Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo

I am so glad that I decided to begin my two-week adventure in Japan at Hotel Chinzanso - Yes, it is a splurge, but a worthwhile one. Traveling solo to visit with my daughter who is an exchange student at nearby Waseda University (12 minute walk), it was an oasis at which to shake off the jet-lag and be pampered a bit before a busy travel schedule. I spent 4 nights at this property, enjoying the beautiful gardens and onsen (I didn't utilize the spa but it looks fantastic). Usually, I give a report card for the hotels I review, but since literally every aspect of this hotel is an A+ I really have no need to itemize. Perfect linens, bathroom (complete luxury), shower pressure/temp, storage, lighting, ambiance, service. The bed is slightly firm but I found all to be like this in Japan and it was the softest of all the hotels I stayed in. I would like to comment on the location as there are mixed opinions here on TripAdvisor. This hotel, while not adjacent to any of the most popular and busiest train stations in Tokyo, is not as far as you think from all that Tokyo has to offer. Granted, it helped to have a daughter who knows the buses and trains inside and out. But it only took me a day to figure out that the 61 bus can connect me to just about anywhere I want to go and it stops right at the hotel. At the end of my trip, I chose a hotel near Nihombashi station so that I could have easier access to the Haneda airport monorail and some of the sights I had planned to see nearby including Asakusa. However, if I were ever to return to Tokyo, I’d just stay at Hotel Chinzanso again instead. Frankly, if you have enough funds to stay here you have enough to just take a car to the airport and back and once in a while get the GoTaxi (Japan Uber) if you don’t want to make the bus to train connections. Gosh I miss this place….

This hotel did not live up to expectations. This was the most expensive hotel of my family’s trip to Japan. We specifically booked this hotel as it’s listed to have a pool and provide a shuttle to the airport. We got dressed for the pool only to be informed that will be an additional $100 for me and my two young daughters! I could not justify that for a two hour dip in the pool. When I asked if there was a shuttle to the airport they said no and suggested I take a taxi or train. The staff here was rude and was the only place in Japan we didn’t feel welcomed. Sad that this hotel ruined our last day in Japan. Yes the garden was nice but be aware that you are not getting what you pay for here.

This is a real gem. The hotel is very classic. I stayed for alomost a week. The room is big and super comfortable. The bathroom is also big, well equiped with very good amenities. A walk in the hotel garden was the best, it was a paradise. Breakfast was also very good both the Japanese one and the western one. I prefer the western one a bit more as the service was faster.

From the moment you arrive, you realize it is a 5 star service. What a property! Top notch rooms, an impressive garden and also a Spa. We were lucky enough to see the fireflies. Have been to many 5 star hotels but this was a really unique experience. Simply wonderful.

Hotel Chinzanso made me remember what a great hotel should be for: peace and rest so that you can enjoy your days to the fullest. It also reminded me of why I hate American hotels. First the service. Everyone from the doormen to the front desk staff to room service is incredibly polite and helpful. The doormen helped us into a cab every day, speaking with the driver to make sure they knew our destination. A girl at the front desk gave us recommendations to eat in the area and called the restaurant to make sure they knew we were arriving. Every time we needed a bottle of water, they’d send someone up immediately. Impeccable service. Second, the rooms are made to provide guests with the most restful experience. Which is what a hotel should be about. The room doors are made to close softly, unlike American doors that are made to slam shut. You’ll never hear unruly guests slamming doors at night or in the morning at Chinzanso. The floors are carpeted with a lot of padding so you’ll never hear anyone stomping above you. They have total blackout curtains that block all light at night and in the morning, and all work automatically with the touch of a button. Hot water and good pressure instantly in the shower, awesome high tech toilets (but that’s Japan in general). Lastly the bed. I have a chronic back injury and we were scared that Japanese bed firmness would wreck me on this trip. But Chinzanso beds are quite soft and modern and I woke up feeling strong every morning. For anyone with similar issues, I promise the beds here will take good care of you. I can go on, the beautiful garden on the property. The excellent western breakfasts in the dining area. But I’ll stop here and say this was one of the best hotels we’ve ever stayed at and it being out of the way of the hustle of Tokyo was completely worth the cab rides in exchange for peace and comfort.