Review: Aloft Tokyo Ginza | Prince of Travel

For the final evening on my Winter 2023 journey to Japan and Thailand, I made a cease on the Aloft Tokyo Ginza.

After my earlier two nights within the throes of luxurious on the Shangri-La Tokyo, I knew that I needed to taper my expectations coming into this keep.

I’d stayed at a handful of Aloft properties on my earlier travels, and had a reasonably good thought of what to anticipate. It turned out to be a wholly nice keep, which even got here with a couple of surprises.

Aloft Tokyo Ginza – Reserving

I booked the Aloft Tokyo Ginza at an business charge.

The primary deciding issue for selecting this property was the placement, because it’s a mere 20 minutes by prepare to Toyosu, the place there was an exhibit I wished to take a look at. Being brief on time, it was a no brainer for me to decide on a resort the place I’d have fast and quick access to the ultimate attraction on my journey, with out breaking the financial institution.

When redeeming factors, an evening on the Aloft Tokyo Ginza will sometimes set you again 44,000–54,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors, although it additionally goes for as little as 33,000 factors on choose dates.

Money charges typically run within the vary of ¥33,000–70,000 ($230–480 USD, $305–650 CAD).

Primarily based on our valuation of Marriott Bonvoy factors at 0.6 cents per level (USD) / 0.8 cents per level (CAD), you may get a good return in your factors for those who plan to journey throughout peak durations when the money charge is excessive.

In any other case, take into account reserving with money, or redeeming a Free Night time Award. The Aloft Tokyo Ginza is an inexpensive candidate for utilizing a Free Night time Award, since motels in Tokyo will be in any other case fairly costly.

Aloft Tokyo Ginza – Location

The Aloft Tokyo Ginza is ideally located within the bustling centre of Ginza, one of many extra fascinating districts of Tokyo. It’s often known as one of many metropolis’s most upscale neighbourhoods, stuffed with luxurious procuring and high-end eating places.

The resort is in a first-rate location for exploring Ginza and its environs, and is mere blocks away from the MUJI and Uniqlo flagship shops. Each the Toyosu Fish Market and the Imperial Palace are additionally inside strolling distance.

Ginza Station, which connects to the in depth Tokyo subway community, is a leisurely five-minute stroll from the resort. From there, you possibly can transit to Tokyo Station in 10 minutes, or Shinagawa Station in 20 minutes.

Different standard neighbourhoods, together with Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Harajuku, are every a simple half-hour subway trip away.

For those who’re arriving on the Aloft Tokyo Ginza from Tokyo Haneda Airport, the Keikyū Airport Line will get you there in just below half an hour. To get again to the airport, the Asakusa Line takes about 35 minutes.

For these transiting to or from Tokyo Narita Airport, the journey will take an hour and a half by prepare or bus, or an hour by automotive.

Aloft Tokyo Ginza – Verify-in

I arrived on the Aloft Tokyo Ginza within the mid-afternoon, after first having fun with a pleasant stroll to the world from the Shangri-La Tokyo. Because it was my first time visiting Ginza, I wished to discover the district by foot, hoping to get my bearings for future stays on this a part of the town.

The resort is straightforward to identify from afar, with a big Aloft emblem emblazoned excessive up on the high of the 16-storey constructing.

Upon entry, you’re greeted with a kaleidoscopic artpiece hanging from the ceiling, which supplies the phantasm of an limitless walkway. This vibrant imaginative and prescient continues additional into the foyer.

Vibrant could be an understatement to explain the trendy and quirky foyer lounge, which options an assortment of couches, cushions, and aspect tables in entrance of the check-in desks.

Verify-in is positioned in the back of the lounge, and it was a wholly casual course of. My Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite standing was acknowledged, however no improve was provided.

After my feeble try at “suite-talking” failed, about which I wasn’t overly fussed, I made my manner as much as my room on the twelfth ground.

Aloft Tokyo Ginza – King Visitor Room

As I discovered my approach to my room, I famous that the hallways of this resort have been dimly lit and a tad slender. The cramped feeling persists within the room itself, which didn’t supply a lot house to maneuver round in.

The lobby options an open closet with an fascinating bagged lunch design.

The toilet can also be open-concept; nonetheless, the bathroom and bathe are separated, as is typical for Japanese lodging. On this case, it added to the impression of tight quarters.

Heading into the bed room, the mattress takes up a lot of the sq. footage, leaving not a lot room to lounge or stroll round. The mattress was snug, however not memorably so.

A nook bench and desk is squeezed into the nook of the room, which is once more adorned in the identical vibrant spirit as the remainder of the resort. This could in all probability be a pleasant spot to slurp some noodles.

Within the different nook is a minibar with a kettle, complimentary bottles of water, and on the spot espresso and tea. Beneath the minibar space is a fridge.

The vainness on the opposite aspect of the bed room is vibrant and clear, and comes appointed with the usual resort facilities.

General, the room was greater than ample for a brief keep. It’s a good selection for those who aren’t planning on sticking round too lengthy within the room itself, and need one thing extra sensible and economical than the luxurious resort choices in Tokyo.

I spent most of my time exterior the resort, operating errands and visiting the Toyosu exhibit, so it was an ideal match for my functions.

Aloft Tokyo Ginza – Breakfast

Breakfast on the Aloft Tokyo Ginza is served within the resort’s restaurant, The Warehouse, from 7–10:30am, with final name at 10am.

The restaurant is well-furnished and befitting of its title, with industrial touches all through and minimalist furnishings.

Nevertheless, it nonetheless manages to keep up an inviting and comfortable atmosphere via using warm-toned wooden and accent items, such because the lantern-like lighting fixtures.

I loved a complimentary breakfast by the use of my Platinum Elite standing.

The new buffet station featured a mixture of Western choices, reminiscent of sausages, bacon, child potatoes, in addition to Japanese fare, reminiscent of combined mushrooms, assorted greens, grilled fish, tamagoyaki, lotus root stir fry, and tofu.

There was additionally loads of freshly steamed rice, congee, and miso soup to be discovered.

Transferring on to the chilly buffet fridge, yogurt and oatmeal can be found, however so have been various Japanese breakfast dishes reminiscent of pickled greens, natto, and candy potatoes. An array of chilly drinks and juice will be discovered on the backside of the fridge.

A good number of fruit and some salads have been additionally current, together with a make-your-own-salad station.

Subsequent to the espresso machine was a regular number of bread and pastries.

The cereal station featured a number of totally different varieties in addition to many alternative topping and mix-in choices.

Since I wished to avoid wasting most of my urge for food for my ANA First Class flight later that day, I stored it mild on the bottom.

The number of objects got here as a pleasing shock. There must be one thing for everybody at buffet stations, even when it’s not going to be probably the most memorable breakfast in Tokyo.

It’s one other good instance of how mid-range motels in Asia punch above their weight concerning breakfast, and it jogged my memory of the robust exhibiting on the Courtyard Osaka Honmachi earlier on within the journey.

Aloft Tokyo Ginza – Different Services

The resort’s W XYZ Bar is positioned on the bottom degree, subsequent to the foyer lounge.

There’s a extra formal seating space with chairs, in addition to smaller café-style tables appropriate for one or two individuals, together with a pool desk and some sculptures.

The house is lit with blue lighting, which inserts in effectively with the Aloft vibe. It seemed fairly busy, and was stuffed with principally younger individuals who match the Aloft archetype.

There’s additionally Roof Canines, which is a rooftop bar that gives scorching canines and glowing wine. I used to be out and about throughout its opening hours, and didn’t get an opportunity to pop in earlier than I needed to go away.

Re-Gas, proper beside the check-in desks, is a small market with a number of overpriced goodies. Since there are many comfort shops, together with a Don Quixote, close by, it’s in all probability advisable to frequent these locations to satiate your late-night cravings as a substitute.

Lastly, there’s a 24/7 health centre, which is formally referred to as Re:CHARGE. Regretfully, I didn’t pop by to test it out.

The health centre is provided with treadmills, ellipticals, train bikes, free weights, and weight machines.

Conclusion

The Aloft Tokyo Ginza is ideally located in the midst of considered one of Tokyo’s most fascinating locales, and its central location makes it an incredible spot to base from.

Whereas the rooms are small and considerably cramped, the resort’s fashionable type and surprisingly pleasant breakfast buffet make it an incredible alternative for a cheaper resort in Tokyo.

For anybody who’s extra interested by exploring Tokyo somewhat than absorbing resort facilities, the Aloft Tokyo Ginza is an reasonably priced and sensible alternative.