The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon by Hulic

The rooftop bar is great, the rooms are a good size, and breakfast was good enough that I'd eat there rather than head out, though it wasn't amazing. Service and location are great, which is why I gave it 5 stars, but the location gets 4 from me because there's nowhere to pull up outside to drop off passengers and luggage. We found that very frustrating.

I loved my stay here. The staff were helpful, polite, and friendly, and the location is great. The room is spacious by Japanese standards. There's a great view of Tokyo Skytree and Sensoji from the lobby on the 13th floor and the rooftop on the 14th. If you need a microwave late at night for a hungry boy, or a washing machine, this may not be the best fit. Still, there are plenty of nearby restaurants and kombini for supper, and the hotel offers laundry service. For me, it was a really, really good choice.

The location is the real highlight. Step outside and you're right in the heart of Tokyo, with a temple, shops, restaurants, and loads to do nearby, so you hardly need to plan the day. The terrace is nice and has good views. The rest of the hotel is fine, and the rooms are a bit small, though that's normal for Tokyo hotels. I really disliked the frosted glass between the shower and the rest of the room. Anyone else in the room can see a blurred outline while someone showers, and the bathroom light shines through the glass whenever it's switched on, which can bother someone who's sleeping.

The rooftop view is incredible, especially at night, and with three elevators the wait isn't too long. Rooms were clean and quiet, and the staff were helpful, so I had a very pleasant stay. One thing to keep in mind: part of the bathroom wall is frosted glass. If someone turns on the bathroom light at night, it glows into the room and could wake their partner.