Hotel Review: Hilton Tokyo
Tokyo is the capital of Japan and the most populous city in the world. It can cater to all types of travelers; Whether you’re looking to devour Michelin-starred meals or visit historic temples, the Land of the Rising Sun’s crown jewel won’t disappoint. Like New York City, Tokyo has many lodging options for every adventurer (or homebody), ranging from affordable capsule hotels to luxury accommodations. When I planned my trip to Tokyo last year, I primarily focused on Hilton properties due to my Hilton Honors status and the number of points I had to burn. Based on my planning, three Hilton properties were suitable for those visiting Tokyo: Hilton Tokyo, Conrad Tokyo, and Hilton Tokyo Odaiba. I opted to stay at Hilton Tokyo because of its location and price, which I ended up very happy with.
Photo credit: www.hilton.com
The Perfect Location for Tourists
Hilton Tokyo is close to Shinjuku Station, the world’s busiest train station that sees more than two million passengers daily. Shinjuku Station is a hub for every imaginable train and railway option that can take you almost everywhere, not only in Tokyo but throughout Japan. For those who want to focus on what Tokyo offers, the hotel is next to two subway stations, Tochome and Nishi-Shinjuku. Tochomae Station is physically connected to the hotel; it becomes beneficial during inclement weather conditions. I could get around to most places in Tokyo using these two stations. If you’re craving sumptuous Michelin-starred meals, you can go to Nishi-Shinjuku Station and take the Marunouchi Line to Ginza Station. If you’re a gamer or into electronics, check out Akihabara by taking the Oedo Line at Tochomae Station and getting off at Ueno-Okachimachi station.
Situated in the heart of Shinjuku and surrounded by various subway lines, Hilton Tokyo makes it easy to navigate the city of Tokyo. Photo by Google Maps.
Solid Hilton Honors Points Redemption
I used my Hilton Honors points to book four nights at Hilton Tokyo. A one-night stay in a king bedroom will cost you 51,785 Japanese Yen, the equivalent of USD 484.50. Booking a King Premium room today will cost approximately 53,000 Hilton Honors points. I value Hilton Honors points at 0.6 cents per point, but at Hilton Tokyo, this elevates to 0.91 cents per point, far exceeding the average valuation. My actual return on spend was greater since I was upgraded to a King Executive room.
Hilton Honors points saved me almost $2,000 for a four night stay at Hilton Tokyo. Photo credit: www.hilton.com
What Card(s) Did I Use to Book My Stay?
American Express Hilton Aspire
The AMEX Hilton Aspire card is currently offering a signup bonus of 150,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $4,000 in 3 months. Be aware that since this is an American Express (AMEX) card, you’re only allowed to get the signup bonus once per lifetime. With a valuation of 0.6 cents per point, the signup bonus is worth about $900. The annual fee is $450, but cardmembers get a weekend night certificate (redeemable on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights at non-premium hotels), $250 incidental credit towards your airline of choice, $250 Hilton resort credit at select Hilton resorts, and Hilton Diamond status, the highest in Hilton’s member ecosystem.
The American Express Hilton Aspire is one of my favorite cards for its benefits and perks. Photo credit: www.americanexpress.com
The Aspire earns 14X per dollar spent on Hilton hotels and resorts when booked directly through Hilton and 7X on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly with select companies, and U.S. restaurants. All other purchases will earn 3X per dollar spent. As a Hilton Honors Diamond member, you’d get a 100% points bonus and 10 extra points per dollar spent at Hilton properties. Therefore, the AMEX Hilton Honors Aspire card earns 24X per dollar spent on Hilton properties when booked directly with Hilton, yielding a great return of 14.4%. With Hilton’s frequent points promotions, you can rake in a serious amount of Hilton Honors points in no time. Even if you don’t stay at Hilton properties too often, this card is definitely worth the annual fee due to its amazing perks and benefits, and I strongly believe it’s the best hotel credit card available on the market right now.
If you’d like to apply for the AMEX Hilton Honors Aspire card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! Click HERE to access my referral link!
American Express Hilton Surpass
Alternatively, I could’ve used my AMEX Hilton Surpass card to book the stay. The Surpass is currently offering a signup bonus of 150,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $3,000 in 3 months, also worth about $900. Like other AMEX cards, the Surpass is subject to the once per lifetime signup bonus rule. The annual fee is $95 and unlike the Aspire, it doesn’t come with airline or resort credits. However, it can be a great workhorse card as it offers great everyday multipliers. It earns 12X Hilton Honors points per dollar spent on hotel and resort purchases booked directly with Hilton and 6X at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations. All other purchases earn 3X points per dollar spent. Because of the automatic Gold status, you would get an 80% points bonus and 8 extra points per dollar spent at Hilton properties. Thus, the Surpass earns 20X per dollar spent on Hilton properties when booked directly with Hilton, yielding a return of 12%.
The American Express Hilton Surpass can cover a wide range of daily expenses and still comes with a great multiplier for Hilton stays. Photo credit: www.americanexpress.com
The AMEX Hilton Surpass does grant cardmembers complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, and if they spend $40,000 with the card in a given calendar year, this rises to Diamond status through the end of the following year. I don’t recommend earning Diamond status this way since it comes as a default perk through the Hilton Aspire. In addition, you can earn a free weekend night certificate after spending $15,000 in a calendar year. Be aware the certificate only qualifies for standard room rates. Though the free weekend night certificate is limited to weekend stays, it can be lucrative if you were to redeem it at exotic properties such as Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi in the Maldives.
You could use a free weekend night certificate, or…
Photo credit: www.hilton.com
…You can pay over $2,000 for a night.
Photo credit: www.hilton.com
If you’d like to apply for the AMEX Hilton Honors Surpass card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! Click HERE to access my referral link!
Lobby and Check-in Process
I took an Airport Limousine bus from Haneda Airport (HND), which cost 1,250 Japanese Yen and took a little over an hour to get to the hotel. The Airport Limousines stop at a handful of hotels, including Hilton Tokyo, and are probably the most convenient way to get there from Haneda.
The lobby was spacious but filled with tourists from all over the globe. Photo credit: www.hilton.com
The hotel lobby was spacious and filled with tourists from all over the world. There was a line at the check-in desk but no delay, thanks to multiple representatives behind the counter. The agents spoke English fluently and even helped me book the return bus ticket on my way back to the airport. Because I visited Tokyo during the Thanksgiving holidays, I didn’t expect to be upgraded, but to my delight, I was bumped up from a Queen Bed to Executive King. Following the upgrade, the representative thanked me for being a Diamond member and explained that I could use the Executive Lounge on the 37th floor from 6 to 9 pm. Breakfast options and other amenities such as the gym and tennis courts were explained thoroughly. He even gave me a map and told me there was a concierge desk by the entrance should I need to make reservations or have questions about nearby attractions. Soon after the pleasant and detailed check-in experience, I headed to my room using one of the four elevators.
Bedroom Review
As soon as I entered the room, I noticed a small box of chocolate, some Madeleines, and a personalized note thanking me for being a Hilton Honors Diamond member. I always appreciate hotel management going out of their way to thank status holders and adding a slight touch of gratitude. Next to the kind note from the manager, there were tea and coffee amenities, but unlike other Hilton properties I’ve stayed at, the room didn’t feature a Nespresso machine.
I always appreciate small welcome gifts and a note from the hotel manager.
A large closet was by the entrance, which was great for storing my belongings, and a small bench seating for putting my shoes on.
The small bench came in handy whenever I was preparing to go out and putting my shoes on.
The bed was very comfortable and clean. I appreciated the mood lighting next to each bed stand and illuminated accent lighting along the headboard.
The upgraded Executive King room was spacious and the bed very comfortable.
Across from the bed was a small TV, which I never turned on during my trip. Next to the TV, there was a small work/study area composed of swivel chairs and a glass desk. Luckily I didn’t bring my work with me to Tokyo but had I done so, I would’ve needed to rely on my laptop mouse or need a trackpad.
The TV, desk, and seating arrangements all meshed together to create a coherent ambiance in the room.
Towards the other end of the room was a seating area with a couch, a coffee table, and a bright red chair. The sofa was comfortable enough to have another guest sleepover if needed. The seating area also featured the only window in the room, hidden behind sliding traditional Shoji window panels. The city view from my room was absolutely stunning, with an array of lights from the urban landscape of Tokyo. Though I wish the room featured more windows, it actually made the room feel more cozy and personal after a long day of touring bustling, public, and often crowded sites.
The window peered out into the urban jungle of Tokyo, but my room remained very quiet.
Bathroom Review
Like other hotels in major metropolitan cities, the bathroom was compact. It was very well-lit but only featured a single sink. There was a make-up mirror on the wall, and the amenities were from Crabtree & Evelyn, the same brand I used at the Hampton Inn and Suite in Vancouver and DoubleTree in Nashville. I’m surprised and a little disappointed that Hilton Tokyo didn’t source a more local brand rather than generic Hilton toiletries. The toilet had an electronic bidet, and the seat was kept well-heated.
The bathroom was well-lit and the toilet outfitted with gadgets to make every ‘trip’ a comfortable experience.
A glass door kept the shower and bath from the toilet and sink area. Because of the barrier separating the shower and sink areas, the latter remained dry and undisturbed even right after a rinse. The bathtub had a glass wall that could be blinded by another set of Shoji sliding panels. The one design flaw was that it was only adjustable from the outside, so if I didn’t want to be exposed, I had to slide the panel before entering the bathroom. Even though the bathtub was largely uninteresting, having a soak while enjoying a beer after exploring the city was the perfect way to relax. The bathtub could comfortably fit one person, and the high water pressure allowed it to be filled very quickly.
The bathtub came in handy as a means of relaxation every night I came back from a busy day of walking and sightseeing.
Executive Lounge Review
The executive lounge was the highlight of the hotel. The lounge was located on the 37th floor and those staying in executive level rooms or with Honors Diamond status can enter and may bring one guest. The lounge served breakfast in the morning, although I usually went down to the main lobby area since it lacked fresh, made-to-order options.
On a clear day, you may be able to see Mt. Fuji from the lounge. Photo by Hilton.
At night, the lounge becomes more romantic with the dazzling lights of Tokyo’s skyline. Photo by Hilton.
At night, the lounge served a buffet of appetizers and traditional dishes such as soy broiled cod fish, corn salad, soy filled mochi, various meats and cheeses, and soup. If you’re fine with the food options, these small plates could easily replace dinner for the evening.
Grabbing a quick bite at the executive lounge before heading out can save you money.
In addition, there was wine, spirits, champagne, beer, and sake for those who like to accompany drinks with meals. Because the primary reason for my trip was to explore the dining scenes of Tokyo, I only had a few drinks every night before heading out. The evening view from the lounge windows was incredible, making the ambiance almost romantic.
Champagne with a view. It never gets old.
Breakfast Review
If you’ve traveled to Asian countries, you may have had the pleasure of experiencing their complimentary hotel breakfasts, which are far better than what you receive stateside or in Europe. Hilton Tokyo was no exception and served fantastic dishes in both their executive lounge and main lobby area, although the latter had more options.
The main lobby breakfast area. It serves lunch, afternoon tea, and dessert during the day and turns into a popular dinner buffet and drinks destination at night. Photo by Hilton.
Every morning, I went down to the main breakfast area on the first floor and enjoyed everything from traditional Japanese breakfast and bowls of udon to pastries and cold-pressed juice.
Salad with mortadella and smoked salmon with udon for one of my late breakfasts.
You can even order fluffy, made-to-order Japanese omelets that are good enough that I guarantee you’ll come back for more. I mostly stuck with traditional Japanese breakfast fare: miso soup, rice with furikake, grilled salmon, pickled vegetables and seaweed, and my favorite: Tamagoyaki (sweet rolled-egg omelet). The food was fresh, and the service from the staff was spectacular.
My traditional Japanese breakfast at Hilton Tokyo. My favorite was the tamagoyaki.
Other Amenities
Hilton Tokyo offers far more than what I described above. It contains Dynasty, a Chinese restaurant offering dim sum and Peking duck, and Metropolitan Grill, which serves surf and turf style meals.
Metropolitan Grill serves steak and seafood for those who are craving Western-style meals. Photo credit: www.hilton.com
Junisoh offers sushi, kaiseki courses, and a teppanyaki experience. St. George’s Bar is a refined, English-style pub where visitors can relax and enjoy a pint. If you want a glimpse of the nightlife in Shinjuku, you can grab a drink at Zatta before heading out.
Zatta has a clubby ambiance, reflective of the nightlife in Shibuya. Photo credit: www.hilton.com
The hotel also features outdoor tennis courts, a swimming pool, and a gym. The gym was heavy on cardio machines, and the swimming pool was on the smaller side, given the relative size of the hotel. I didn’t use the gym too often during my stay, but I still appreciated the option of having one.
The pool had lots of natural lighting, but was smaller than I expected. Photo credit: www.hilton.com
What I Liked about the Hotel: Executive Lounge, Breakfast, Location, and Service
As you can probably tell, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience using the executive lounge. The food was good, and if you’re a drinks enthusiast like me, it will save you a lot of money to have a couple at the lounge before heading out for the evening. The ambiance and views of Tokyo, both during the day and night, were picturesque as well. Breakfast at Hilton Tokyo was another highlight; with many tasty dishes, you won’t get tired of trying new food every morning. The location is also perfect for tourists. The hotel is easy to get to from Haneda Airport and is surrounded by multiple subway lines, making exploring the world's most populous city more effortless than ever. Lastly, the service was impeccable. From the speedy yet detailed check-in process to thank you notes with chocolate and madeleines, I appreciated every kind of effort from the hotel staff to make my visit as accommodating and enjoyable as possible. For instance, when I had trouble searching for a famous mochi shop in Tokyo, the rep at the concierge desk not only called the shop to confirm their location but also gave me detailed directions on how to get there. She even wrote down the address in Japanese so I could ask people on the street if I couldn’t find the shop. Small gestures and acts of kindness from Hilton Tokyo really made the entire stay more pleasant.
What I Disliked about the Hotel: Touristy Crowds and the Gym
Because of Hilton Tokyo’s perfect location in Shinjuku and its team’s fluency in English, it’s full of tourists worldwide. The property is very westernized, and if you want to stay in an authentic and traditional Japanese atmosphere, this is not the hotel for you. The property is also huge, so expect to see crowds during peak breakfast, check-in, and dinner hours.
The gym’s primary focus was cardio and lacked free weight options. Photo credit: www.hilton.com
Though I didn’t use the gym and pool often, they were pretty underwhelming given the size of the hotel. The gym was full of cardio machines and offered some free weights, but I was left wanting more options and equipment.
Summary
Hilton Tokyo is one of the few Hilton properties in Tokyo, Japan. Located in the heart of Shinjuku and surrounded by subway lines, it’s a perfect hotel for visitors exploring the megacity around them. Booking a room without points redemption could cost up to USD 484 a night. However, I got a redemption rate of 0.9 cents per Hilton Honors point, a steal based on the general valuation of 0.6 cents per point. Hilton Tokyo is a big hotel accommodating guests from all over the world. This may be a turn-off for visitors looking to stay in a more traditional Japanese property. The hotel staff is globally trained, so even if you don’t speak a lick of Japanese, you won’t have any trouble checking in or navigating the hotel. The room I stayed in was quiet and comfortable, with a great view of the city. I thoroughly enjoyed using the executive lounge for small bites and glasses of champagne and sake. In addition, having breakfast in the morning was always refreshing since there were so many dishes to try, and I never got tired of them. Though the gym and swimming pool were smaller than I initially expected for the size of the property, Hilton Tokyo offered everything I wanted and went above and beyond to make my stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. I will certainly be back when I visit Tokyo next time and recommend Hilton Tokyo to anyone looking for a great hospitality experience in Japan.
