Finding the right place to stay can make all the difference in experiencing Tokyo’s unique energy. As frequent visitors, we are always on the lookout for new hotels and new areas to explore.
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On our recent trip, we ventured to Minato, an area in Central Tokyo known for its upscale residential areas, vibrant business districts, and iconic landmarks. It is home to many embassies, luxury hotels, shopping districts, and popular attractions like Tokyo Tower, Roppongi Hills, and Odaiba and spent a few nights at the recently renovated, Shiba Park Hotel.
If you’re looking for a reasonably priced hotel in Tokyo that allows you to explore the city with ease, read on for our in-depth review!
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About Shiba Park Hotel
Shiba Park Hotel is a 4-star hotel situated in a very quiet neighbourhood near Shiba Park.
The location was one of the highlights of this stay. The hotel is within walking distance of the nearby attractions like the Tokyo Tower, Shiba Park, and several temples and ruins. It’s located in a quiet neighborhood, but never too far away from convenience stores, shops, and restaurants. There are also three train stations nearby, so it’s easily accessible via public transport.
Getting to Shiba Park Hotel
Shiba Park Hotel is conveniently located within walking distance of both the Onarimon Subway Station and the Daimon Subway Station. It is also 8-minute walk away from JR Hamamatsucho Train station, so you have many options for getting there.
From Tokyo Station
From Tokyo Station, you can get on the JR Yamanote Line/Keihin Tohoku Line and get off on the JR Hamamatsucho Station. This should take about 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a taxi from Tokyo Station which is about 10 minutes.
From Haneda Airport
Haneda Airport is the closest to Shiba Park Hotel. It’s only 35 minutes away from the JR Hamamatsucho Train Station.
From Narita Airport
Narita Airport is a bit farther, but there is a shuttle service operating from Narita Airport that takes about 2 hours in total.
The Rooms at Shiba Park Hotel
During our time at Shiba Park Hotel, we stayed in a Deluxe King Room. Despite being 32 sqm (or 344 sq ft), the room was quite small, which is typical for Tokyo hotels.
Our room had a king-sized bed, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a refrigerator, a safe, an electric kettle, and a steam iron. The bathroom amenities included a shower and bathtub, toilet with bidet, hairdryer, skincare kit, and more. As sustainable travelers, we also appreciated the eco-friendly details incorporated into some of these amenities.
The bath products were made with carefully selected raw materials and packaged in a straw-based blend that helps reduce plastic. These little details made our stay just a bit more sustainable, and they deserve some recognition!
Other available guest rooms at Shiba Park Hotel include Standard Twin, Standard King, Deluxe Room, Deluxe Twin Room, and Junior Suite. All the rooms have a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and similar basic amenities. Room service is, of course, available.
The Library at Shiba Park
One of the most unique features of Shiba Park Hotel is its library. A few years ago, the hotel management discovered that back in the day, the area where the hotel stood was an educational facility and decided to pay homage to its historical roots by creating a library that reflects the intellectual heritage of the area.
The library is thoughtfully curated with a collection of books, from English and Japanese literature to travel guides and historical texts, making it a peaceful retreat for guests to relax and read. This nod to the past adds a charming cultural touch to the hotel, inviting visitors to engage with the history of the surrounding Minato district while enjoying a quiet moment.
There’s also a curated exhibition on the first and second floors that spotlights the exquisite work of Japanese artisans and craftsmen.
The Dining at Shiba Park Hotel
Shiba Park Hotel has an on-site restaurant called “The Dining” that serves Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisine. It offers a tasty breakfast buffet with Japanese and Western options, a varied lunch menu with weekly specials, lunch sets, full courses, and a la carte dishes, afternoon tea and sweets, and dinner sets as well.
Dinner at the hotel deserves a special mention. We had an impressive Japanese Kaiseki Meal during our stay at Shiba Park, an elaborate 8-course meal reflecting seasonal flavours and ingredients. These types of course meals are typically only found in traditional ryokans in the countryside, so it was such a treat to enjoy it in the heart of Tokyo! The best part is that you don’t have to stay at the hotel to enjoy any of these food experiences.
Activities at Shiba Park Hotel
Shiba Park Hotel offers a lot of immersive (and sustainable) activities for in-house guests, such as:
- Kintsugi – This experience at Shiba Park Hotel invites guests to explore the Japanese art of “Kintsugi,” where broken ceramics are repaired using lacquer and decorated with metal powders to highlight their cracks, transforming damage into beauty. Guests are invited to join a certified Kintsugi instructor in a 1- hour class with a hands-on experience repairing their own ceramic tile.
- Table Tea Ceremony – A contemporary take on a traditional tea ceremony where guests are served matcha green tea and Japanese sweets while surrounded by the hotel’s thousand-book collection and traditional Japanese crafts. This experience is free for hotel guests and takes place once a day every Thursday (10:00-10:45).
- Book & Culture Tale of Artisans – Guests are free to browse the exhibition on the first and second floors. Some pieces are even available for purchase, so you can bring them home as one-of-a-kind souvenirs.
- Audio Guided Tour – It might be intimidating to navigate the hotel’s shelves, which hold about 1,500 books. Luckily, there’s an audio-guided tour that walks you through them, and it’s easily accessible from your phone.
Other activities, such as sightseeing and tours, can be arranged by the hotel’s concierge desk.
The Bottom Line
We had a great stay at Shiba Park Hotel, and we particularly recommend it for eco-conscious families and couples who want to stay in a quieter neighbourhood while still being well connected to all the city’s attractions. Book lovers will particularly enjoy the extensive library at the hotel, so be sure to book an extra night to enjoy a few quiet hours with a drink and a book in hand.
Disclaimer: Our stay at Shiba Park Hotel was provided courtesy of Shiba Park Hotel with assistance from Marian Goldberg Marketing Communications. But as always, all opinions expressed in this article are our own.
