Hilton Garden Inn Yokohama Minatomirai

The rooms are "American sized": not huge, but clearly roomier than a typical Japanese hotel room. I only spent one night here and wish it could have been longer. Everything went smoothly, with no problems, and I'd definitely return. The station is a handy 5-10 minute walk for trips around the city, though going to or from the airport by train means a longer 15-20 minute walk. I have Gold status, so breakfast was included. It had a nice mix of Continental and Japanese food. One machine was out of order during my visit, but it wasn't a big deal.

The staff helped me work through online baseball ticket purchases in Japanese and put together a short email to confirm dinner reservations at a small restaurant. I felt comfortable here, and the large ofuro tubs helped with my tight muscles. The location is quiet, which suited me because I wanted to be a little removed while still within walking distance of Yokohama Station. I made a last-minute five-night booking. You check in at the 20th-floor lobby, then head down to your room, so afterward you don't have to pass through a crowded lobby. There's not much for restaurants or shopping nearby, so you need to go back to the station area. A 7/11 on the ground floor is handy since little else around there opens before 10:00am. Coming from Haneda Airport, I recommend taking the train to Yokohama, exiting on the east side and getting a cab. It cost just 1,900 yen and was the fastest, cheapest way. Dragging luggage on foot would have been a bit too far. I was disappointed there wasn't same-day luggage service to Haneda. They did offer Sagawa Takyubin delivery to other cities.

The rooms were amazingly clean, and the team was outstanding. Thanks so much to Erica, Sakura Eri and Koyama for answering all my questions about transport and dining plans. Breakfast was the best I've had at a Hilton Garden Inn, with premium ingredients and care put into each buffet item. The fish and chips were simple but delicious, the burger was juicy, and the grilled chicken was cooked perfectly.

It had only opened 10 days earlier, so the staff were still getting the hang of things and had plenty of management support. They were extremely helpful and friendly, everything went well, and it's a great place.