Hotel Metropolitan Edmont Tokyo

The Hotel Metropolitan Edmont Tokyo is made up of two blocky brick structures. The rooms and amenities are spread across the East Wing and Main Building. The imposing buildings look plain on the outside, but inside, everything -- from the granite tiles and floor-to-ceiling entrance windows to the tabletops in the casual breakfast restaurant -- seems to gleam. Ikebana flower arrangements and rounded oak banisters are tasteful flourishes to the already refined environment. However, the lack of seating at the reception is notable for a hotel of this size, especially given the steady bustle of activity from guests coming and going. A flow of tourist groups, business travelers, and larger parties taking advantage of the hotel’s several meeting facilities, also keeps the common areas lively.

Occupying a safe side street off a main road in the political ward of Chiyoda, the hotel is close enough to Tokyo's center, but its immediate surroundings don’t offer much by way of tourist sites or Tokyo’s famously glitzy nightlife. A handful of attractions are accessible on foot: The Tokyo Daijingu Shrine is a three-minute walk away, and the Tokyo Dome City entertainment complex is a 12-minute walk away. Three train stations are each a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and public transport can reach the Imperial Palace, the Meiji Shrine, and the Tsukiji Fish Market in 20 to 30 minutes. Tourist-friendly neighborhoods like Shibuya and Roppongi are also within 30 minutes by public transportation. Narita International Airport is a one-hour drive from the hotel, and Haneda Airport is 30 minutes away by car. 

Between its two buildings, this hotel houses a whopping 16 room categories. Choices run the gamut from the 193-square-foot Standard Singles, to the 796-square-foot Edmont Suite with a separate meeting area, to the 398-square-foot Family Rooms, which can accommodate up to five guests. All rooms are clean and tidy, decorated with simple, neutral-toned furniture and patterned carpeting. Rooms above the fourth floor in both buildings also provide impressive views of Tokyo, though walls and windows can be thin, letting in traffic noise even on higher levels. While rooms are light and airy on the whole, some rooms have a dark and slightly drab look. Rooms in every category are well-appointed with flat-screen LCD TVs, free Wi-Fi, work desks, safes, air-conditioning, humidifiers, mini-fridges, and electric kettles. Some rooms come with pajamas and Nespresso machines. Ironing equipment and infant beds can be requested. Across all room categories, tiled bathrooms have roomy sink areas, shower/tub combos with handheld showerheads, and toilets with bidet functions and heated seats. Higher-category rooms add rainfall showers. Toiletries and hairdryers are also provided.

Features here focus more on events and restaurants than wellness, since the hotel caters to large groups, weddings, and events. The East Wing’s ground floor features an informal bakery and the restaurant Beltempo, where a daily breakfast buffet is served -- though it isn’t included with room fees, and the dining room can get crowded. The massive, cafeteria-like setup has stations serving an extensive selection of hot and cold Asian and international items. Guests staying in the East Wing must make the quick walk over to the adjacent Main Building for the hotel’s other four restaurants. Three of these feature different styles of authentic Japanese cuisine (sushi, tea ceremony, and teppanyaki) in elegant, traditional atmospheres. Nangokusyuka offers Chinese dishes in a sprawling space lit with giant ceiling lanterns. The Bar Carousel, with its classic wood paneling and wall-spanning leather booths, serves handcrafted cocktails in an Art Deco bar. The Main Building’s other amenities include a business center with two computers, a smoking lounge, and a nursing room for mothers. Some hallways include vending machines for drinks (a common sight in Tokyo). Fourteen banquet rooms in varying sizes are available. For the many weddings that take place here, there's a photo studio, chapel, beauty salon, and florist on-site.The hotel provides a free shuttle to and from Tokyo Disney Resort, but seats must be booked well in advance. Parking comes with hefty extra fees, but Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.