JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo

We were looked after from the moment we arrived. The staff welcomed me and my family warmly at reception and showed us to our room. The location was great, just steps from Takanawa Gateway station, with connections to Tokyo station, Shibuya and Shinjuku. Breakfast in the executive lounge was high quality, and the service there was wonderful too. I’d booked an entry-level twin room, but my titanium membership with Marriott got us an upgrade to an executive twin suite. It was huge and beautifully laid out, with a bathtub overlooking Mt Fuji, really comfortable beds and well thought-out lighting. One of the best rooms I’ve ever stayed in. Highly recommend, and I’ll stay again when I’m in Tokyo.

We were there for our anniversary and my birthday, and the staff made the occasion feel extra special. The hotel is right beside Takanawa Gateway on the Yamanote Line and the huge Newoman mall. It’s a spectacular place with amazing service. The buffet breakfast is on the small side, but the à la carte choices were great, especially the Japanese breakfast. One small hassle was that taxi drivers were often confused about where the hotel was. It’s still fairly new, there’s construction nearby, and the entrance can be hard to spot. Highly recommend.

We had very tasty food, including breakfast, lunch and dinner for a meeting. The staff were kind and helpful during my two-night stay. The room and the stairs both had great views, and there was lots of art in the shared spaces. The pool was spotless and didn’t smell of chlorine. The gym was nice and thoughtfully set up, though the Smith machine was out of service.

The big issue was breakfast. One morning I had to wait to get in, while other guests were told to come back in 45 minutes. A colleague missed breakfast altogether because meetings were about to start. I’ve traveled for work for over 10 years and stayed at hundreds of hotels, and I’ve never had to wait just to enter the breakfast room. At a hotel this expensive, many business guests can’t spend 45 minutes waiting for a table, then another 20 minutes or more for their order. The rooms also aren’t fully soundproof, so trains from the nearby station can be heard early in the morning. The location is great, right next to the mall and Takawana Station. The lobby has striking modern design, and the staff greet you warmly. My room was spacious, with a large comfortable bed and great views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Room service was excellent, including the turndown service. If they sort out the breakfast arrangements, it’d be 5/5.