. Accommodations included an open-door smoking booth justoff the main lobby. It was so well ventilated that I wasn’t aware of the smellof cigarette smoke when I walked by just a few feet away.
Like the hotel’s lobby, theHarmony restaurant, the Xenlon Grand China Grille, the Lobby Lounge, the PastryBoutique, and the gift shop are on the 24^th floor and provide greatviews of the Tokyo river. The Mikuri Kurumaya restaurant on the 25^thfloor offers “traditional Japanese food.” Guest rooms, which are on even higherfloors, provide the best views of the city.
Basedon my brief experience, I highly recommend the Royal Park.  Given the opportunity, I would definitely goback.   

Photos by Carl Dombek
Click on photos to view larger size images
 

Minato Hotels