Hotele z: Gym w Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

For my Yokohama trip, I chose the InterContinental Yokohama Grand, and the overall experience was absolutely stunning – easily the most satisfying hotel of my Kanto trip. It offered a high-end stay with a perfect blend of city views, quality service, and an unbeatable location, making it ideal for an in-depth exploration of Yokohama, enjoying the nightscapes, and a relaxing getaway. The hotel's location is truly unparalleled. It's right next to Yokohama Port, the iconic Ferris wheel, the Red Brick Warehouse, and shopping districts. Step outside, and you're on a seaside promenade, perfect for walks, photos, and enjoying the night view. World Porters shopping mall and various restaurants and cafes are within walking distance, and there's a convenience store downstairs, so you'll never have to worry about food or shopping. Transportation is also very convenient; it's close to the station and has a direct airport bus, making travel and departures completely hassle-free. The biggest bonus was definitely the unbeatable floor-to-ceiling harbor view. While Japanese hotels are generally on the smaller side, the InterContinental's rooms are spacious and airy, with an elegant and tidy layout. During the day, natural light is abundant, offering expansive views of the clear harbor sky. At sunset, the gentle glow is incredibly therapeutic. As night falls, Yokohama Port lights up brilliantly, and the Ferris wheel's spectacular lights create a magical ambiance. You can enjoy a front-row view of the nightscape right from your bed, and the atmosphere is simply immersive. The overall hardware reflects the quality of an established five-star hotel. The decor is elegant and luxurious, and maintenance is impeccable, showing no signs of age. The bedding in the room was soft and comfortable, and the soundproofing was excellent, ensuring a very quiet night's sleep. The bathroom had a separate wet and dry area, and the toiletries were high-quality and thoughtfully detailed, making for a very comfortable stay. Service was consistently excellent throughout. The front desk efficiently handled check-in with professionalism, and the staff were polite, gentle, and responsive. Luggage storage and room service were meticulous, making the entire experience feel secure and dignified. The hotel's public areas are clean and grand, perfect for strolling, taking photos, or simply relaxing. The only minor drawback is that since the hotel has been open for a while, some of the facilities have a more traditional style, not the trendy minimalist look. However, the overall maintenance is superb, and it doesn't detract from the living experience. Overall, the InterContinental Yokohama Grand is a benchmark hotel that's a must-stay when visiting Yokohama. With its unbeatable views, killer location, and reliably high-quality service, it's highly recommended for couples, families, or independent travelers. I'll definitely choose this place again on my next trip to Yokohama.

The hotel's location is excellent; it's a 5-minute walk from the subway exit. Across the street is the Yokohama Museum of Art, and several nearby malls are also very convenient. The lobby on the 20th floor is beautiful, making it feel like a five-star hotel. However, the room itself was a stark contrast, comparable to a budget hotel like Lavande in China. The flooring is laminate wood, as are parts of the ceiling. The room had an odor, and air freshener was provided for daily deodorizing. Breakfast had a limited selection, but the quality was decent. However, there's only an hour allowed for dining, which guests should note when booking if they mind time restrictions. The toilet seat lacked a drying function, which is quite unusual for a hotel priced at over 2000 JPY/night. Furthermore, the toilet paper was single-ply, which felt inappropriate and a bit embarrassing.

I flew from Hokkaido to Haneda for an overnight stay, with an early morning flight the next day. So, I didn't get to use many of the hotel's facilities. However, there's one thing that truly stood out: the free shuttle bus service to and from the airport and Kawasaki Station. It ran perfectly on schedule, exactly as published, and the drivers were incredibly polite, professional, and even helped with luggage. The instructions for taking the shuttle on the hotel's website were also very accurate. Upon check-in, the front desk provides a boarding pass; make sure to keep it with you, as you'll need to show it to the driver whether you're going to Kawasaki Station or the airport. Besides catching the shuttle on time from the designated spot at T2 upon arrival, I also took a ride to Kawasaki Station after checking in. From Kawasaki Station, I took the JR to Ueno Park, which cost 440 yen one way, passing through famous stations like Shinagawa, Tokyo Station, and Akihabara along the way. In the evening, I returned to Kawasaki Station and caught the last shuttle back to the hotel exactly at 10:45 PM. The next morning, I took the first shuttle of the day from the hotel to the airport at 5:20 AM, again, perfectly on time. This kind of reliability is incredibly important for travelers. Next time, I'll definitely plan to stay for a few more days. A big thank you to all the hotel bus drivers! 🌹

The hotel is located near Gora Station, and they offer a shuttle service. We were on a self-driving trip, and navigating there required a bit of careful attention, but there's parking available right outside the hotel. I give very high marks for the hotel's ambiance, the staff's service attitude, and the comfort of the rooms. The room was spacious, and the single beds were also very wide. The toilet and bathroom were separate, and there was a private onsen on the balcony. We ordered breakfast at the hotel, which was a Japanese-Western selection, pretty similar to what you'd find at a typical Western buffet.

The location is fantastic! It's right in the city center, less than a 10-minute walk from the Osanbashi Cruise Terminal. The hotel is also directly connected to Odori Station via the subway, which was a lifesaver on hot days as we barely had to walk outside. Yamashita Park and Chinatown are both within a 10-minute walk too. The hotel environment and service were absolutely impeccable. The third photo was taken from our room, showing the cruise terminal.

1. The first time I walked to the hotel, it took about 10 minutes, mainly because I was new to the area and needed to find my way. Once I got familiar, it was much quicker. I had read other reviews saying the North-West exit was the closest, but honestly, the North-West exit is incredibly hard to find 🤣. I just exited from the West exit. The hotel is to your right when you have your back to the JR station (Takashimaya is on your left). After following navigation for 4-5 minutes, you'll see an elevated walkway. Take the escalator up to the walkway (I finally saw the North-West exit next to the escalator 🤣). Walk along the left side for about 20-30 meters, and you'll see a tall building with an upward escalator on its exterior. Take two escalator segments, and the hotel is through the automatic glass doors on your left. Alternatively, from the JR station West exit (just before you completely exit the concourse), the Newman shopping mall entrance is on your right. Go into the mall, walk to the end, and take the escalator up to the 2nd floor, which leads to the connecting walkway. However, if you're not familiar, it can be confusing, so I'd recommend sticking to the first set of directions I gave. 2. Check-in at the hotel is done via self-service machines. The staff is on hand to assist, and the machines also have a Chinese option, making it very easy. 3. I booked a twin room, and the room size is quite generous by Japanese standards, which was nice. The shampoo was surprisingly good; my hair felt super soft and smooth after washing. I would definitely book here again if I visit Yokohama in the future.

If you're attending a concert, this is undoubtedly the best choice. It's right next to K-Arena, a mere 1-minute walk away. Anpanman Children's Museum is also very close. There's a Lawson convenience store nearby that closes at 11 PM. It's a bit of a distance to Yokohama Station, about a 15-20 minute walk, or around 1500 JPY by taxi. There's a bus to Haneda Airport right outside, but it has limited operating hours. However, since it's the first stop, you don't need to book tickets in advance; you can just buy them on the spot. The shower is in the bathtub. Breakfast was decent, nothing special.

☀️ When i first arrived, i thought i was at the wrong place - i‘ve never booked something so nice for myself before! 🪲PROS - chill 4 people bedrooms, with a comfy bed and a big personal shelf + locker and a fridge for the room - clean facilities and rooms - towel, toothpaste/toothpaste and yukata were provided as well as shampoo and showergel - the common room was so cozy and nice, with tea and water always at the ready and a great view of the garden - i was satisfied with both the dinner and breakfast and the price was fairly cheap (~1200¥ or a bit more, depending on your choices) - PRIVATE ONSEN that you can book for around 50minutes at night and can use in the morning if nobody else is already using it (costs around 150¥ per use) - there is a shuttle bus going at pretty regular times in the morning. They offer a ride to both Gora-Station or Hakone-Open-Air-Museum! 🩸CONS - far from the city-centre/train station 🌱 i really enjoyed my stay. I had cool roomies that became travel companions and absolutely loved the inn, the onsen, the food and the kind staff! Definitely a recommendation if you ever decide to stay in Hakone - i would book again!

This is a very nice hot spring resort hotel. Finding it at this price during the New Year period is great value. The hotel is quite close to Carved Forest Station, or you can go to Gora; there's a free shuttle bus. If you're taking public transport, you can get off at Tenyu Station. The rooms are large, with balconies, a reasonable layout, separate wet and dry areas, and heating. The hotel itself has a hot spring. If you want to dine at the hotel, you need to make a reservation in advance. There are also restaurants nearby; I arrived quite late and had some yakiniku (grilled meat) nearby.

Every city's soul resides in a hotel. The Peace Hotel in Shanghai, the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, the Ritz Paris. These masterpieces, born from local spirit, aesthetics, and a unique mission, are irreplaceable classics, forever one-of-a-kind. They are undeniably the ultimate experiences to explore in these great cities. In 1871, a 20-year-old Japanese man moved to America for work. After saving enough money, he returned to Japan during the Meiji Restoration and enrolled at Keio University. There, he was enlightened by Fukuzawa Yukichi, the father of modern Japan, and first realized the importance of international tourism. In the same year (1874), Emperor Guangxu was only 3 years old; the gears of history began to turn. Fukuzawa's portrait is still on Japan's highest denomination banknote today. The young man, Yamaguchi, realized that Japan didn't have a true hotel for foreigners. So he picked up a blank piece of paper and began to draw the blueprint for Japan's future state guesthouse: 1. A place foreigners would love most. 2. Close to Tokyo, with beautiful scenery. 3. Must have natural hot springs. The intersection of these three coordinates landed in the Miyanoshita area of Hakone. In 1878, Japan's first resort hotel – Fujiya Hotel – was born. However, fate was cruel; just 5 years later, a major fire engulfed the hotel, along with all records since its opening, turning everything to ash. The once eternal legacy became as thin as a wisp of smoke. Fortunately, Yamaguchi resolutely chose to rebuild. In 1891, the new building was completed and has been operating ever since. The symmetrical facade and main entrance portico emphasize a solemn ”frontality.” Inside, there are sofas, fireplaces, and radiators. Even the height of the doorknobs and beds was customized to suit the stature of Westerners. Yet, at the same time, the graceful curves of the Japanese roof, vermillion railings, and dragon wood carvings constantly remind you – this is Japan. No other hotel can better interpret the four characters ”Wa-Yo setchū” (a blend of Japanese and Western styles) than Fujiya Hotel. During the war, it interned over 70 European and Central/South American diplomats. Over a hundred years, the countless celebrities, dignitaries, and royals it hosted are dazzling: Charlie Chaplin, John Lennon, Albert Einstein, Yukio Mishima, The King of Belgium, the Crown Prince of Sweden, the Duke of Windsor, Emperor Hirohito, the Last Emperor Puyi, Chiang Kai-shek... For nearly 150 years, Fujiya Hotel has witnessed the collapse of countless colossal powers. How many kings and generals once stood by its west-facing windows, witnessing the twilight of their empires? I checked in during early summer, like pushing open a door to time. The hustle and bustle had long faded, but it still retained its former glory, humbly yet proudly refusing to awaken. Time stands still here, leaving amber-like imprints, as if nothing has ever truly left.