HOTEL SPECIAL
FOUR INNS PROVIDE THE BEST IN COMFORT
Choosing where to stay on a trip is a big decision and many narrow down their options based on what kind of vacation they’d like to have. After all, your choice of lodgings does set the tone for your entire trip. With diverse destinations that appeal to domestic and international travelers, Japan has accommodations across a wide spectrum based on factors such as theme, location or special packages.
The four hotels in this special are in Tokyo’s stylish Ginza district, the historic port city of Yokohama and a hot spring resort town in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. They offer choices from traditional Japanese rooms and activities to stays with abundant ocean views and chances to imbibe specialty drinks and party without setting foot outside the hotel’s doors.
Far removed from only providing bed and maybe breakfast, these hotels embody “concept,” offering experiences rooted in meticulously executed themes. The facilities and offerings are designed to show that what guests experience within the confines of a hotel can be unforgettable for all the right reasons.
For your next trip to Tokyo, Yokohama or the Nikko area, here’s an invitation to rest while getting instant insight into Japanese culture, accessing its vibrant nightlife, experiencing a constant and intimate connection with the sea, or stepping back in time to the Japan of the past. It all depends, of course, on what you’re looking for.
InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8
In the charming breakfast arithmetic of this seaside hotel in Yokohama’s Shinko Pier area, pier+picnic = “pier-nic.” For a pier-nic, guests can have their breakfast packaged in picnic boxes to enjoy on the rooftop, on the terrace, at the restaurant or in the privacy of their rooms.
Delightful options more than worth getting out of bed for include croissant sandwiches, fresh fruit-waffle sandwiches, corned beef hash browns, parfaits, and a selection of cold and hot beverages.
The spacious guest rooms come with a choice of three views — the harbor view (with a panoramic view of Yokohama port), the city view (capturing Yokohama’s landmarks) or the garden view, where guests can drink in the serenity of a courtyard designed to resemble islands floating in the ocean.
However, the distinct shared spaces are designed to enhance the seaside experience and highlight Yokohama’s history and culture. On the exclusive open Rooftop 1859, named for the year Yokohama port opened to the West, guests can pass the time watching cruise ships coming and going.
Guests of the InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8 can also step into the Courtyard Island Garden and inhale natural floral fragrances wafting through the air or listen to the sounds of leaves rustling in the wind.
URL: https://www.icyokohama-pier8.com/en/
Address: 2-14-1 Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Pref.
Tel: 045-307-1111
Kinugawa Onsen Hotel
In its special one-night, two-day Edo Wonder Night plan, this ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, is offering guests the chance to time travel through a nighttime visit to the Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura, a cultural village that is usually open only in daytime.
Adult guests can don costumes to fit the Edo Period (1603 to 1868) townscape and children can dress up as ninjas before they are transported from the ryokan for a night experiencing a taste of Japanese history and culture.
At the park, guests can enjoy a ninja show or watch an outdoor parade depicting Oiran courtesans moving through the streets of Edo, as Tokyo was called at the time.
Fireworks adds a pop of excitement to the calm night. After checkout, guests can return to the village to experience daytime Edo. The plan, from ¥33,000, is available on Oct. 19 and 26 and Nov. 9 and 16. It includes one room for two people, two meals, an evening and daytime ticket to Nikko Edomura, as well as a ¥2,000 food and drink voucher to use in Edomura. This stay lets guests enjoy treats and surprises while soaking in hot springs and enjoying a delicious buffet.
URL: kinugawaonsenhotel.com
Address: 545 Kinugawaonsentaki, Nikko-shi, Tochigi Pref.
Tel: 0120-01-2644 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)
The Royal Park Canvas Ginza Corridor
Indulgence is the name of the game here, with music, light and alcohol combining for a desirable nightlife experience in Tokyo’s swanky Ginza district. With three bars, guests have a chance to bar-hop and enjoy nightly DJ sets. Guest room decors are based on beverages and there are speakers in all rooms and bathrooms.
The Prosecco Bar exclusively serves Italian sparkling wines, while at the Canvas Lounge, various drinks can be enjoyed while the DJ sets the tone for serendipitous encounters. For a slower pace, guests can head to the Omiki Bar, which serves a selection of sake and shōchū (distilled spirits).
The party of choice can be continued in the guest rooms, which are all equipped with projectors for a variety of mood-setting visuals, and wine and Champagne glasses. Prosecco rooms are gold-themed and depict the bubbly tipple in various ways. The Canvas rooms offer a choice of full-color lights or cocktail-shaker-inspired art. And the Omiki rooms are inspired by the soothing qualities of sake, using soft lighting and a traditional Japanese interior to provide provide a relaxing environment.
Canvas Lounge hours: Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-4 a.m.; Sun. and holidays 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (DJ plays Mon.-Sat.).
URL: https://www.royalparkhotels.co.jp/en/canvas/ginzacorridor/
Address: 6-2-11 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Tel: +81-3-3573-1121
The Royal Park Hotel Ginza 6-chome
This hotel in central Ginza has an interior with a colorful and cheery atmosphere and a location that makes it perfect for both business and sightseeing. The hotel is easily accessed from Narita and Haneda airports by train and by bus from Narita. Once checked in, guests can start exploring Ginza’s main street simply by slipping outside. Popular attractions such as the traditional neighborhood of Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree are within easy reach after a mere three-minute walk to the Higashi-ginza subway station. The modern Azabudai Hills complex and the digital art museum Team Labs Borderless are also easily accessible from this contemporary base.
Inside the hotel, nods to the significance and culture of Ginza are incorporated in the decor. Red, orange and muted green tones in the guest rooms are inspired by kabuki theaters, an important feature of the district’s cultural scene. The Tsukiji outer market is a short walk from the hotel, allowing guests to sample Japanese cuisine. It is close enough to visit every day so people can enjoy fresh sushi and other delicacies.
Even with this convenient location, there is no need to leave the hotel to experience Japan’s traditional public baths (tattoo-friendly).
URL: https://www.royalparkhotels.co.jp/en/the/ginza6/
Address: 6-16-14 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Tel: +81-3-3541-1116
