Prime location across from the Imperial Palace Gardens
High floors have great views of the city and gardens
Unique Japanese-style rooms with tatami mat floors available
Rooms have electric kettles, flat-screen TVs, and work desks
Vending machines with alcohol
Free Wi-Fi
Lobby computer and laptop rentals (for a fee)
No restaurant or bar on-site
No fitness center
Fee to use PC and copier in lobby
Some rooms are a bit cramped
Must request a nonsmoking room in advance
The 204-room Hotel Grand Arc Hanzomon is an upper-middle-range hotel in the Chiyoda district of Tokyo. This high-rise property is located just across the moat from the Imperial Palace and the expansive gardens that surround it. Rooms tend to be a bit small, but they make decent use of available space. There are both Western and Japanese-style rooms, with the latter featuring traditional tatami mat floors and Showji curtains. There are few amenities on the property beyond free Wi-Fi and a vending machine with alcohol, however the views of Ginza and the palace are stellar. The hotel is on par price-wise with comparable hotels in the immediate area, but guest who don’t mind paying a bit more for amenities may prefer Hotel Niwa Tokyo.
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Scene
A clean, basic, and updated hotel -- but no wow factor
From the outside of the Hotel Grand Arc Hanzomon, it’s easy to expect a more luxurious experience than you’re actually in for. This hotel is a slick-looking high-rise with a natural stone entry leading to a soaring atrium. Inside, furnishings are sparse, but the overall look is streamlined and modern. Much like the rooms, the style of the common areas in this property are modest and simple. With few amenities to speak of, the property isn’t much more than a comfortable place to rest in between exploring Tokyo.
Location
In the government district overlooking the Imperial Palace
The Hotel Grand Arc Hanzomon sits in the government district of Akasaka, just across the moat from the Imperial Palace Gardens. The expansive green space encompasses the Imperial Palace and Three Palace Sanctuaries, along with a number of cultural sites and museums. Government agencies including the National Diet Building and the Supreme Court of Japan are about 10 minutes away on foot. The National Theater of Japan is just a three-minute walk away. The 400-year-old New Otani Japanese Gardens are about 10 minutes away via bus, and the Akasaka Palace is about five minutes away by car. There are a few restaurants in the immediate area of the hotel, however more are concentrated near the Hie Shrine, which is a five-minute drive from the hotel. Haneda Airport is about a 21-minute drive away.
Rooms
Both Western and Japanese-style rooms, the latter delivering a traditional experience
The hotel features both Western and Japanese-style rooms. The Western-style rooms are simple in nature. The color palette is a basic spectrum of beige and the room doesn’t have much character. Some rooms are a bit cramped due to the seating area between the beds and the work desks. The suites aren’t especially large, but they're comfortable and make good use of available space. The Japanese rooms are understated and have traditional elements including tatami mat floors, Showji curtains, and low-profile dining tables. It does bear noting that in these traditional rooms, there isn’t a bed, but rather a mattress and soft bedding neatly arranged on the floor. All rooms have modest flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, an electric kettle, and a mini-fridge. There's a generous selection of free grooming items, but this property skimps on the toiletries -- these are packets, not mini-bottles. Still, one of the best features of the high floors are the sweeping views of the gardens and the Ginza cityscape.
Features
Free Wi-Fi, but no dining options on-site
As a whole, this property falls short on features. There’s free Wi-Fi throughout and a business corner in the lobby, but there’s a fee to use both the PC and the copy machine. Guests can rent laptops for a daily fee, but DVD players, irons, and ironing boards are free to borrow. There is no restaurant or bar on-site, just a vending machine stocked with soft drinks and alcohol. Reception can assist with booking taxis and in-room massages.
