Hotel JAL City Haneda Tokyo

There’s no gym, and the hotel isn’t the newest, but it’s good value. The train station is three blocks away, with places to eat, a laundromat, a drug store, and convenience stores all within a couple of blocks. It is far from the city center, though: a taxi costs $60 one way, compared with $3.50 by train. The adjoining restaurant serves a marvelous breakfast buffet for about $14.00. My room was small and had a mini fridge but no microwave. The staff were helpful and accommodating.

I was bothered more by the receptionist’s manner than by the early check-in policy. After resting in the lobby and trying to check in at the automatic machine, a male receptionist approached me and spoke in an unnecessarily aggressive, rude tone, saying check-in started at 3:00 pm. I politely asked him to check whether a room was already available. He said one was, but wanted an extra 3,000 yen for early check-in, which seemed unreasonable at 1:00 pm. A calm explanation, a smile, and a simple good morning would have been enough. There was also a strong sewage smell from the bathtub, which was unpleasant, and the breakfast was stale and poor quality. The location is convenient for the airport, but the stay disappointed me and I wouldn’t return. There are plenty of nearby hotels with better service.

This seems better suited to a layover than a vacation, but it’s in a nice area with plenty of things to walk to. The airport shuttle is free, and the breakfast buffet was great. The staff were lovely too.

The breakfasts were delicious and had a good range, from fresh fish to fruit. The staff were exceptionally friendly, and the rooms were cozy and very clean, with all the essential toiletries provided. The free shuttle from Haneda Airport was extremely convenient. I’d happily return and recommend the hotel.