Hi all

I have never been to Japan and will visit Tokyo for 8 nights in May. Hotel-wise I am pretty lost... Currently looking at:
-Prince Park Tower
-Dai-Ichi Hotel Tokyo
-Park Hotel Tokyo
-...

Budget per night is USD 300. Since I have never been to Tokyo I am not sure about location, so your suggestions are highly appreciated.

I have a selection of restaurants I will be looking up, thanks to the WFED forum. Nonetheless your ideas are welcome (easy going soba noodles to kaiseki dinners).

Also I am interested in your recommendations when it comes to must-sees, sights and insider tips. Yes, I will be visiting the AP boutique ...

Thank you in advance
malthus

I used to live in Tokyo and even stayed in one of your choices.

Dai-ichi Hotel is near Shimbashi (or Shinbashi) Station (Japan Railway and Metro subway) (Central Tokyo)and within walking distance to Ginza.  It's the oldest hotel of your 3 choices but close to "local" eateries under the railway tracks and side streets. Also close to a few of the fancier restaurants in Ginza and Shinbashi.  More of a "businessman" hotel, maybe not so cosmopolitan as the other two.

Prince Park Tower is a new hotel completed around 2004/5 and is literally in a park (Shiba Koen or Shiba Park) next to Tokyo Tower (the orange painted Eiffel Tower lookalike). The nearest subway station is Akabanebashi (Oedo Line that connects with Roppongi and Aoyama and Shinjuku (new business district). It has both Japanese and Western clients (business and tourists) and restaurants.  The famous Zojo-ji temple is nearby where you can see trees planted by famous people like US President Ulysses S Grant.  The old main Prince Park Hotel buildings are in the old temple grounds. This new hotel tower annexe is a few hundred metres away.  There are no other buildings within 200m of this hotel tower so finding it is easy except that the subway station is inconveniently far.  The naughty Roppongi district is walking distance up the hill from this hotel.  On the other hand, the pronunciation in English is almost like what the Japanese would say: "Shi-ba Ko-en No Ho-tay-ru  Pu-rince-su  Par-ku  Taa-wa" for the taxi driver.

Park Hotel Shiodome is the funky new designer hotel in the Shiodome Media Tower across the street from Conrad Tokyo and Gordon Ramsey's eateries. Shiodome is the latest Hot Spot  on Tokyo Bay overlooking the Rainbow Bridge. Again, minutes walk from both Ginza and Shinbashi. Nearest subwy station is Shiodome Station on the Oedo Line....although another similar named station is actually suspended in the air as this section also has a monorail (Yurikamome Line) that leads to the entertainment playgrounds of Odaiba island across the Rainbow Bridge. Also walking distance from Shimbashi station if not carrying anything. I'm biased as my apartment was in Shiodome, so I would choose this hotel as it is close to lots of tower blocks with hundreds of restaurants and bars. 

Happy trails,

MTF

Melvyn,

thank you for your comments. They all seem interesting and I guess the price will define my choice. I love to read your grazing and lazing reports and therefore would like to ask you if you could recommend any Japanese Restaurant which is a must-eat! I will be celebrating my 30iest B-day in Tokyo and am looking for something a bit special (i.e. crab restaurant you wrote about or something else). I have been to Nobu in NYC and LDN and therefore would prefer something let me say more local (i.e. only available in Tokyo). Ok ok, I must admit we will be visiting Din Tai Fung (dumpling chain) but otherwise I just wish to try lots of dishes I have never tried before...

Thank You & best regards
malthus

The first Japanese experience has to be with a local guide or you do not get the "full" meaning of Life, Universe and Everything.

It can be a cheap and cheerful place or the most expensive you have ever had.  The experience is the thing.

So, assuming that you have to be plonked at a restaurant where they will look after you and you receive at least 50% of the experience even without a local guide.......that is my difficulty.

Even the most high-end places will have a photo or real display of the menu.  it is safer to go for the set menus because you can see everything upfront and also the chef would have arranged the meal in the correct order and harmony.  Late Spring is a pretty good time for food. The new shoots are just out and the fish not too fatty yet. Downside is the mushrooms are not in season.  Go for the "Omikase" course.  This means "Trust me" and is chef's selection. It is pronounced Oh-Me-Car-Say phonetically, like those words are said in English.

Founded in 1885, one of the best tempura restaurants in Tokyo is Ginza Ten-kuni on Ginza-chuo-dori (Ginza main street) GINZA 8-9-11, which is about 8 mins walk from Shimbashi station. The Ten-ichi building is on a corner plot and marks the end of Ginza Chuo-dori..  It's a few dooors from SWATCH showrooms at the new Marc Hayek Building in Ginza.  You are at the right place when you seen a huge toy shop across the road. Go to the basement restaurant even though there are about 4 floors of the same restaurant.

Show this print out to your hotel doorman to tell the driver.

Ginza Ten-Kuni

Tokyo, Chuo-ku, Ginza 8-9-11

Telephone: 03-3571-1092
Opening hours: 11:30 - 22:00 (Last Orders 21:00)

The basement is where the head chef works. Go to the counter and say "Omikase-course onegai-shimasu". He will show you a selection of raw ingredients for final veto if any itens are not to your liking. Those items will be substituted. The best items surprisingly, are the shucked corn (maize) off the cob and chicken rolls. The corn are GIANT Hokkaido variety. You get 3 pips (yes - pips) stuck on a toothpick and in tempura. Those will be the sweetest, plump parcels of Sunshine you will ever eat.  The chicken meat is rolled in seaweed wrap and tempura fried so theere is almost no batter cover.  Do not be afraid to ask which condiment (you get three) goes with each course.  Chef can understand English even if he pretends not to.......

They only serve 1 label of hot and 1 label of cold sake. That's how selective they are about pairing wine with tempura. Of course, draft beer is available: "nama-biru".  Also imported champagne and the correct white wines are stocked.  Without drinks, the set meals start at 3675 Yen for lunch and 10,500 Yen for dinner.

The good news is the Namiki-dori (Namiki Street) parallel to Chuo-dori and behind the toy shop is where many watch shops are.....The Hour Glass, Chopard, Montblanc, etc.

Good luck!

MTF

 

maybe next time you are in Zurich (missed your August visit) we can get together for drinks or food.

Again thank you for your help..

Not sure I will be able to take pics of my food adventures (since my GF most certainly will be embarassed if I take pictures)... but a wristshot should be possible...

malthus

and everything,  So no shame there.

In fact, if you did not take photos you would look odd.

They invented the cameras built into handphones.

 

MTF

Unfortunately I am very occupied right now, and can not elaborate in every detail... but I would like to thank you for the suggestion. I celebrated my 30iest Birthday there and enjoyed every bite. Some pics to follow...

Oh and the Chef is a very nice chap...

Thank you again
malthus

MTF

I recall I had a very enjoyable stay at the Conrad Tokyo two summers ago during my holiday in Tokyo.

The hotel was very convenient to walk to the heart of Ginza and had a very attentive staff.

The Conrad is supposedly an expensive full-service hotel and will likely cost over $300/night, however there is a less expensive hotel called the Park Hotel Tokyo that has won many awards and is actually located next door to the Conrad Tokyo.

I would recommend The Conrad for its exceptional service and for its convenient location.

gonna book part of the stay in Conrad... just cause I got a good rate... thanks for the info.

all the best
malthus