JAPAN | Two Nights at Tokyo’s Okura Hotel

Friday, May 17, 2013

Main Lobby of Japan's Okura Hotel Tokyo

One of the things I really like about being sponsored on a trip is that I get to stay at really posh hotels. It’s something I usually don’t have the luxury for when traveling on my own since they cost as much, or probably more, than my whole trip expenses combined.

At Japan's Okura Hotel TokyoSony Philippines was generous enough to host us at one of the nicest hotel around Tokyo, the five-star Okura Hotel in the city’s Minato ward. The area is pretty quiet for my taste, being surrounded mostly by office buildings and foreign embassies (49 embassies to be exact). Good thing it’s just a hop away from various train terminals so getting around through subways isn’t a problem at all.

The View from my Room at Japan's Okura Hotel TokyoIt’s also a bonus that some of Tokyo’s iconic landmarks is just a stone throw’s away from the place. The Tokyo Tower is around ten minutes by foot; the Japanese Imperial Palace and Shibuya Crossing also looked accessible by foot (if you like walking as much as I like to that is, haha).

One of the Lobbies at Japan's Okura Hotel TokyoFrom the outside, Okura Hotel doesn’t look that interesting at all; its architecture seemed dated and forgettable. But the story changes once you step inside. Its lobby is one of the nicest I’ve seen; its elegance might be understated, but its there. And the service; bar none, they have the most helpful, polite and not to mention cutest, staff around.

Simple Aesthetics at Japan's Okura Hotel TokyoThe hotel has three wings and it felt like Tokyo’s microcosm. I was almost constantly lost inside its halls, looking for the proper exits when taking a walk outside, and the elevators when accessing my room. It’s so big it has its own mini-mall inside.

Please pardon my slacked jaw, I’m really not used to staying at such opulent places, being mostly familiar to hostels and backpacker inns when out traveling.

My Room at Japan's Okura Hotel TokyoAnd my room was to die for! I love Sony for providing each one of us with a private room. I was originally expecting to have a capsule room, like what I saw from An Idiot Abroad’s Japanese episode (not that it would be bad, I actually liked to experience sleeping in one, truth to say), but this one really takes the cake. A have a whole freakin’ ¥27,000.00 room that’s good enough for two only for myself while in Tokyo!

Mini Bar at Japan's Okura Hotel TokyoThere were all sorts of beer and alcoholic drinks on the mini-bar but they were unfortunately not part of the package. I have to shell out my precious yens for such. Luckily my fellow Japan Sony winner, L, was willing to share his alcohol with me. :)

Origami Mementos at Japan's Okura Hotel TokyoI also love the turtle and crane origami items made from colorfully printed papers that the hotel gives out to guests. It’s a very personal and very Japanese touch that geeks like me appreciate. In fact, I liked it so much that I brought it home with me as a memento.

Very Modern Toilet at Japan's Okura Hotel TokyoBut the best part of Hotel Okura is surprisingly their toilet. Seriously! A fully automatic, push-your-preferred-button toilet rocks! The only thing missing really are the pre-heated toilet seat and the water flushing sound effect that are present on the more updated versions of these. I just have to say that a hotel experience doesn’t get more Japanese than this.


Japan Minato Location Map

Okura Hotel Tokyo
Address: 2-10-4 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001, Japan
Contact Number: +81-3-3582-0111
Room Rates: Click Here

GPS Coordinates: 35.666955,139.74427
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here


You Might Also Like

4 comments

  1. ikaw, ikaw, ikaw na. haay ka suerte naman. :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. Japan is one of my dream destinations. I really like how simple their designs are but still very elegant like the hotel you stayed in. Congrats on the sponsored trip!

    ReplyDelete