This newly opened Royal Park Hotel has the enviable Ginza address, but without the bank-breaking price tag commonly associated with this ritzy district. For visitors, the hotel is a central and convenient stay; it’s near Higashi-Ginza Station, which offers easy train access to major destinations in Tokyo including Asakusa as well as Narita and Haneda international airports. Moreover, a direct bus from Narita airport stops right across the road from the hotel.
The Royal Park Hotel Ginza 6-chome exudes a cheerful and relaxed atmosphere, with a retro aesthetic expressed through vibrant colours – a style the hotel calls ‘Ginza Pop’. The sunny yellow and green shades at the reception and lobby are a nod to the abundance of ginkgo and willow trees surrounding the hotel. The rooms, meanwhile, are bedecked in either a red-orange hue or muted green, colours associated with the Kabukiza theatre just around the corner.
Regardless of whether you’re going for a compact unit or a spacious corner suite, the accommodations at the hotel are well-appointed. Thoughtful features include the smart TV, which is connected to the hotel’s public amenities such as coin-operated washing machines and the communal sento bath, offering real-time information on whether they are available or occupied. Better yet, the gender-separated bath in the basement, which is reserved for staying guests, has no restrictions against tattoos.
For food and drink, the Ginza Lamp-Tei restaurant on the ground floor serves a menu featuring Japanese-style Western dishes such as omurice (soft, fluffy omelette draped over fried rice) and hamburg steak (grilled meat patty with savoury sauce). Tucked away to the side of the check-in reception is Kobikicho Club, the hotel’s take on the ubiquitous Japanese snack bar. These small drinking establishments with karaoke facilities often feel like a private club and hence impenetrable for tourists, but this one at the hotel is casual and welcoming.
If you’re looking for more to feed your appetite, the Higashi-Ginza area outside the hotel is filled with a wide range of restaurants across different price points. You could also stroll over to the centre of Ginza and splurge on fine dining. Walk a bit further and you should reach the Tsukiji Outer Market in just 10 minutes, where you’ll find some of the freshest seafood feasts around.