Hotel Review: Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo (King Suite) - Fantastic Location at a Premium
Ginza is often likened to New York's 5th Avenue, renowned for its status as a premier luxury shopping district. This area boasts some of the most high-end experiences, reflected in the typically higher accommodation prices. However, staying in Ginza offers numerous advantages for tourists. It is notably more serene compared to other bustling areas in Japan, such as Shinjuku and Shibuya, providing a tranquil retreat amidst the city's vibrant energy. After spending an extended weekend in Osaka, I traveled to Tokyo via the Shinkansen. I opted for a Green Car seat, which is slightly more expensive than a standard seat, costing approximately ¥16,000 for a one-way trip. The journey, lasting around 2.5 hours, was extremely comfortable. Upon arriving at Tokyo Station, I transferred to the Marunouchi Line and took one stop to reach Ginza Station. From there, getting to the Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo is straightforward; simply take the B5 or B6 exit and you should spot the entrance to the hotel fairly easily.
Hotel Lobby
Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
The main lobby of the Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo is located on Level Four, requiring a lift to access it. Guests will need to transfer at Level Four when traveling between their rooms and the street level, as there is no direct elevator. Towards the end of the year, it is common for room rates to start at ¥100,000 per night, inclusive of applicable taxes. While Globalists are eligible for a standard suite upgrade if available at check-in, I decided not to take my chances, given the rarity of suite upgrades in Japan. Instead, I secured a King Suite in advance using one of my Suite Upgrade Awards. These suites typically cost an additional ¥70,000 per night, and since this was a five-night stay, I have decided that the utilisation of a Suite Upgrade Award here was a good decision.
Living Room
King Suite - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
King Suites at the Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo are corner rooms, featuring an open-plan design and measuring 77 sqm—exceptionally spacious for Tokyo, especially in the city's most expensive district, Ginza. Unlike the City Suites, King Suites are situated on lower floors and do not offer significant views, even though they overlook Namiki-dori Street. The prime location of the Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo is a major highlight. It is just a five-minute walk from Ginza Six and offers easy access to three Tokyo Metro lines: the Hibiya Line, Marunouchi Line, and Yurakucho Line.
Walk-in Wardrobe
King Suite - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
The living room in the King Suite is generously sized, providing a luxurious amount of space in the heart of Ginza. The suite includes a walk-in wardrobe situated between the living area and the main bathroom, facilitating easy dressing before heading out and convenient storage for outerwear upon returning.
Walk-in Wardrobe
King Suite - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
The suite offers ample space for unpacking, with the added convenience of provided paper bags, which are replenished regularly, for taking your belongings out if needed. A yoga mat is also available in the walk-in wardrobe area, though I am unsure if the lead-in room category includes this amenity. Despite my intentions, I never found the time or energy to use the mat during my stay. The King Suite features 1.5 bathrooms, with both toilets being standalone units. The main bathroom and the toilet are separate, allowing for easy sharing of the space while maintaining privacy.
Powder Room
King Suite - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
Located near the entrance of the King Suite and directly connected to the living room is a half bathroom, complete with a TOTO Washlet and heated seat. While staying in a suite isn't necessary, having two bathrooms is a luxurious convenience, especially if you are not traveling alone.
Living Room
King Suite - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
The living room is spacious and adorned with photographs and artwork depicting scenes of Ginza and the surrounding area. While I am personally not a fan of bold and colorful interiors, I appreciate the extra space to relax during the day. The living room also features a large 60" Ultra HD LCD TV and a daybed by the window. However, as I mentioned earlier, the view is limited, as my suite faced an office building across the road.
I reached out to my Hyatt Concierge—a World of Hyatt perk available after accumulating 60 eligible nights per calendar year—to apply the Suite Upgrade Award to this stay, as it cannot be done online. I casually mentioned that my birthday would fall during my stay, and the hotel graciously provided special welcome amenities in honor of the occasion. To my pleasant surprise, they included a bottle of Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Champagne, one of my favorites, along with freshly-baked butter cookies. Additionally, I received several handwritten notes from the team and my Hyatt Concierge, which I deeply appreciated. While I don't often find myself needing the services of a Hyatt Concierge, as I rarely contact them outside of applying awards to my reservations, moments like these highlight the value of their contributions.
Work Desk
King Suite - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
In the middle of the living room, there is a massive wooden working desk connected to the minibar area. This beautiful spot served a dual purpose during my stay: I managed to get some work done and used it as a dining table for evening suppers and takeaways from nearby restaurants.
Work Desk
King Suite - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
Consistent with my experiences at other luxury hotels like the HOSHINOYA Tokyo, Conrad Tokyo, and the Park Hyatt Kyoto, the power outlets are not universal, as Japan utilises Type A and B power sockets. However, a USB charging port is conveniently provided near the work desk for travellers to charge their mobile devices conveniently.
Nespresso Coffee Machine
King Suite - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
All rooms and suites at the Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo are equipped with a Nespresso coffee maker, along with complimentary coffee capsules that are replenished daily. While Ginza boasts several excellent cafes, including a beautiful Blue Bottle Coffee in Ginza Six, having a coffee machine in the room provides unmatched convenience for a quick afternoon pick-me-up. However, I found it surprising that TWG-branded teabags were provided in the suite, as featuring a local tea brand would have been more fitting for a luxury hotel in Japan.
Each guestroom also includes complimentary water bottles, which guests are encouraged to take home after their stay. While tap water in Japan is potable, the hotel provides a water dispenser on each floor for convenient refills of these bottles. However, it would enhance guest convenience if a filtered tap were installed in-room, as leaving the room to access water from a dispenser seems less suitable for a hotel charging premium rates.
Living Room
King Suite - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
Staying in a hotel located in Ginza offers the convenience of dropping off your shopping and belongings before continuing your day or heading out for a meal. Some travelers may hesitate to return to their hotel during the day, feeling they are not maximising their time abroad efficiently. Personally, I prefer not to lug around large bags, so having the convenience of dropping off my shopping and unnecessary items at the hotel adds significant value to my travel experience.
Air Purifier
King Suite - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
I love being able to head back to my room to freshen up during the day though I have to admit that I usually spend a bit of time lazing in the room before heading out again. The living room of the King Suite comes with an air purifier which helps to filter out airborne pollutants to improve the overall air quality.
Living Room
King Suite - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
The King Suite at the Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo features an open-plan layout, with the option to partition off the bedroom from the living room using sliding doors. The bedroom includes another window that allows ample daylight, although lowering the blackout shades is advisable due to the proximity of buildings in Ginza.
Bedroom
King Suite - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
As mentioned earlier, the King Suites face an office building on Namiki-dori Street, offering a clear view into the opposite building where you can observe the activities of its mainly office-tenants.
Bluetooth Speaker
King Suite - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
The bedroom in the King Suite includes a second, slightly smaller LCD TV and a small work desk by the window, providing a spot for work or relaxation. However, if you're staying in a suite, the living room generally offers more space and comfort, making the bedroom area less utilised. While the suite features a king-size bed, the mattress is notably firm, which may be borderline uncomfortable for some travelers. Compared to the plush bedding at the W Osaka (where I spent four nights at), I found the beds at the Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo to be firmer than my preference. All lights can be conveniently controlled via a bedside panel and guests can also enjoy streaming their favorite playlists using the provided Bose SoundLink Revolve Bluetooth speaker.
The King Suites at the Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo feature a separate wet area in the bathroom, which includes a deep-soaking bathtub and a rain shower adjacent to it. Although the lack of natural daylight in this area can make it feel somewhat claustrophobic, the bathtub is a welcome retreat after a day spent exploring outside the hotel. The bathroom also boasts double vanity sinks with extra-large mirrors, making it convenient and spacious enough for sharing with a friend or partner.
Bath Amenities
King Suite - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
During my stay at the Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo, I noticed they provided bath amenities from BeeKind, which were also offered at the Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu. While BeeKind products are organic and feature a fragrance with citrus and honey notes, I personally found the scent to be somewhat incompatitble with the premium positioning of this property. I understand that this is probably in line with the Hyatt Centric global brand position but perhaps the property can consider upgrading the bath amenities to a higher-quality product to better align with their upscale image.
NAMIKI667 Bar & Lounge
Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
Consistent with the Hyatt Centric brand, the Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo does not have an executive lounge but there are plenty of snacks and non-alcoholic beverages in the lobby that World of Hyatt members can help themselves to during the stay. With that being said, this is not being policed so if you are an in-house guest who has somehow decided to book your stay via an online travel agent like Expedia, you will still be able to help yourself to these snacks. All World of Hyatt elite members (Discoverist, Explorist, and Globalist) will be entitled to one drink per person per night at NAMIKI667 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM:
Happy Hour at NAMIKI667 | Photo Credit: Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
Sparkling Wine
White Wine
Red Wine
Aperol Spritz
Whiskey Highball
Passionfruit Soda
Oolong Tea
Located on Level 3, NAMIKI667 offers a pleasant bar and lounge area, with an outdoor al fresco seating that overlooks Namiki-dori Street, particularly enjoyable during cooler months. The bar also features a tempting promotion with alcoholic drinks starting at just ¥700 per glass. There's a 60-minute free-flow package option for those who can keep pace, with Sparkling Wine and Champagne options priced at ¥2,000 and ¥4,000, respectively.
While Ginza offers numerous upscale bars and restaurants, which can be pricey unless you venture to places like Yurakucho Yokocho, having an affordable option within the hotel is a welcomed convenience. Although I didn't get to try the bar snacks or larger food offerings during my stay, if the quality of the breakfast is any indication, guests should expect high standards. However, I did find the service at the bar to be somewhat lacking, which could possibly be attributed to a shortage of staff.
Breakfast
NAMIKI667 - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
As a Globalist, I enjoyed complimentary breakfast at NAMIKI667 during my stay at the Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo. For guests without inclusive rates, breakfast is priced at ¥5,000 per person at the time of writing. While I typically don't recommend paying for hotel breakfasts due to the premium cost, this experience stood out as one of my favorites in Japan.
Breakfast
NAMIKI667 - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
NAMIKI667 boasts beautiful interiors, and securing a window-side table early or late in the service hours enhances the breakfast experience significantly. Despite a modest variety (given the hotel's size of only 164 rooms and suites), the food quality is exceptional. Prompt coffee service with refills, diligent plate clearing, and a delectable spread including ikura (salmon roe) and Japanese curry contribute to a memorable breakfast experience for me personally.
Breakfast
NAMIKI667 - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
In addition to the made-to-order egg dishes, I found the selection of fresh fruits each morning at breakfast particularly enjoyable at NAMIKI667. Another highlight for me was the availability of RTD (ready-to-drink) packs of protein shakes in the refrigerator. Branded as 'SAVAS,' these WPI protein-rich beverages are not only delicious but also a convenient way to supplement daily protein intake. While they are readily available at nearby convenience stores for around ¥200 each, having them on hand in the morning at the hotel without needing to venture out adds significant convenience and value to my stay.
Gym
Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
The small fitness center on Level 4 of the Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo, adjacent to the check-in area, provides adequate facilities for a basic workout. Despite its size, the gym is equipped with free weights, resistance bands, treadmills, and exercise bikes, catering to both cardio and strength training needs. Working out in Japan can be challenging, as some fitness studios and gyms have restrictions on accepting foreigners. While walking an average of 20,000 steps per day is common, it doesn't substitute for dedicated weight training. Despite my enjoyment of traveling in Japan, I've often found it difficult to maintain a proper workout routine due to the temptations throughout the day.
Living Room
King Suite - Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
The Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo is categorized as a Category 6 property, requiring between 21,000 and 36,000 points for a Standard Room or Standard Suite on off-peak nights respectively. However, off-peak rates can be rare, often leading to Standard or Peak rates during most stays unless it's a less busy period. Considering the value of Hyatt points, it's advisable to monitor current bonuses and discounts before purchasing them, with a yearly limit of 55,000 World of Hyatt points. The property's location is exceptional, akin to The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong in Central. My stay was enjoyable, but given current room rates of around ¥100,000 per night, I question its value compared to properties like the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills, which offers more luxurious amenities including free-flowing evening drinks.
Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo
6 Chome-6-7 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
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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.