mesm Tokyo, Autograph Collection

The hotel has some real strengths: it's clean, right by Tokyo Bay, has incredible high-rise views, and the staff are extremely polite. But our winter stay in December was a love-hate experience, and it may not suit everyone. In summer, the garden spaces next door and access to the port might make boat rides possible, but that wasn't the case in winter. Ginza isn't really walkable, as other reviews say, and we took a cab many times. A lot of the amenities weren't explained at check-in. We either found them ourselves by the end or missed them altogether. We only figured out on day four that the in-room iPad could be used to order room service, and the fresh orange juice was tucked behind the bar at breakfast, which we spotted on day three. The Theatre, an odd name for a restaurant, served us breakfast four days in a row, but there was a lot of repetition in the food. There isn't enough seating at breakfast, so people spill into the lobby. The views there are nice, but service slowed down and used plates weren't cleared as often. Some room details looked great but didn't work well. The copper kettle is beautiful, but in our room it never seemed to stop boiling automatically. It seems designed for pour-over coffee, with a very thin spout, rather than normal tea or coffee. The piano is an interesting idea, though it felt redundant for those of us who aren't musically inclined. Bath towels were really small, and I think the hotel should standardize their size. There was no turn-down service, which surprised us in Tokyo, where most hotels provide it with nightwear and chocolates. Getting to the room takes two elevators because the lobby is on the 16th floor, which gets cumbersome on a longer stay. Nearby, there aren't many unusual shops to browse, though there is a family mart close by. The first desk you see after stepping out of the elevators on the 16th floor is the concierge desk, so we thought it was check-in. Having to go there first and then be redirected to the check-in desk hidden off to the side seems unnecessary. We've stayed at hundreds of Marriott properties over the years, so we'd say choose based on what matters to you. The hotel has plenty going for it, but it won't work for everyone. Hotel team, the design needs to work in practice too. A focus group could try the room and hotel amenities and point out what needs changing.

The location is the main thing to plan around. The nearest metro is about a 10-minute walk, and with luggage the Haneda Airport monorail can take nearly 20 minutes on foot, so we took a taxi. Still, the views were stunning, with the Minato skyline at night and a lovely sunrise over Tokyo Bay in the morning. The room was very well equipped. I came back for a second stay just two weeks after the first, and the staff remembered me and asked if I had returned on purpose. I had, because I'd found the stay so comfortable. This is one of Tokyo's most distinctive, character-filled hotels, in my opinion. The little touches really stood out. Instead of a regular toiletry box, the amenities come in boxes that open into parts of an illustration, making a complete piece of art. Housekeeping folded a small flower from towels and placed my toothbrush in it. I've stayed in hotels all over the world, and that was a first for me. We liked the shampoo and conditioner so much that we bought three hair care sets before leaving. A memorable stay, highly recommended.

The rooms were so good they blew me away, and breakfast was great. I also had a really cool view of the river park and the old fish market. The hotel has top-class service. It's decent for getting around by train, though not especially close to the areas you'd want to explore.

It's a new, nice hotel with a decent location and view, and the in-room piano could be a plus if you're musically inclined. That seemed like a promising start for a 5-star Marriott. What appalled me was the lack of toiletries apart from mouthwash. Toothbrushes cost JPY500 each, and complimentary water is limited to one bottle, with each extra bottle costing JPY700. Those are usually free at other 5-star hotels around the world, including in Tokyo. Even the 4-star Aloft Ginza provides complimentary water and toiletries beyond mouthwash. Also, for anyone interested, there's no swimming pool.