When I found out that I, together with my colleagues, had the opportunity to present a research paper at Toshi Center in Japan, I was just beyond words since Japan was on my list of Must-Visit countries. With that, I was also asked to look for accommodation for us that was close to the conference center, train station and other tourist attractions in Tokyo. Upon looking for hotel which also suited our budget, I found this modern 3-Star hotel, APA Hotel Hanzomon Hirakawacho.
Situated in the heart of Tokyo, Japan, the sophisticated accommodation has a lot to offer from their sleek, comfortable rooms; desirable services; satisfactory amenities; and even the proximity of the airports, subway stations, ATM, convenience stores, and must-see landmarks.
How to get to APA HOTEL HANZOMON
Before anything else it is important to STAY CONNECTED on the Internet. At the airport, you can rent a MOBILE Wi-Fi at a very affordable price. If I am not mistaken, we paid around YEN 5000.00 (PHP 2500.00) for the 4 of us for 5 days unlimited internet. That is a good deal! Next, your best guide to avoid getting lost is Google Maps!
It will help you which Subway Stations to go to and will tell you the departure schedule. Google Walk was also very handy when walking around some of the tourist spots in Tokyo.
Taxis are very expensive in Tokyo so the best and the cheapest way to get to the hotel is by train from Tokyo Narita International Airport. With the use of Google Maps, it gave us the option on the different schedule and which Train Station we needed to go to.
In the sample photo, you will see how organized and precise the Google Maps were when going around Tokyo. This saved us from getting lost around the city. Highly recommended!
Checking in was hassle-free even though we arrived late at night well after the usual 2:00 pm check-in time. We were lucky that it was also not too busy when we arrived so we handed in our reservations and in a few minutes,got our key-card and off we went to check our rooms.
The hospitable staff at the 24-hour front desk are ever ready to assist guests with their concerns. I remember, during our stay, my colleague misplaced his key-card. Normally in other hotels, you pay for the card but when we asked the front-desk about what happened, they just checked the hotel room and got our new card easily. That was good service!
My APA Hotel Single Room
The types of rooms available in the hotel are the single room and double room. Also, there are smoking and non-smoking options. Guests may also enjoy the delightful sights of the city if they chose a room with a city view.
For entertainment, there is a flat-screen TV and internet access via LAN and WiFi available. I didn’t really understand the TV but the WI-FI is really good so I really didn’t mind. And daily housekeeping maintains the neat and pleasing ambiance of the hotel.
The rooms are compact yet well designed. Each room comes with commodities for every guests’ comfort and necessity. Each room is furnished with a comfortable double/single bed and a desk. Room temperature can be adjusted to the guest’s liking with the air conditioning and heating. And for safety, a smoke detector is also included in each room.
There are also appliances, such as a coffee/tea maker and refrigerator. Toiletries, towels, and a hairdryer are also provided. A telephone is available for contacting the front desk and making outside calls.
Guests may also avail of the wake-up service also provided by the hotel, but there is also an alarm clock guests can make use of, when they need to wake up early.
When in Japan, better familiarize yourself with the the following buttons when using the toilet. It’s quite cool actually since this is unusual in the Philippines.
Complimentary Breakfast at APA Hotel Hanzomon
The hotel has an on-site restaurant on the first floor with a casual atmosphere named, Wabaru Gin. They serve domestic wine and delicious, healthy food.
They provide a wide range of dishes, where they incorporate the five major health foods, such as olive oil; soybeans; lentil; yogurt; and kimchi, while they apply the essence of the Ginyuba group brand as well. Drink vending machines are also available on site.
A delicious, Japanese-Western style breakfast buffet is served at the same restaurant on the first floor, Wabaru Gin. It is available from 7:00 am to 10:00 am. It costs 1,300JPY for adults and 500JPY for children from ages six to nine years old.
Tourist Attractions Nearby
Every traveler vacationing in Tokyo would, of course, want to witness the marvelous sights and experience the rich culture of the place. Fortunately, not so far away from the hotel are several popular landmarks that are hot tourist spots. They’re just so close, it would be a shame to miss them. Below is a list of tourist spots near the hotel listed from nearest to least near.
For tourists who want to be assisted as they stroll around to discover Tokyo’s tourist attractions, they can avail of the tour service from the hotel. After a fun-filled stroll or a busy business affair, guests can enjoy a relaxing massage service within the hotel.
For safe-keeping, guests can store their personal belongings in the luggage storage as well as safety deposit boxes provided by the hotel. During guests’ stay at the hotel, laundry would be a breeze for them, as they can also avail of the dry cleaning and laundry services within the hotel building.
In addition, there are facilities for disabled guests, for them to feel at ease during their stay.
| Tourist Spot | Distance |
| Roppongi Hills | 2.64 km |
| Shinjuku Gyoen Park | 2.69 km |
| Tokyo Tower | 2.77 km |
| Tsukiji Outer Market | 3.48 km |
| Meiji Shrine | 3.74 km |
| Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings | 4.42 km |
| Asakusa-Jinja (Asakusa Shrine) | 6.31 km |
| Tokyo Skytree Town | 7.12 km |
| Odaiba | 7.27 km |
| Tokyo Disneyland | 13.99 km |
Conclusion
The APA Hotel Hanzomon Hirakawacho has its pros and cons.It is of great value for your money, given the comforts and conveniences that they provide as well as its location that is just a stone’s throw away from essentials; public transportation; and attractions.
However, on the other hand some guests tend to comment that the rooms are rather too small for their liking. Although typical rooms in Japan are, in fact, small. Nevertheless, they offer high quality and high function rooms with high-grade amenities.
Whether it’s a hotel that would provide a pleasant stay for your vacation or that would be favorable for a quick stay on your business trip, the APA Hotel Hanzomon Hirakawacho would be a good choice.
Truly, it is of great value for your money. It’s also worth noting that their prices vary from day to day, so you may get lucky when you’re looking for affordable hotel booking.
For booking and reservations:
https://apa-hanzomon-hirakawacho.intokyohotels.com/en/
