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Park Hyatt, Tokyo

Old 27th Mar 2007, 17:16
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Park Hyatt, Tokyo

Hi folks,

I'm heading out to Tokyo in December and am on the look out for a hotel. I'm thinking of using the Park Hyatt. Does anybody have any experiences of this particular hotel?

Actually, any advice on places to stay and/or things to do and see would be most welcome.

Cheers,

S
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Old 27th Mar 2007, 18:28
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Hi Scruggs,

the Park Hyatt is lovely. If you want to save some money, try the Century Hyatt - last time I stayed there, it was about 40% less expensive. If you can book this far in advance you will get a spectacular view of Mt Fuji if you request it. It is close to Shinjuku, and there is a shuttle bus if you feel lazy. The great advantage here is that there are well-priced eateries on the perphery of the station with a genuine Japanese feel to them, as opposed to international restaurants.

What to see? It will be winter, so I am not sure whether the park down by the harbour will be very pleasant - it could be a little cold. There is a walk you can make which takes you through the diplomatic areas - about five kms, I guess from memory - through parks and past a few beer vending machines

The trains are fast, reliable, clean, air-conditioned, and inexpensive. This is because Kne Livingstone does not live there. However, peak hours will be just that. Either get stuck in early or take it easy and avoid the mob.

Akihabhara (the electronics district) will distort your brain in a very pleasant way, and it's a must.

The only other advice I can give you is to start studying the language a bit in the run up to your trip. You will understand little of what's being said, but your endeavour to say the basics will be appreciated. Make sure you know what is considered rude there, and don't do it.

Have a safe trip and please report back!

BOFH
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Old 27th Mar 2007, 18:36
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BOFH,

Many thanks indeed for your reply. I'm certainly looking forward to this trip, only 9 months to wait

Thanks again

S
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Old 27th Mar 2007, 19:16
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Happy to help - although we have strayed out of SLF and this thread really belongs in Night Stop - so it will benefit others who might be visiting Tokyo en route. In here, we tend to talk about experiences when we are being carted, not when we've arrived.

A bit more information about your length of stay and whether you are in the airline industry would be helpful. I'd recommend the thorn tree or suchlike if you need advice on a holiday per se, as there is no suitable forum on Pprune.

Have a good time!

BOFH
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Old 27th Mar 2007, 20:04
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Of course, you're absolutely right - this should be in Night Stop. Hopefully the mods will see this thread, and relocate it accordingly.

As for my stay. I’ll be there 7 nights and I’ll be going with the missus. As for me being in the airline industry - I'm not at the moment.



Thanks,


S
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Old 28th Mar 2007, 08:49
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When I was there in Nov last year, I stayed at the Marunouchi Hotel. It is connected to the main railway station by means of an underpass and very handily located.

The limousine bus from the airport stops there (3000 YEN - much much cheaper than the taxis, dont touch them!) and it's a pick up for all the city tours etc.

It was not a raging bargain however, but then no hotels in Tokyo will be.

I understand from my Japanese colleagues (I work for a Japanese company) that it will be decidedly cold there then!!
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Old 28th Mar 2007, 12:04
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Was in Tokyo last month.

I suggest going up to the topmost viewing platform of the Tokyo Tower at dusk and watch the city light up - beautiful views over the bay, Ropponghi & Akihabara. Not so much fun if there are still aftershocks, mind you.

For something traditionally cultural, the Meiji Shrine is a pretty typical example and is set in a pleasant park. Don't bother searching the park for the famous gatherings of local youth groups demonstrating their favourite music - they were banned in the Nineties and anything shown on TV these days has generally been set up for the cameras.

If you want to have a slightly creepy experience, visit the Yasakuni Shrine after seeing Meiji. The atmosphere of the place is a real window into the Japanese psyche (although many have problems with the war criminal associations).

If you want to see the famous pedestrian crossing that's shown on any TV programme wanting to demonstrate how crowded and busy Tokyo is, it's outside Shibuya station (I think). If you go up to the first floor of Starbucks and fight for possession of the window seat around 6-7pm (rush hour), that's quite a sight to look down over. And if you need a pint of Guinness to recover from the culture shock, there's a European-style bar called "Dubliners" about 100 yards up the road.

Remember that the Tokyo metro & bus systems shut down before midnight. Generally, the only people out after that time are the ones who can afford the £20 cab ride back to their hotel.

Great city - have fun!

Edited to add: If you want to visit the Imperial Palace Gardens, remember that they're shut Mondays, Fridays and public holidays. The Lonely Planet didn't mention that. Looked impressive from the outside though...

And if you're an aging rocker, don't forget to have your photo taken outside the Budokan.
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Old 28th Mar 2007, 12:20
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"And if you need a pint of Guinness to recover from the culture shock, there's a European-style bar called "Dubliners" about 100 yards up the road."

The most useful info to date

I am a rocker, I'll certainly be paying the Budokan a flying visit. To bad my favourite musician (Eric Clapton) isn't playing there - which I'm told he does quite often.

Thanks ST for the info.

S
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Old 28th Mar 2007, 14:30
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The musical youths were never in Meiji Shrine: it's a shrine, not a park. They're next door in Yoyogi Park, and on the wide path from there towards Shibuya past the NHK complex. They were previously on Omotesando (the street leading up to Meiji Shrine) when it was closed to traffic on Sundays. Currently, the local goths hang out on the railway bridge to the entrance of Meiji Shrine on Sundays.

If you're in the Park Hyatt: get a taste of electronics in Shinjuku, area between you and the station. Department stores on the other side. Red light district on the other side, to the left. The Park Hyatt, Century Hyatt, Hilton and others in that area are a 7 minute hike into the electronics part of Shinjuku. There's a Keio there which is also very good and can be way cheaper. My friends like the Century Southern Tower because you step out of the elevator into Shinjuku. Rooms are a little small.

Shinjuku = world's busiest railway station. Tokyo = world's largest railway station. Shibuya = world's busiest pedestrian crossing. Ritz Carlton in Roppongi Midtown Project opens in 2 days, so if you've got Park Hyatt-type money that's also worth a look. There's a boutique hotel in Shiodome which some people like hugely.

Yasukuni: yes, strange strange place. Museum is, well, strange. Never seen a shrine museum with a steam train & submarine before.

If you like shrines and temples, look for any sign that seems to have a gothic "Ep" written on it. They'll sell you a book for about 800 yen, and bang some calligraphy in it for another 300 yen. Take that to other shrines/temples and you end up with a momento most people don't know is possible.

Take time to walk down side streets: they get quiet very quickly. Tokyo is like a huge collection of villages. The area around each station is different.

Akihabara: best on Sundays when the main road is closed.

Roppongi: the foreigner's bar & club ghetto. If it rocks your boat, it's fun. If not, you've missed nothing.

Beware of duty free shops: "duty" is 5%. Other shops do deeper discounts. Research beforehand, so you understand which products have universal power supplies and multiple language menus, and which products are 100V and specific to Japan. The main thing about Japan is not that it's cheap, but that everything's on show and can be handled. For live pricing on electronics, check out www.kakaku.com.

Re Dubliners: among many others, there's a Belgian bar, too: 150 beers available. Dubliners is, I think, owned by Sapporo so it's Guinness and Kilkenny. There are many other bars that sell local and other brands: my local has Yona Yona (a pale ale with a bit of bite) and Spitfire, for example.

From the airport, limousine buses are great because they get you to your hotel. The trains are great because you know how long the journey will take. Apart from one or two obvious places, it's an extraordinarily safe place to wander around, especially as a big foreigner.

If you're with family, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneysea are about 15 minutes out of town.

Buses shut down around 10 pm. Trains shut down around 00:15 -00:45. Taxis are plentiful, clean, automatic doors (so don't touch the door) and way cheaper than London taxis.

If you get to Shinjuku Gyoen (big park), there are two tea houses there where you can get Japanese tea prepared and served by kimono-clad ladies for only 800 yen. Bargain. You can also do it at Hamarikyu (near Shiodome) in a tea house on the tidal pond.

Asakusa Kannon (the "famous" shrine) is a bit of a dump compared to other stuff in the area, but it's the thing to visit as a tourist. There's a long street near there that sells all the plastic display food you'll see outside restaurants.

I dunno, a lot of things to do.
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Old 28th Mar 2007, 14:36
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Thanks for that post - it's going to be a busy 7 days. Is Shinjuku a good area to stay in then for the tourists? We haven't booked anything yet, and we're open to suggestions...

Another hotel that's been suggested is the ANA hotel in Akasaka. More for it's location than the quality of the hotel.

S

Last edited by scruggs; 28th Mar 2007 at 14:51.
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Old 28th Mar 2007, 14:42
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The musical youths were never in Meiji Shrine: it's a shrine, not a park. They're next door in Yoyogi Park, and on the wide path from there towards Shibuya past the NHK complex.
Sorry, that's what I meant - didn't make meself clear enough on that one. Rock 'n' roll that's even audible in a shrine is pretty much unthinkable.

There was a pierced pavement artist near the railway bridge, but that's about the only sign we found of "alternative" culture. We were told very firmly that rebellious yoofs found setting up a sound system anywhere in the area, are now rapidly moved on by the police. But perhaps that's just the message they want to give to casual visitors!

And drat - You mean I missed some plastic food shops?? I love that stuff! Now there's one for the "must do" list if I ever get back there. Thanks for the tip Bushfiva.
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Old 28th Mar 2007, 15:12
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SnogTar, they're all in Yoyogi Park on Sundays now. They get hassled somewhat, but if they weren't in the park they'd be somewhere else, so I figure there's a certain pragmatic policing/noise generating balance.

ANA Akasaka is nothing special. 5 minutes from Roppongi, 5 minutes from Akasaka but although it's a bar/entertainment district, it's not a tourist bar/entertainment district. If you're after boozing and other recreations in your own language, then at some point you'll want to try out Roppongi. If you want to see electronics, major department stores, greenery all in one day on foot, then it's Shinjuku. Akasaka for vast amounts of electronics. From Shinjuku, you can be in Akihabara in 16 minutes, Shibuya in 5, Roppongi in 9 on the various rail and subway links. I'd to Shinjuku over Akasaka. If you want Akasaka on Park Hyatt-style money, then I'd stay at the Okura Hotel. But, on that type of money, I'd just do the Ritz in Roppongi!

The wife will get a lot out of Shinjuku, if she's shopping oriented. With 7 days, you can check out Shinjuku, get a train to Yokohama and/or Kamakura, if you're brave get a train out to Takao (closest "mountain" to Tokyo), for a LONG day go to Nikko (I'll blaspheme and say it's not worth it unless you're REALLY motivated). Ginza's seen better days but it's still worth a look. Try all the food you can find. Unless you need a big western-sized room, I'd probably go for something at the Odakyu Century Southern Tower Hotel: middle of Shinjuku, good views, spend the money you save on restaurants and goodies. You could walk 10 minutes in any direction from there and be somewhere interesting, or be anywhere in the city in 30 minutes.
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Old 30th Mar 2007, 16:51
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If you're more keen on value rather than a central location then try the Shinagawa Prince, it's at Shinagawa, strangely enough. Like most Japanese hotels it's rate vary according to the size of the room but they are considerably less than comparable ones in the city centre. That said the hotel is directly opposite the enormous Shinagawa Yamamote and Shinkansen Station so you're at Tokyo Station in ten minutes door to door. If you're in the executive tower you've a great view of the trains leaving and arriving and if you look to the left you've the classic Tokyo skyline. I stayed there last year and it was a great, low cost base to explore the city from. Also if you're not too keen on the missus, many japanese hotels will do you two single rooms for less than the price of a double!!
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Old 1st Apr 2007, 06:25
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I stayed in the Shinagawa Prince last year, it was my company's choice not mine, the views from the rooms are fantastic - the entire Tokyo skyline but even by Japanese standards the room was tiny. It also had about the narrowest single bed I have ever slept in! I have also stayed in Akasaka, as a tourist I would go for Shinjuku or Shibuya over Akasaka, there's nothing to see there really. One recommendation for a visit is the Tsukiji Fish Market - I know it doesn't sound like a tourist attraction but it's worth a visit. There are some weird and wonderful things on offer!
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Old 2nd Apr 2007, 11:08
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To answer your actual question...yes, if you can, stay in the Park Hyatt Shinjuku. I've stayed there four times a year since 2000.
Things to look out for:
1. Two Maybachs normally parked out the front....
2. All the parts of the hotel featured in Lost in Translation with Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansen. If you have not seen it yet, try to before you go...then watch it again after you come back.
3. The long bar on the top floor. Asian men with Western Blond women and Western men with Asian women...(like my wife)
4. The long bar singer. Don't know who it is at the moment but whoever it is, she will be vaguely familiar and will sing forgettable songs. Don't smile at her too much because in the break, after you've had a few, she'll come over and try to get you to buy her latest (non-label) CD...which of course, you will.
5. Stunning service
6. No tips
7. More restaurants than you can eat in.
8. A bill for about £3000 for a week...if you're careful.
Of course, you could always stay at Keo Plaza or Hilton for less cost and just visit.
Unless you know a local, it is difficult to go sightseeing on your own because you just tend to wander about not quite understanding what's going on. Best to take one of the many tours the hotel will offer which are very well run and not expensive. For instance, coach to Tokyo Station, Shinkansen to Fuji including lunch etc around £175 for a day.
I notice you are going in December (planning well ahead!) if it's early December, pm me.
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Old 3rd Apr 2007, 10:47
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Well....it's all booked up! Booked into the Park Hyatt. Fly out on the VS900, back on the VS901 a week later.

Big thanks to all posters for the advice provided on things to do in Tokyo. It will be a busy trip, getting in as much as we can.

Thanks again.

S
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Old 4th Apr 2007, 04:21
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You'll enjoy it. Incidentally, if you're planning on travelling around such as Kyoto, Nara, Himeji or Hiroshima, buy a Japan Rail Pass outside the country: a week's unlimited travel could pay for itself on your first journey. There's also a regular bus from Shinjuku to Fuji, though I don't know how far up it goes in winter. Shinfuji shinkansen station is a looong way from Fuji :-)
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Old 4th Apr 2007, 16:08
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Beware that the Japan Rail Pass can't be used on the Nozomi shinkansen (bullet train). I was travelling Fukuoka to Tokyo and back via Kyoto and Hiroshima, and this limitation would have put a severe kink in my travel plans if I hadn't spotted the small print in time.

Sure you can plan round it if necessary though. I've used the Swiss Rail Pass which is the same idea, and it certainly did pay for itself in just one day of (admittedly long and tortuous) cross-country rail travel.
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Old 5th Apr 2007, 09:01
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Just to avoid confusion. The Japan Rail pass can be used on the Shinkasen (Bullet train) but excludes the Nozomi. The Nozomi is the fastest as it stops at the fewest stations along it's route. Not sure exactly but might be 30 minutes faster from Tokyo to Kyoto.

If you want comfort you can also buy a Green Car (First Class) rail pass.
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Old 5th Apr 2007, 10:32
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Can see that we're going waaay off on a tangent here but has anyone actually been in a green car? I couldn't believe the space in standard class, my first trip on she Shinkansen I'd a japanese gent fall asleep next to me, was amazed that I was able to shuffle past him to get off without even touching him or the seat in front. Mind you, I'd just arrived economy from Paris, so my concept of space may have been slightly skewed! Anyway, just how much room is there in green? My rail pass tip is not to reserve a seat unless it's peak time, reservations mean you're always sat next to someone, the non-reserved carriages tend to give you the option.
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