The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho: Gorgeous Views and Luxury Treatment in the Heart of Tokyo

Sponsored by SEIBU HOLDINGS INC.

Planning to visit Japan on business? Swinging through Tokyo on your way to somewhere new? Whatever the occasion chances are you could use a little bit of down time. Hostels are good and fine, but they do get old, and cheaper hotels are great for those on a budget, but why not spend a night or two to treat yourself to something really special? A night at The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, nestled in the heart of Tokyo, is perfect for those looking for something a bit higher up on the proverbial ladder.

The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho is located in the center of Tokyo, just off the Hanzomon, the Ginza, and the Marunouchi Subway lines. The hotel offers easy access to most of the famous tourist destinations you might be interested in visiting during your stay. Located on the top floors of one of the largest buildings in the area, The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho boasts gorgeous views of the Tokyo city skyline (and of course giant windows for viewing said skyline).

The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho

Depending on which station you arrive at, Akasaka-Mistsuke Station on the Ginza and Marunouchi Subway lines, or Nagatacho Station on the Hazomon subway line, you may arrive at the hotel via a different entrance. Never fear, there are doormen waiting to walk you to the elevators and safely deliver you to the 36th floor and the waiting reception desk staff.

Most of the staff speak perfect English and are more than happy to answer any questions you might have, but it is hardly necessary as each room is equipped with an Ipad which holds all of the information you might want regarding the hotel, and various languages to choose from. The elevator lobbies and the reception area greet you with the relaxing scent of chamomile and lavender ( I was told it was an original scent), and the warm lighting in the evening is welcoming and peaceful.

The Designer’s Suite

The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho offers a variety of rooms to choose from, all of which offer the same amenities and functional beauty. However the Designer’s Suite, which I had the chance to view, was altogether a different experience. The bathroom alone boasts a jacuzzi tub surrounded by crystal clear windows and marble counter tops and floors. While the room itself offers couches and chairs overlooking the city, or the television at your discretion, a raised platform for the large king sized bed, and a small dining table and kitchen area. There are bay windows to sit at while you drink tea from the lovely tea set provided, and an Ipad which controls all of the major functions of the room. The lights, curtains, and blinds can all be controlled via the provided Ipad in the room. Pretty amazing, huh?

There are a number of suite rooms to choose from. If you are interested in seeing the other options available, check out their website here.

The Guest Rooms

I had the opportunity to stay in one of the guest rooms at The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, and while slightly smaller in size, the room itself was not disappointing in the least. The guest room also featured a bay window, which covered the entire length of one wall. The bathroom also had a jacuzzi tub, as well as an infinity shower raining down from the ceiling. The same box of amenities lay nestled in among the towels and wrapped soap. So if you are hesitant to spring for the suite rooms, why not reserve a guest room instead? The views were beautiful, the bed incredibly comfortable, and the Ipad still controlled all of the rooms lights, curtains, and blinds, which I spent a good part of my evening testing out for you.

Meal Choices

The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho offers a number of choices for meals within the hotel premises. And while I only had the chance to dine at The Washoku Souten, and visit the Sky Gallery Lounge Levita myself, I will briefly go over the other options here as well.

The Oasis Garden

The Oasis Garden is the hotel’s all day dining option, offering buffets in the morning and various meals throughout the day. The restaurant is located on the 36th floor just across from the reception desk.

The Bar Ilumiid

From my brief visit, the dimmed lights and darker atmosphere made this bar stand out as a bit more reserved and dignified. I imagined men in dark, well cut suits, with oiled hair lounging in the corners,  and nothing but high quality whisky and bourbon on the menu. If that’s your thing, give it a try, I was a bit too chicken.

Washoku Souten

The Washoku Souten dining area offers the hotels Japanese dining options, with seasonal food, and traditional kaiseki meals being the highlight. The dining area is split into roughly four sections, the main dining hall, with private booths available, the sake bar, the sushi bar, and the teppanyaki grill (also known as a hibachi grill in America).

We ate in the main dining section of the restaurant. The meal was a set course featuring some delicacies I had never tried before and some delightful classics of Japanese cuisine. The food was beautifully, if somewhat ostentatiously presented, and adorned with seasonal flair, in this case autumn leaves rested on many of the dishes and the color combinations were heavy on the reds and oranges. The food was delicious, and perfectly prepared, and the portion sizes were perfect for the amount of food we were expected to indulge in. Overall the meal was incredible, the view was romantic, and the atmosphere was just boisterous enough to not feel stuffy.

Sky Gallery Lounge Levita

After our meal we were whisked away to the Sky Gallery Lounge Levita, a bar and restaurant on the 35th floor with a high class club atmosphere. Green fringes of lights along the walls helped to illuminate the room, and guests lounged in the many chairs and couches dotted around the room. We took a seat at the bar and ordered a couple of cocktails from the menu provided on the Ipad.

A few minutes later our drinks arrived, beautifully presented, adorned with flowers, and ice cubes of frozen sparkling water (it took us ages to figure out why the ice kept popping).

The lounge is clearly a highlight of the hotel, and was by far the most crowded area of the hotel by the time we arrived. The ceiling reaches to the 36th floor, and gives an impressive kaleidoscopic view of the city from the bar. The staff were friendly and efficient, and we were able to enjoy the stylings of a local DJ, who comes every Friday night, as we enjoyed our drinks.

Room Service

Before we left in the morning we ordered The Gallery Breakfast, a room service meal delivered directly to our door on a white trolley. The meal was huge, delicious, and healthy. It was a treat to eat it while overlooking the city from our very own room, and the perfect end to our stay at The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho!

The Spa and Fitness Center

Before leaving I took the opportunity to check out the Spa and Fitness Center located on the 30th floor of the hotel. The hotel is equipped with a pool overlooking the city, as well as a hot tub. And right next door there is a gym with all of the equipment you might miss from your own local gym if you happen to find yourself needing to break a sweat. The atmosphere was welcoming and the staff were friendly and knowledgable.

Review

Overall my time at The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho was wonderful. While the hotel is luxurious and beautiful, it manages to be welcoming to everyone as well. There is no need to feel underdressed or over dressed in any of the hotels many restaurants, and the staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgable. I highly recommend taking a short break from your schedule to spend an evening or two at The Prince Gallery Hotel, it is sure to be one of the highlights of your trip be it for business or pleasure.

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