Hotel East 21 Tokyo

Business travelers and tourists, both Japanese and international, are the guests at this big, bustling hotel. Its masonry edifice is unassuming but its lobby is a dramatic departure from the ordinary with balconies, soaring ceilings, and marble Deco columns and trim surrounding a fountain crowned with a winged figure. There are eight restaurants and bars at this hotel, so all-day dining is never a problem. They range from the charming, idiosyncratic Elephant Bar with its murals of animals and domed ceiling, to a stripped-down steak and sushi room done up in shades of beige and rice paper screens and offering sparkling night views. The two outdoor pools are enormous with footbridges and gardens, and loungers and umbrella tables. There's a swim-up bar featuring innovative cocktails. On the other side of the glass, inside the hotel, is the indoor pool with an atrium ceiling. There are swimming fins, flippers, and kickboards to borrow, which are great for kids who've come to stay at the hotel with their Disney-minded families. The hotel has smoking areas. 

The Hotel East 21 Tokyo is located about a 10-minute walk from Toyocho Station, making it a convenient lodging for those without a car. One of its closest and most popular attractions is Tokyo Disney, a 17-minute drive -- the hotel provides a free bus -- or a 40-minute train ride. The Museum of Contemporary Art is a walkable 15 minutes. The Imperial Palace is a 15-minute drive. Tokyo Skytree, a high-rise with fabulous views of the city, is a 15-minute drive or 25-minute train ride. Shibaura Institute of Technology is a 10-minute drive or a 30-minute train ride. Haneda International Airport is a 22-minute drive or a 50-minute train ride, and Narita International Airport is a 55-minute drive or a one-hour-and-20-minute train ride. A bus is available to both airports from the hotel, for a fee.

The drama is in the vivid view from the rooms at Hotel East 21 Tokyo. Inside, guest rooms are small with restrained color palettes. The linens are white; walls are beige; and the throws are brown-gray. There are Art Deco touches in black and tan wood trim. The draperies are cream and the sheers, white. The desks are small and designed something like vanity tables. There's a small bench with a drawer at the bottom; inside guests will find a robe and slippers. All rooms have large, flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. The bathrooms are quite small and very plain with counter-style sinks and beige tile and shower stalls or shower/tub combos with curtains. Hotel-branded toiletries and Japanese-style toilets (with bidet and warming seats) are also standard. 

The hotel has three pools and a comprehensive fitness center with a sauna and massage room but there are fees for all. The hotel loans swim fins, kickboards, and colorful flip-flops for walking around the pools. Newspapers are provided free of charge. There are safety deposit boxes at the front desk. There's also a swim-up bar. Eight bars and restaurants provide everything from steak to sushi, and room service is 24 hours. But breakfast is not included in rates. There's a business center with various machines for the use of hotel guests. The hotel has large meeting and conference rooms that accommodate as many as 900 people. The hotel provides a smoking area as well. There's a rental car office on-site and a shuttle bus, for a fee, to the airports. Parking is also available for a fee,