Japanese PM….a member of the Czech republic?

Im looking to book a trip to japan soon and im wonderng what are your opinion on these hotels? Four seasons, peninsula, mandarin oriental, ritz, park hyatt? Im partial to mandarin oriental but never been to one in japan. Thanks.

Hi Cathy!
Yokoso—

To be honest, the Mandarin Oriental was marginal–file it away for a better locale. It’s location is ‘iffy.’ If you opt to stay near the fish market, I’d recommend ‘the Conrad’–part of the Hilton chain, but much, much nicer….. (I never initially considered it, but the production team wanted a different backdrop for some shoots and it was lovely).

We’ve filmed at all the properties you’ve mentioned.

I like the Ritz Carlton…’in theory’… (We actually live at the Tokyo Midtown complex) However, the Staff and management are the rudest and least attentive of any that I’ve encountered in all my travels….and I hit the road….a lot.

Midtown sports a 24 hour grocery store (Preece) in the basement. There are roughly four levels of shops and a lovely park–AND A 7/11. (Your ATM will work at any 7/11, but not most ATMs in Japan….you can also get yen at the Post Office.)

I adore the Four Seasons Chinzanso (we got ‘married’ there on set in the garden), but it’s too far to really navigate back to either Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ebisu, or Ginza.

The Four Seasons’ Maranouchi is next to Tokyo Station, but well appointed. Nice amenities and location (especially if you plan to take the Shinkansen anywhere as you must depart from either there or Shinagawa Station)

We’ve had Suites at the Park Hyatt (eeek), and the Grand Hyatt (Roppongi Hills) There’s much more available in the area. It also anchors a Mall complex complete with Cinema, shopping, (Armani, Louis Vuitton, Christophe…all across the street)

My favourite Tokio hotel thus is The Peninsula! We’ve had superlative views of the Imperial Palace Moat and skyscrapers of Ginza as the backdrop for our show.

Note: I have yet to stay at the ShangriLa…basically the new kid on the block in luxe branding, but I’ve heard that it is expensive for what it offers, and I’m not paying with green stamps. sigh. (greenbacks may be worse).

Drop a line when you’re in town and maybe we can grab some gyoza and otcha. Oiishi desu ne?

P.S. YOU WILL FIND THAT ALMOST NO ONE SPEAKS ENGLISH. SMALL FRAGMENTS AT BEST.
THEY STUDY IN SCHOOL, BUT CAN’T USE IT FOR COMMUNICATION.
SEVEN YEARS AGO WHEN I BEGAN MY ‘RELATIONSHIP’ WITH JAPAN, I PRESUMED (incorrectly) THAT WITH THE STATUS OF THE NATION AS AN ECONOMIC FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH INTERNATIONALLY, WELL, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO CONVERSE. (no Dice) GAMBATTE.

Yoroshiku—Yumyum & co.