I stayed here back when SLH was still under Hyatt, and this write-up is from many years ago, but since it's Japan, the service probably hasn't slipped much. I posted this next door before, so if you've seen it, that was me too, haha (editor rant: upload failed like crazy whenever there were too many photos)
I. Overview
I happened to be transiting through Japan and was planning a three-day trip when I saw that Hyatt had released award rooms at THE TOKYO STATION HOTEL for the day I was flying out (lucky my flight was in the afternoon). So I quickly grabbed a room at the dome end for just 25,000 points (thinking about it now, that price is absurd—what could you even get in the US for that?). The view only looks onto the station's interior boarding area, far inferior to facing the Imperial Palace or the city, but it was still well worth it! And staying here once before heading back to the US, with a wonderful breakfast, was a great way to wrap up the trip.
I arrived in the morning, handed my luggage to the front desk, got a luggage tag, and came back in the evening to check in. Reception said the hotel was fully booked (and it was only a Wednesday), so no upgrade and no late check-out. Probably popular because of the great location. After check-in was complete, a staff member escorted me from reception all the way to the room and gave an introduction. Luggage was also placed on the luggage rack.
As a Small Luxury Hotel property, all Hyatt members can enjoy breakfast, not just Globalists. That let me enjoy a really nice breakfast.
II. In Room
Only the DOME-SIDE KING BEDROOM can be redeemed with points; everything else is cash only. The DOME refers to the domes at both ends of Tokyo Station, and these rooms surround the domes—actually not many, maybe a dozen or so. The room isn't especially large. At the foot of the bed there's a TV chair for watching TV, which I found very comfortable in practice. After a shower, pouring a glass of ice-cold milk and watching TV was especially nice. The ice machine room happened to be right outside my door, so I made a special trip to the nearby 7-Eleven to buy a carton of milk, then added ice after my bath. But everything in the room is packed together, making the space feel a bit cramped.
The ceiling height is one of the features—no matter the room type, you get these high ceilings and beautiful chandeliers.
Also, because the room faces the station interior, there's a notice by the bedside asking guests to close the curtains properly, and staff also remind you during the in-room introduction. The bathroom has a wet/dry separation and thoughtfully provides a small stool to sit on while showering. It feels a bit like a public bath... The amenities are Histoires de Parfums. There are two sets, one inside the bathroom and one at the sink.
Interestingly, the amenities have a tag stuck on them that looks like a train ticket—a rather clever touch.
For outlets, there are three Japanese-style sockets and one LAN port on the desk. By the bedside, to meet everyone's phone-charging needs, there's a plug with six USB ports. This kind of update without major renovations shows some thought.
The lights are mainly controlled by switches by the bedside; at first I spent a while looking for the chandelier switch...
For tea, it's mainly Twinings.
III. Dining
The next morning I had the most lavish breakfast of this trip. Breakfast is in the restaurant on the fourth floor; even though it was cloudy outside, it still looked bright.
The variety of dishes ranks basically at the top among hotels I've stayed at in Japan. The breakfast alone was worth a good chunk of the stay.
Also, there's a model of Tokyo Station in the restaurant; while I was eating I saw a guest chatting with staff about the station's architecture. Too bad I don't know Japanese, or I'd have loved to join in.
IV. Facilities
Many details show care. For example, the lights by the elevators are different colors. The elevators that can't reach reception use green, while those that can reach reception are orange, and other lights are yellow. Probably designed this way because the whole station is so long. Also, photos of Tokyo Station from different eras hang on the walls for guests to view.
Additionally, at each of the two domes there are separate rooms with displays about the restoration of Tokyo Station. During WWII, Tokyo Station was damaged by American bombing, and what we see today is the result of post-war restoration. There are three such small information rooms across the two domes; anyone interested in the station's restoration should check them out.
The basement and first floor of the hotel have a bunch of restaurants, many on the basement level; since I didn't have a credit and had booked lunch elsewhere, I didn't eat there.
The elevators also have a retro luxurious feel, and they indicate which door will open.
Other entrances to the hotel also have exquisite decorations, which saves guests a lot of walking when returning to the hotel from the huge Tokyo Station—no need to go through the main entrance again.
Also, staff said there's a morning newspaper delivery service; I asked for a JAPAN TIMES to see what's being discussed lately. It's delivered around nine-something in the morning.
V. The Moments
When I checked out and left, I stored my luggage and went to the observation deck of the building across the street to photograph Tokyo Station.
When I came back, reception saw I was drenched in sweat and brought me a bottle of ice-cold water. At that moment I really felt choosing this place was the right call.
VI. Conclusion
The room wasn't the best I've stayed in, but the location is excellent, very suitable for those traveling by rail. The breakfast was also a surprise, and I'm sure the restaurant is no slouch either. I don't know if it's because of the border reopening that travelers are packed in, but looking at the breakfast crowd, there were quite a few Japanese too, so it's probably popular with locals as well. If you have the chance to see this century-old establishment, it's a good choice. Now that SLH has joined Hilton, I've never seen a standard room released again, meaning free night certificates are basically useless. I happened to come across a night at just the right time by coincidence—a kind of fate with this century-old building.
Looking at it from another angle, the fact that SLH doesn't release standard rooms after joining Hilton may not just be a tightening of redemption policy. The hotel itself is small, with only a dozen or so DOME rooms, so any group would have to prioritize cash-paying guests. Back when Hyatt offered 25,000 points, it was more likely a one-off case of leftover rooms being released at the last minute.