Back from Kyoto after a disastrous experience at the Westin and a tasty one at Suiran, I decided to avoid any risk for my last days in Tokyo and I chose The Prince Gallery. This is a Luxury Collection that opened very recentlyand therefore arouses my curiosity.
I made my reservation online as usual via the SPG website. Be careful :not a room under 400 euros. It’s obviously expensive but if the promise is kept it’s totally acceptable for a 5 star in Tokyo when you know the heights that prices can reach here and the scarcity of square meters.
Arrival through the basement and the parking lot
I arrive at the hotel by cab from the central station of Tokyo. The hotel is located in a large office tower and occupies the top floors.
The hotel is located in the middle of a large pedestrian block in the heart of the city and the driver struggles a bit to find how to drop me off in front of it before finding the entrance to the underground parking lot. We navigate then through this one by following the signs. Nothing particularly engaging, a gray concrete parking lot like it exists everywhere. And suddenly the concrete gives way to colored bricks, the ceiling lighting gives the impression that it is daylight in the open air and we find ourselves in front of a nice underground entrance for guests arriving by car.
From there I will be taken to the 36th and last floor of the building where the lobby and reception are located.
Efficient check-in and the stinginess in upgrades continues
As usual in this type of property, the check-in is remarkably smooth and the welcome attentive. The “loyalty program” ceremony follows. “Thank you blah blah blah, you are entitled to blah blah blah” and….confirming what I had been told before my trip…absolutely no upgrade while it did not seem to me that the hotel was full (there were superior rooms or suites available for booking the same morning). But as a platinum member I will receive a special benefit: a room with a beautiful view. One will have to explain to me how not to have a view when the hotel occupies the last 5 floors of a tower and how can be otherwise than beautiful when one is in the center of Tokyo two steps from the imperial palace.
As a thank you for my loyalty I also inherit 3 vouchers for a Sake tasting of which I will make the best use.
However, I take advantage of the moment to let my eyes linger in the lobby and breathe in the atmosphere of the place.
A clean and tasteful modernism that suits me perfectly.
The Deluxe Room at the Prince Gallery
Deluxe I booked, Deluxe I will get. This is actually the entry level room of the hotel. So I go back down a few floors, the reception being on the top floor. If an elevator takes you from the ground floor to the 36th floor, it is an independent set of elevators accessible only to hotel guests from the lobby that allows you to go back down to the room floors.
Like the lobby, it is sober, uncluttered and bright, which contributes to the impression of space that this standard room gives off.
The work space is of appreciable size.
Another element that contributes to this feeling of space is the glass bathroom overlooking the room, as seen at theSheraton Grand Dubaifor example.
The bathroom has a walk-in shower and a large bathtub.
And as always in Japan, you will have to learn how the toilets work.
To finish with an anecdote about the toilet, not only does a presence sensor make the light come on automatically when you enter it, but the seat also goes up automatically. The regulars of the night “emergencies” will appreciate.
And for those who are bothered by the concept of transparency,a push of a button is enough to make the windows opaque.
To close the whole a pleasant bench allows to settle down to read or to relax while enjoying the view on the city.
A very nice view on Tokyo indeed.
Day and night.
Since I am both in Japan and in a modern hotel, everything electrical in the room can be controlled with an iPad that can be found on the bedside table. Temperature, lighting, curtains, alarm clock… you just have to touch on the screen the object or the area of the room you want to control and make the desired settings.
In the same way, you can find descriptions of all the hotel’s services.
Nice (and convenient) attention of the hotel: cables are available for guests directly in the room without having to call the reception if needed.
And to close the “room” session, in my opinion, it is at night that it is best appreciated.
And the visit in video to finish…
A varied and high quality catering service
The hotel has several restaurants.
I started as usual with the Teppanyaki. The result speaks for itself.
I will also tried a more “traditional” restaurant and there too I had a tasting menu.
In both cases it is good, fine, impeccably presented.
In video for the fans…
For those who were interested in the video of the abalone cooking at the Westin Tokyo…
I also had access to the hotel lounge where I had my breakfasts and aperitif snacks.
The place is bright and spacious. You can sit there quietly at any time of the day without being crowded.
The offer is very complete whether it is for breakfast or aperitif.
For the aperitif:
Something quite rare in a hotel lounge you will notice the champagne in self-service.
I regret the absence of a hot offer and the size of the portions.
At breakfast:
On the other hand in the morning you will find a hot offer.
With an excellent gratin dauphinois…
And even ready-made salads.
All you have to do is take a seat and enjoy.
And to finish on the subject, the hotel bar.
Located on the lobby level, it features an impressive bay window and a breathtaking view of Tokyo.
It’s not the famous bay window of the Intercontinental Hong-Kong, but it makes its effect.
Of course it is at night that it is most impressive.
It is possible to consume in the room.
Cocktails impeccably made, friendly and helpful staff. A great place to start or end the evening.
Beautiful facilities but a lack of warmth
And what about the other facilities available to guests? Fitness room, pool and spa are located on the same floor of the hotel.
The Prince Gallery confirms the current trend to stop housing this type of equipment in basements and put it back in a brighter, more exposed setting.
The fitness room, for starters, is very well equipped and large. Variety and number of appliances, space for the occupants, view, everything is there. Moreover it is in angle, which is not bad at all.
there is even a room dedicated to free weights.
Sober, efficient, one feels good here.
The pool is located right next door, again making the most of the view offered by the upper floors.
Unfortunately, during my stay I will only see it occupied sparingly and for good reason: it is more of a “swimming” pool for people who want to swim laps in a relatively long pool than a pool for relaxation. Moreover, wearing a bathing cap is mandatory.
Proof of this:
And of course bathing cap is mandatory.
Next to it, the jacuzzi is more successful…but not much more.
Between the fitness room and the rest of the facility the locker room, impressive in size.
There are indeed two sections such as this one:
Afterwards we find sauna, hot baths etc…
I also tested the treatment part of the spa. In addition to the quality of the care,it is possible to reserve a treatment room with a hot bath to be used 1 hour after the end of the treatment.
Like everything else, it is a faultless work, but I will put a downside. Concerning facilities supposed to contribute to a form of well-being and relaxation there is a feeling of coldness that does not necessarily contribute to the desired effect. We can complain in some hotels about the lack of brightness, the lack of class, the lack of space…here we have all that but too much. It’s cold and impersonal, and while I appreciate the quality of the place, I don’t value the experience that much. The place stays in my memory, not what I experienced and felt.
Conclusion : an almost flawless performance
What more can I say? Opening a property in this niche in Tokyo is a challenge given the competition and the excellence of the Japanese service which sets the bar very high. You also have to find your tone: old-fashioned luxury, excessive modernism, the place of local culture in the design and experience… The Prince Gallery manages to strike the perfect balance and with the few remarks made about the spa, it is definitely among the best in its category in Tokyo and in comparison with benchmarks for similar hotels abroad.
Not to be missed if your wallet allows it.
Grades :
Room: in general the standard room leaves you disappointed and gives you just a taste of what you would have had if you had paid more. Not here. Special praise for the design and the impression of space. 10.
Restaurant and bar: there is something for all tastes and prices but with one guideline: it is fine, impeccably presented and the service is excellent. 10.
Check-in/out: smooth, efficient, attentive. 10
Facilities: on the substance it is perfect, on the form a certain coldness which harms the experience and a superb swimming pool badly exploited and is not a place of relaxation. 7,5
Experience for money: it’s (very) expensive but worth it. An experience that leaves its mark. 10.
Service and attention: Japanese-style service at its best. Not a single flaw. Attention and efficiency. 10
Application of the loyalty program: customer recognition, program benefits and even a few extras such as sake tasting…will not make me forget the total absence of automatic upgrades which is the first expected benefit of such a program. 7
Hotel: very well located, brand new, very well designed and decorated, very pleasant atmosphere. 10
The photo album is available here.