THE GATE HOTEL Asakusa Kaminarimon by HULIC

Located on a busy commercial city street, the hotel occupies part of a multistory office building with a black facade covering its lower section, while the upper floors are lined with windows. A sign at the entrance directs guests to the 13th floor, where the reception area of The Gate Hotel Asakusa Kaminarimon by HULIC is situated. Once through the elevator doors, guests arrive in a spacious seating area illuminated by a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows offering scenic views over the city and of the iconic Tokyo Skytree. Contemporary-style sofas in blue leather are arranged in a semi-circle facing the view, while the opposing wall is lined with red leather sofas. A stylish gray marble counter serves as the reception desk, behind which a large contemporary artwork provides a stylish accent. This hotel is popular with leisure tourists traveling as couples or families. 

The hotel is located in Taito, close to the iconic Senso-ji temple, which is only a seven-minute walk away. The area has good transportation links, with Asakusa subway and train station a short walk from the hotel. There are direct trains from here to Narita and Haneda International Airports. This is a bustling area with many restaurants, bars, supermarkets, and convenience stores located in the immediate vicinity.

• Three-minute walk to Asakusa subway station 
• Seven-minute walk to Senso-ji temple 
• 10 minutes to Tokyo Skytree by public transit (or 20-minute walk)
• 15 minutes to Ueno Park by public transit 
• 20 minutes to Ginza by public transit
• 20 minutes to Tokyo station by public transit
• 31 minutes to Tokyo Imperial Palace by public transit
• 35 minutes to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden by public transit
• 40 minutes Shibuya by public transit
• 45 minutes to Tokyo Haneda International Airport by public transit
• 50 minutes to Meiji Shrine by public transit
• One hour to Narita International Airport by train  

Having opened in 2012, the guest rooms here have a fresh, contemporary look, and are reasonably spacious by Tokyo standards. All rooms are twins or doubles, with the option of adding an extra bed for a fee. The room decor is minimalist and classy, with the interiors done up in muted tones, including soft gray walls, green or gray carpeting, and blue or light gray bed runners. The simple furniture is made of stylish black wood grain, and abstract artworks in bright colors add interesting accents to the walls. Large windows let in a lot of natural light, and in some rooms, offer scenic views. 

All the rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, air purifiers, and flat-screen TVs -- though no English channels are available, but there is video on demand. Other useful amenities include mini-fridges, safes, robes, and toiletries. Electric kettles are also provided for tea and coffee, while the upper-category rooms, like the King Rooms and Suites, feature Nespresso machines. Bathrooms are spacious and modern, tiled in white or gray and fitted with large sinks and mirrors, plus they have a separate wet bathroom made up of a full-size bathtub and a separate rainfall shower.

The hotel offers only a few notable features to its guests. Its French bistro-style restaurant and bar is open 24/7 and serves meals throughout the day, but does not offer room service. The breakfast service is charged extra, and includes a hot and cold buffet as well as made-to-order dishes, like eggs, bacon, and pancakes. An open-air seating space reserved for guests is available on the terrace, and along with the adjacent bar, offers scenic views of the Tokyo skyline and the iconic Tokyo Skytree. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and the 24-hour front desk has a concierge service and free luggage storage. In-room massages can also be arranged for an extra fee.