"Opened just a year ago after a complete renovation, this is a very modern hotel. Since all the ground-floor, ocean-facing spaces are restaurants, the hotel lobby is uniquely located on the 12th floor. This scenic lobby also doubles as a café, where guests can sit on the outdoor balcony overlooking the view. There's a designated smoking area by the side entrance of the lobby.
The facilities are brand new, and the layout is clean, spacious, and stylish. We stayed in a triple room, and even with suitcases open, there was still plenty of space – perfectly suited to Chinese guests' preferences. The bedding is high quality and available for purchase.
Let's talk about breakfast. Upon check-in, guests are informed of two options: Japanese breakfast, served at the 12th-floor café, and Western breakfast, served at the 1st-floor Western restaurant. The Japanese option offers three set menus, while the Western option features four main sets. After ordering, you can help yourself to the buffet bar for salads, drinks, bread, and more. The Western breakfast was so delicious that we didn't get a chance to try the Japanese one.
Regarding the hotel's location, opinions may vary. Most people might choose to stay in Sakuragicho or Minato Mirai, as this hotel is a bit off the beaten path, situated near Yamashita Park. The Summer Festival is held here, allowing visitors to truly experience the atmosphere of traditional Japanese festivals. The hotel faces the sea, directly opposite the Hikawa Maru ocean liner. As the only surviving international ocean liner from WWII, it's definitely worth boarding and exploring. It's a 5-minute walk from the hotel to the subway station, providing easy access to all Yokohama stops. Directly across the street is a bus stop with direct service to Haneda Airport, with buses running almost every hour. Within a 5-minute walk, you'll find Takashimaya department store; Chinatown is 10 minutes away, as is a massive Don Quijote store. A lifestyle plaza is a 20-minute walk, and there's also a Montbell outlet store where we spent four hours. This outlet store offers tax-free shopping, but it requires downloading a third-party app and incurs a 3% service fee, which makes the process a bit inconvenient.
Yokohama truly lives up to its reputation as an international port city. Around the hotel, you'll find a wide array of Western restaurants, with impeccable ambiance and cuisine, and even handsome waiters. It's a very cosmopolitan city."