Hotel Review: Hilton Tokyo (King Tower Suite Executive) - Japanese-inspired Suite in Shinjuku
When I traveled from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo back in May, I spent a week at the Hyatt Regency Tokyo (which I really liked!) before moving over to the Hilton Tokyo which is located just across the road. I had initially wanted to move to a property that is closer to the airport since I wanted to spend more time in the Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge but eventually decided against it since switching hotels seemed like a chore.
Click HERE to read about my JAL Business Class experience from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo!
I have previously spent about a week here in the Hilton Tokyo on another trip and as a Hilton Honors Diamond member then, I had access to the Executive Lounge. In fact, Hilton Honors Diamond members were even given the option to sit in a more private area (a separate location altogether on the same floor) if they prefer that - the special annex of the Presidential Suite. Since I was only a Hilton Honors Gold member for this stay, having a reservation for an Executive Room or a Suite meant a lot (since it was the only way I would have been given access to the Executive Lounge). Travellers who frequent Japan often should take note that 50% off Flash Sales happen from time to time and these promotions are great if you are keen on staying in a property under the Hilton chain.
I stayed in a King Tower Suite Executive (once again, the name of this suite eludes me) on this stay and it was massive (especially when you compare it to the regular rooms here in Hilton Tokyo). The suite is 66sqm and it comes with a separate living room (taking up the most space), bedroom and one bathroom. The living room of the King Tower Suite is massive and it comes with a seating area that is large enough for at least six adults as well as a dedicated working space by the side.
The LCD TV in the living room sits on a wall bracket and therefore, it is fairly easy for you to adjust it based on where you are sitting at. There is also a healthy range of channels that include cable and satellite channels like HBO, CNN as well as ESPN. There are two large windows in the living room (there is only one in the bedroom so you can roughly estimate how big this space is) that offers impressive views of the Shinjuku Skyline and if you are lucky, you may even be able to see Mt. Fuji on a clear day.
My welcome amenities included a plate of fresh Japanese strawberries (which are always a delight to eat), some pastries, a box of chocolate pralines as well as a bottle of wine (which I am disappointed to reveal that I did not even open due to my short stay). When I stayed here at the Hilton Tokyo a couple of years ago, I received a box of Japanese chestnut financiers (I am not sure if they are actually financiers but they surely did taste like it) for my birthday so I was pretty surprised to see it on my stay considering how this was a 'regular' stay and I was not actually celebrating anything special.
I really like the working area here in the King Tower Suite Executive because of the way the table is angled - having this perpendicular to the view (instead of back-facing it) makes it so much more bearable to work through important documents and spreadsheets when you have to. There are two chairs here so it is definitely possible if you are thinking about having a small business meeting (even though the sofa should really be the go-to place). On the side towards the window, there are a number of power sockets but they are not universal so make sure you bring your own universal adapter if your chargers do not have parallel prongs.
The King Tower Suite Executive also comes with a Nespresso machine and complimentary coffee capsules that are replenished throughout the stay. Evening turndown was also offered during my stay but I declined it as I have only just checked-in after 5:00PM so the room was still in pristine condition at that point. Guests who stay in suites here at the Hilton Tokyo will also have access to the Executive Lounge which is actually a really nice place in the day - the evenings are nice too but it can get quite crowded during this period.
The bedroom of the King Tower Suite Executive reminded me a lot of the Executive Room that I was previously in. However, with that being said, this one looked a lot more premium and modern - the LCD TV is mounted and the console beneath it is sleek and stylish. It is possible that the suite has been lightly refurbished and that the room that I previously stayed in was the 'older version' but assuming that is true, I love how they have kept the traditional shoji screen as well as fusuma.
From my understanding, most of these Tower Suites are located on the highest floors of the hotel and therefore, it is almost guaranteed that you will get to enjoy the impressive Shinjuku skyline from the comfort of your own room. In fact, the chair and ottoman by the window will help you do just that in comfort - cuddle up here with a cup of coffee and good book!
I really like the headboard here in the King Tower Suite Executive and they look so much better than the room that I was in previously - that dark slate colour and diamond-shaped motifs add a touch of modernity to the otherwise traditional looking bedroom.
Most of the controls can be found next to the bed and there is even a dimmer for the headboard light so you can adjust it in the evenings to create a more comfortable ambiance. My only issue with the bedroom is the lack of a USB charging port but I seem to recall that the digital alarm clock next to the bed had one. Obviously this is not a big issue but it just makes the lives of travellers so much easier when USB charging ports are readily available (perhaps something to consider on the next refurbishment phase?).
I never thought I would say this but the bathroom of the King Tower Suite Executive is probably the least impressive in my opinion - after seeing that beautiful living room and bedroom, you would imagine the bathroom to be equally nice but I thought that it was a missed opportunity. Honestly, the bathroom in my Regency Club Room over at the Hyatt Regency Tokyo was a lot nicer and the price point is lower than this suite on a regular day - it was masculine, dark and beautifully-finished.
There is a really deep-soaking tub here in the King Tower Suite Executive so that's a nice touch but it reminded me of the tubs that you typically find at traditional ryokans (like the KAI Nikko where I was at earlier this year!). The bathtub itself is not really long as well so if you are a pretty tall person, you will probably find yourself sitting up instead of being able to lie down (once again the tub over at the Hyatt Regency Tokyo is nicer in my opinion). Another strange thing to take note here is the privacy screen that separate the showering area from the bedroom - if you are sharing this room with a friend, the privacy screen is actually located outside of the bathroom (!) so you actually have to trust the person outside enough to take a shower. I was traveling alone so obviously this was not part of my consideration at all but hey, if you are sharing this room with a friend, you guys better be pretty tight.
Consistent to new brand standards, the bath amenities here at Hilton Tokyo has been replaced with Crabtree & Evelyn ones (much like my experience at the Hilton Orlando!)- I personally prefer the Peter Thomas Roth ones as they smell a lot more invigourating. The bottles here in the King Tower Suite Executive are also larger than usual and I believe this is the case for most chain hotels when you stay in a proper suite (the size of bath amenities has got to match the size of the suite!).
The Executive Lounge here at Hilton Tokyo was as crowded as I remembered it to be - I arrived slightly after evening cocktails have started and all the good tables were already snagged up. I also noticed that the clientele balance here at the Hilton Tokyo tilts towards attracting more international tourists - there were significantly more Japanese guests at the Hyatt Regency Tokyo where I was at. Like most executive lounges here in Tokyo, the food served during the evening while delicious, is not sufficient for a satisfying meal (not an issue for me since I was about to head out to meet some friends anyway). There is a nice selection of wines, liquors as well as spirits here at the Hilton Tokyo and the range of beverages is definitely a lot more diverse here versus the Hyatt Regency Tokyo.
I stayed long enough in the Executive Lounge to catch the sunset before deciding that it was time to head out for some proper Japanese food. I am not sure whether the special annex is still being utilised to house Hilton Honors Diamond members (since i was only a Gold member during this stay) but it appears to be since I vaguely remember a couple who requested to be seated there instead.
One of the most impressive changes to me personally is the option to now have your breakfast at Junisoh instead of Marble Lounge. Now, do not get me wrong, Marble Lounge has a great spread and the omelette over at the Executive Lounge is absolutely perfect but for some reason, I was really craving for Japanese food throughout my trip (which makes sense, no?) so being able to enjoy a Japanese breakfast on the last day of my trip meant the world to me. Junisoh here at the Hilton Tokyo feels a lot more premium (in terms of interiors) than Kakou over at the Hyatt Regency Tokyo.
I like how the Hilton Tokyo provides a breakdown of every single component on the breakfast menu (which really helps if you are an international visitor) but another better way to show it would be to adopt how Japan Airlines does it - they literally list out the item on a table in the order of presentation. While the presentation does look slightly more impressive, I thought that the food over at Kakou (Hyatt Regency Tokyo) was noticeably nicer - the onsen egg served during breakfast is a good enough reason to return in my opinion. The food here at Junisoh is delicious as well but I guess the dishes over at Kakou resonated better with my personal preferences and tastebuds.
A small bowl of fruits was served to me after I finished most of food and I was also offered a choice of coffee (or tea!) to end the meal - again, this is something that was not offered over at Kakou in Hyatt Regency Tokyo (the latter restaurant makes the whole experience feel a little more authentic). That being said, I am happy that I do not actually need to head up to the Executive Lounge for a decent shot of espresso after breakfast.
The King Tower Suite Executive here at Hilton Tokyo is really nice and it is great to have so much space in an area like Shinjuku but I can't help comparing this to the Hyatt Regency Tokyo's Regency Club rooms opposite which cost less (on a regular day) and feels a lot more homely. Both properties are amazing so if you are a loyal member of the Hilton Honors program, you are in good hands here at the Hilton Tokyo - there is a regular shuttle bus here that will take you to Shinjuku or you may choose to walk (it takes approximately 10-15 minutes to get there on foot). While I really did like the abundance of space as well as the option to now have breakfast at Junisoh, I felt that the stay experience needed more of the authentic Japanese-touch to make it a truly memorable experience.
Hilton Tokyo
6 Chome-6-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
Website | Email
The Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara offers an excellent Club Millésime experience with comfortable rooms and well-maintained facilities, catering to both business and leisure travelers. The newly-opened Pavilion Damansara Heights Mall adds a variety of dining and entertainment options nearby, perfect for those who prefer not to venture too far from the hotel.