Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo

Owned by a company that dates to 1899, Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo inherited the devotional approach to hospitality espoused by the original Ryumeikan ryokan (traditional inn). Despite the surrounding area's frenetic traffic, the atmosphere within is calm and serene. Arrival at the 15th-floor lobby begins with a warm oshibori hand towel -- and the lobby offers the best views of the surrounding city. The entire building was renovated in 2009, and some of the decorative elements  -- plain gray tile floors paired with dark wood veneer and shiny, angular stone walls -- are beginning to look dated. Still, it's all a pleasant way to spend a few days in a city that offers frequently underwhelming interiors at rates far higher than what's being charged here. A lounge with oversize chairs and couches sits between floor-to-ceiling windows and the restaurant's crisscrossed bamboo partition, but there's no full bar, keeping things quiet. Couples are the most frequent guests here, though plenty of families pass through as well. 

The hotel sits right off a major intersection along the corner of Eitai-dori Street/National Route 1, with easy access to the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line. It's a bustling, busy area that makes up one of Tokyo's business districts, and there are plenty of restaurants and bars all around. The enormous Tokyo Station is just two minutes away to the southwest, providing convenient access to other areas across the city. Grand destinations like the historic Tokyo Imperial Palace and Imperial Palace Garden are a 20-minute walk from the hotel, though a cab can trim that journey down to about 10 minutes. The popular Ginza shopping district is a 15-minute walk to the south. Haneda Airport is about a 20-minute drive or a 35-minute trip on public transportation. It will take about an hour to reach Narita Airport by car or train.

Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo's 135 rooms are pleasantly modern, if fit for a business hotel, and done in a mix of warm brown, beige, and cream hues. Rich curtains lend a touch of burgundy, and light-wood built-in furnishings include storage cabinets and work desks. Patterned carpets look like they could be in any mid-range hotel around the world, and in most rooms carved light panels above the beds add just a bit of personality. Some rooms have more traditional Japanese decor, with antique-style prints on the walls, though others favor abstract wall art. 

Ergonomic roller chairs and desks come standard, along with flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and Nespresso machines. Upgrades provide a number of other amenities, such as air purifiers, humidifiers, and foot massagers -- these are also available upon request in other rooms. It's worth noting that most of the Single Rooms are small and lack views. Some rooms have "comfort sleep systems" that incorporate light, music, and vibrating beds, and all rooms have a selection of pillows to choose from. Bathrooms have walk-in showers with multi-function handheld shower heads -- larger rooms add soaking tubs. There are also five suites with rainfall showerheads and traditional living and dining rooms with tatami floors. 

Features are limited at this hotel, a bit surprising given the number or in-room extras that are on offer for a hotel in this category. Adjacent to the lobby on the 15th floor, Hanagoyomi serves traditional and innovative Japanese cuisine with sake pairings. It has a dining room (and few seats at a counter) with views of the city, along with private dining rooms with floor-style seating. Breakfast isn't included in the room rate, and there are no Western options, but there's a morning buffet of seasonal dishes centered around fish, rice, and vegetables. The hotel also has a small traditional tea room, with a tatami floors and personal tea service. The lobby has a small business corner where a PC and printer can be rented for a fee. A laundry room is handy, as well. Wi-Fi is free throughout.