Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa

The lobby is lovely, the staff are nice, and the view can be impressive depending on your room and floor. Having a balcony is a luxury in Tokyo, and ordering amenities from your phone at any time was handy. There’s also a convenience store in B1. Everything else was a letdown. The rooms look like they’re straight out of the 70s, with stains and scratches everywhere, and they clearly haven't been renovated in a long time. In winter, the AC wouldn't run, only the heater worked. We turned it off and opened the balcony to cool the room, but it stayed almost unbearably hot. Would I stay again? Absolutely not. Maybe consider it if you find a very cheap deal, but otherwise I wouldn't recommend it.

The bathtub and curtain were really gross, as if they’d been left in place through renovations elsewhere in the building. The rooms overall are very old, though the lobby is quite nice. There’s a public garden shared with the other Prince Hotels, and it’s clean, safe, and accessible. It’s a short walk from Shinagawa Station, but the uphill approach can make getting there awkward. There was lots of construction around the area, though I didn’t hear it in the room. We asked if the hotel could keep our bags until the day after checkout while we went to a town outside Tokyo, and the staff kindly held them at no charge. That alone saved us 1500-2500 yen per piece per day.

The Japanese garden shared across the Takanawa Prince complex is a real highlight, and gives the grounds a sense of space that's rare in central Tokyo. The property also has historic appeal: it dates from Japan's big convention-hotel boom, and the scale, especially the famous Hiten ballroom, is impressive. The Shin Takanawa building has early-1980s origins, though, and many rooms feel dated next to newer Tokyo hotels. They've been refreshed, but Western travelers may notice the aging bathrooms, finishes, and general condition. Access from Haneda is easy on the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa. The area itself doesn't offer much to see beyond the enormous station and its bullet trains. During my stay, breakfast had three options, including a Western buffet and a Japanese restaurant. The Japanese breakfast was a quiet, nicely presented set meal, but the flavors and style seemed aimed at an older Japanese palate, and may feel too traditional for some Western guests as an everyday breakfast. For a first visit, check which hotel you're booking. The Takanawa Prince area includes Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa, Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa, and The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, and comfort levels differ noticeably between them. With the Shin Takanawa property reportedly marked for redevelopment in the coming years, staying there feels a bit like visiting late-Showa hotel history. It may suit guests focused on price and location, but anyone wanting a modern luxury room might compare the newer properties in the complex. A few personal pluses: there was a multi-adapter charger in the desk drawer, useful if you'd forgotten yours; I got a bottle of sparkling rose wine for my birthday as a Seibu Prince Member; and at checkout, Seibu Prince Member points could easily be used toward the bill. The staff were friendly, and there's a Tully’s coffee shop and 7/11 in the building. A loop shuttle runs between the hotels and Shinagawa Station.

There’s a lovely garden shared with the other hotels, and the lobby is great. The hotel and room are spacious, which feels like a luxury in Tokyo. It’s in a non-touristy area, so it’s a bit far out if you’re sightseeing, but convenient for a business trip. My room felt a little dated, though it was well soundproofed. WiFi in the hallways was unreliable, and the staff seemed very unenthusiastic.