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Review: Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo - Perfect For Every Type Of Traveller

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Tengku Suzana •  Jul 17, 2017

It’s no secret that Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo is one of our favourite hotels in Tokyo, with its spacious clean rooms and perfect location. This time, we checked out the hotel’s newest Club Rooms on the Premier Grand floor for our Tokyo honeymoon! Safe to say, whether you’re on a trip with your other half, or your family and friends, this hotel is perfect for every type of traveler.

Premier Grand

Checking In

  • Premier Grand guests can check in at the Club Lounge. There was barely any waiting time and the whole process was really quick!

  • Did we mention the beautiful view? From a height of 160 meters, you’ll enjoy a panoramic view of the city and even Mount Fuji, if it’s a clear day!

Perks

  • Guests can enjoy complimentary drinks, buffet style breakfasts, tea time desserts from the comfort of the Club Lounge too! We personally loved the juices and dropped by the lounge for our daily dose everyday ☺️

  • There’s also a dedicated concierge who will be able to help you with restaurant reservations and tour bookings to match your needs.
  • There are over 50 tour buses departing and arriving at Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo’s lobby so it’s really convenient if you’re looking for day tours!

Club Room Premier Grand

Boy, were we surprised by what greeted us when we checked into our room ? A big thank you to Sunaho-san and the Keio Plaza team for arranging this surprise when they found out it’s our honeymoon!

If you’re a big Hello Kitty fan, you have to check out the special Princess Kitty room and Kitty Town room at Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo too! You’ll even get to bring home your very own Hello Kitty plush doll, specially designed for Keio Plaza hotel!

#HHWT Tip: If you’re celebrating an anniversary, birthday or any special event, do let the team know while placing your reservation and they’ll do their best to help you out ?

What we love:

  • Prayer mats and compasses are available upon request. Remember to check with the staff during check-in!

  • The room was spacious (other rooms in the hotel are spacious too!), especially for Japan standards. There was enough room to lay out 2 luggage and pray!
  • We loved the lovely scent of Jasmin & Bergamote toiletries by L’Occitane en Provence.

  • Our best takeaway from our stay in the Premier Grand Club room was discovering what Imabari towels are. Imabari towels are produced in Ehime Prefecture and they are known for being extremely absorbent and soft too! We loved the towels so much that we bought our own from the nearby departmental store. Definitely our favourite souvenir from our Tokyo trip!

Must-Try Experience: Tea Ceremony

We try our best to immerse in the local culture as much as possible when we travel and this traditional Japanese tea ceremony was one of the best cultural experiences we’ve had in Tokyo!

During the ceremony, the tea master explained to us about the various customs and practices surrounding the ceremony.

A traditional Japanese confection, also known as wagashi, is typically eaten before drinking tea.

We were surprised to find out that the tea master chose the design of the tea cup based on her impression and wishes for us!

We learnt that it is best to finish the tea in 3 sips and to end it with an audible slurp. After which, guests are expected to comment on and praise the design of the tea cup.

This tea ceremony is open to both hotel guests and those not staying in the hotel at a cost of JPY 2,000 per guest. There is a maximum of 4 guests per tea ceremony so remember to book your experience early!

We were surprised to find out that the tea master chose the design of the tea cup based on her impression and wishes for us!

This tea ceremony is open to both hotel guests and those not staying in the hotel at a cost of JPY 2,000 per guest. There is a maximum of 4 guests per tea ceremony so remember to book your experience early!

Halal/ Muslim-friendly food nearby

  • While the hotel has marked out food items clearly (vegetarian and seafood option), there are no halal meals available in the restaurants. As always, we advise our readers to dine at your own discretion.
  • However, since the hotel is situated in Shinjuku, you can easily get to many delicious Muslim-friendly eateries in the area:

Shinjuku area:

#HHWT tip: Find more halal eateries, must-see attractions and prayer spaces in Tokyo here!

Additional services we love

  • Complimentary shuttle bus to Tokyo Disney parks – As Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo is a Tokyo Disney Resort Good Neighbor Hotels, you can enjoy free shuttle rides to Tokyo Disneyland and Disneysea!

#HHWT tip: Don’t forget to make a reservation for the bus once you’ve confirmed your hotel booking as there are certain bus timings that are more popular!

  • Airport limousine bus ride direct from the hotel to Haneda Airport (¥ 1230/adult, ¥ 620/child) and Narita Airport (¥ 3100/adult, ¥ 1550/child)

#HHWT tip: Try to pick a flight that lands at and departs from Haneda Airport as it’s much cheaper and quicker to get to the city.

What’s Nearby

  • Sights:
    • Shinjuku Gyoen

  • Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office – Enjoy a breathtaking view of Tokyo from the observation deck, free!
  • Central Park

Shopping:

  • Departmental stores (Isetan, Takashimaya, Keio Department, LUMINE)
  • Tokyu Hands
  • Major electronics store: Yodobashi Camera, BIC Camera
  • Uniqlo

#HHWT Tip: Don’t forget to bring along your passport to enjoy tax-free purchases!

Rates

Location

  • A 5-minute walk from Shinjuku station, Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo is the epitome of convenience.
      • Shinjuku station is connected to 12 train lines, including the JR Yamanote line – the most convenient JR line with stops at major tourist sights such as Shibuya and Harajuku
      • There is also a major bus terminal (Busta Shinjuku) situated above Shinjuku station
        • Buses to Mount Fuji, Nagano and other cities depart from this station.