Hotel New Otani Tokyo, The Main

The little candy waiting in the room was a nice surprise, and the cleaning was excellent. They arranged my toiletries neatly and even laid out the towels. I also liked the stickers and weather information. It was hot outside when I checked in, and I was sweating while fanning myself. The front desk staff brought me a glass of cold water. I had such a good stay that I'd like to come back.

The shower had great pressure, the room was clean, and room service was easy to use. The breakfast buffet had a decent spread, and from a window seat there was a nice garden view. The garden itself was pretty, there were free water bottles, and the train station and cherry blossom spots were a short walk away. Still, the room felt worn in places, with a stain on one bed cover and marks on some walls. The tub didn't seem clean either. There were hair clippings by the drain, so I didn't use it. I also couldn't find any laundry machines. The building is a crowded maze, and with all the people and long lines at the restaurants, it felt hectic and hard to navigate. I prefer somewhere calmer after a long day, and this place didn't have that relaxing feel. It's a distinctive-looking hotel with lots of dining options and a nice garden, but I thought it was overhyped and overpriced for the room quality. I'd rather stay somewhere else.

The hotel has maps and guides to help you find your way around its enormous grounds. There are several restaurants and shops, plus a beautiful garden with ponds and a waterfall. My room had a shower and bath together, with enough space for two, which stood out since Japanese hotel rooms are often smaller than rooms in other countries. Getting to some of the main attractions takes a little time, though there's usually a line of taxis waiting outside for the trip. The location is a bit away from the sights. I only have a couple of small complaints. One of the two pools is indoors but seems to be for members, while the outdoor one only opened in June. We were there in May, and were surprised it was closed despite the lovely hot weather. There are also two gyms, but both are small and busy, so we couldn't get a decent workout in. I hope they consider adding another gym.

We were in Tokyo for the marathon, and having several train stations nearby made getting around easy. The hotel was lovely, with a beautiful garden to wander through and plenty of restaurants inside. Our room was spacious and well looked after.