The Hotel Guide Director says

What comes to your mind when you think of Kobe?

To me, Kobe is about the Ijinkan (Foreign House), Chinatown, fashionable caf?s, famous bakery stores, and great night views. It's very exciting!

This time on my trip to Kobe, I chose this popular Kobe Bay Sheraton Hotel & Towers. Why this hotel? I will tell you about it now.

The upper level of the tower from 18th to 20th floors is called Towers Level. When you stay in one of rooms on these floors, you get a chance to check in and check out at the Towers Lounge on the 19th floor.

During your stay, all drinks you have in the lounge are free. In the evening, you can have cocktails as well. You get better services.

This time I stayed in a towers twin room. The size of the room was about 36 square meters. The ceiling was higher than normal and the furnishings in bright colors were in the European style. The bathroom had a separate shower. The shampoo and conditioner were by Molton Brown.

The bath amenity included a small bag that contained a hair band, cotton pieces, moisturizer and skin care lotion.

Reason Two: You can enjoy night views of Kobe.

The hotel offers breathtaking views at night. From the rooms facing the Rokko Mountain, you can enjoy a 180-degree view. Car headlights on the highway are beautiful, too. The view is perfect for your romantic evening.

The building in front of the hotel might be a little distracting to some people, but the Towers Lounge also has a good view. During the cocktail hours, it's nice to have a drink in the lounge and enjoy the view at the same time.

Reason Three: Sannomiya and USJ are closer to the hotel than you think.

Sannomiya is 20 minutes away from the hotel and Universal Studio Japan is 25 minutes away. You can take a shuttle bus in front of the hotel to any direction. There are 2 to 4 buses to Sannomiya every hour, so you won't be waiting for long.

Furthermore, the hotel is an associate hotel of Universal Studio Japan, so you can buy the tickets at the hotel. You also can watch a USJ channel on TV while in your room. On the second floor, there is a gift shop where you can buy the official goods.

Breakfast by the Ocean at Garden Caf?

Buffet breakfast is offered at Garden Caf? on the ground floor. The menu includes European and Japanese food. There is a lot in the menu, so you might find it hard to choose. I particularly liked orange, pineapples, kiwis and grapes. Aloe and yogurts are good, too.

If you are staying in one of Towers Level rooms, this breakfast is complimentary. After eating, you can spend time till checkout in the Towers Lounge making your plans, reading newspapers, or enjoying the view of Kobe.

Sheraton Kobe Hotels Reservation[octopustravel]

The Hotel Guide Director says

Recently I have stayed in an Excellency Suite at the Tokyo Dome Hotel. This suite was located on one of the Excellency Floors. The floors from 39th to 41st are designated as the Excellency Floors. The dedicated counter on the 40th floor, where I checked in, is open only to guests on these floors.

The Excellency Suite is a large room with the total area of over 50 square meters. When I entered the room, I was very impressed with the size of the room. And of course, the room has a fantastic view.

For any couple looking for a special place to stay on a day like Christmas Eve or Valentine's Day, this Excellency Suite is a must.

The following is my review about this Excellency Suite.

The Excellency Suites are located on the so-called Excellency Floors, which are from the 39th to the 41st floors. All Excellency Suite guests check in at the dedicated counter located in the Excellency Lounge on the 40th floor. The check-in will go smoothly and you will definitely feel that you are treated as a special guest.

This time I stayed in a Palace Excellency Suite. The total area of the room was 66 square meters and it had a good view of the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Tower. The room was partitioned between the bedroom and parlor area. I'm sure you would say wow when you see this room.

The room had plenty of light coming from the large window and through the window I could see the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Tower. I also could see cars, trains and people moving around JR Suidobashi Station.

A TV was in the sleeping area of the room, so I lay down on the bed and watched it. Turndown service was provided to guests on the Excellency Floors, so in the evening the hotel staff came in to make my bed and left me some small chocolate on the pillow.

Additionally, the room had a big walk-in closet. The size was big enough for two people to fit in. In the closet, I found a cute cane basket, which was actually for overnight shoeshine service. The service was complimentary for Excellency Suite guests.

The bathroom was a separate room and air-conditioned. There was a washlet toilet. Clean towels were on the washstand.

A writing desk was near the window that provided enough light for desk work. Complimentary high speed Internet access was provided in all rooms. If you bring your laptop with you, you can hook it up to their cable modem in the room and right away you are connected to the Internet.

Bathroom

The bathroom had a separate shower, a large mirror and a chair. There were bathrobes and yukatas (Japanese bathrobes). The bath amenities were shampoo, conditioner, body soap (all English SOMO brand), toothbrushes, hair brush, razor, shower cap, cotton swabs, body sponge, cotton wool, some cosmetics (like facial cleanser, moisturizer and skin care lotion) and hair dryer. Two bottles of mineral water were a nice surprise.

Tea Service and Cocktail Service in the Excellency Lounge

After check-in, you can have tea in the Excellency lounge. The service hours are from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm. The menu includes a selection of coffee (American, Blend, and Cappuccino), tea and juices. Only Excellency Floor guests have the access to the lounge.

It was fun to watch the roller coasters and Ferris wheel of the amusement park near the Tokyo Dome while enjoying refreshments and a piece of chiffon cake, the hotel's signature cake. This is one of the reasons to stay in an Excellency Suite.

The cocktail hours are from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. They have a good selection of wine, whisky and beer. If you like, you can make your own cocktail from the recipe book. There are photographs inside the book. Only Excellency Floor guests are allowed in the lounge, so you could sit quietly all evening and enjoy the view of the Tokyo Dome and the city.

Room Service Dinner

Room service was available from 6:30 am to 1:00 am (order until midnight). I ordered one Beef Steak Curry (2300 yen) and Kaisendon or Rice with Seafood (2800 yen). Tip (10%) and tax were added to the total price. In my opinion, the price was OK.

There are several restaurants in the hotel. Artist's Caf? is located on the top floor. Deux Mil is a cozy restaurant. Pier View is a casual restaurant and their price is good. Brasserie Lala China is a Chinese restaurant. It's nice to have many choices.

Breakfast in the Excellency Lounge

Continental breakfast was provided from 7:00 am to 10:30 am in the Excellency Lounge. The menu included soup, croissant, Danish, toast, cereal, and a variety of beverages, such as orange juice, grapefruit juice, tomato juice and milk. Fresh cut fruits, yogurts, coffee and tea were also on the menu.

If the lounge isn't crowded, you could sit all morning and enjoy the view of Tokyo.

Tokyo Dome Hotel Reservation[octopustravel]

The Hotel Guide Director says

From the cherry blossoms blooming in Kiyomizu Temple to the plums in Tenman Shrine, not to mention the taste of Kyoto bamboo shoots.....Spring looks lovely on Kyoto. And the place I chose to stay in to enjoy Springtime Kyoto is Kyoto Hotel Okura.

The location is very convenient; a one-minute walk from the Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae subway station means you can avoid the congested bus ride from Kyoto.

This time I used a lodging plan where I could choose an Higashi Mountain-side room with a view above the ninth floor, overlooking the gorgeous Kamogawa river, in a pretty spacious "Superior Twin" guest room. The centrally located 17-story hotel stands out in Kyoto, where high-rises are scarce, and the view from my window was even more breathtakingly "Kyoto" then I would have imagined.

I was lead to my 15th floor Higashi Mountain-side Superior Twin Guest Room. Approximately 37 square meters, it was perfect for two people.

When the curtains were opened, a the calm trickling of the Kamogawa river was right before my eyes, with a few traditional bridges scattered below. The garden and the straight roads really gave off the "Kyoto" traditional feeling.

Chairs and a round table were set up beside the windows, with tea bags of green and roasted tea available, making it a wonderful spot to relax during your holiday. Not to mention the slippers, set up in the closet, were very comfortable.

This guest room included high-speed internet. I just plugged the LAN cable into my laptop computer and was able to use high-speed 100Mbps internet at no extra charge. This hotel does not offer this service in every room yet, so make sure you confirm during your reservation.

The DVD player and humidifier I had asked for during my reservation was set up in my room when I entered, and both were at no extra charge.

Bathroom

The bathroom included a shower booth, and the toilet included a bidet with a heated set. The shower booth and the bathtub are separate, which was a little bit of an annoyance, but the toilet included a bidet and was heated. Bathrobes are set up, which made coming out of the bath a comfortable experience.

Room Service

Room service is available between 6:30 and 24:00 (6:30am and midnight WESTERNERS DON'T USE 24-HOUR CLOCK THAT MUCH). The menu is separated into breakfast and set menus, a la carte, late night menus.

I ordered dinner through room service, and had the Japanese beef curry (?2,400), the mixed sandwiches (?1,500) and the cream of corn soup (?900). The menu was a little limited and I had some trouble deciding what I wanted, but the prices are quite standard. There are nine hotel restaurants, including a Teppan-yaki (Japanese grill), Kyoto-style, and Chinese restaurant, as well as a bar.

Public Space

My floor had a few seats available, but every time I went the area was crowded. I recommend going up the beautiful stairs to the second floor and finding the semi-hidden sofa space.

Breakfast: 17th Floor Top Lounge "Orizonte"

The breakfast here is buffet-style. Over 50 items are available, including western and Japanese-style dishes. I was surprised at the variety available, and had some trouble choosing what to put on my plate.

Coffee or tea is also available. It was a great place to relax after the meal with a drink, watching the Kamogawa flow by while deciding what to do for the day.

Concierge

The concierge, located next to the first floor elevator wearing a red uniform, told me the best tourist attractions and stores in the area. It is also possible to buy one-day bus tickets here.

Checkout is at 11:00am. Even after checkout, you can leave your bags in the cloakroom on the first floor at no charge.

Kyoto Hotel Okura, conveniently located one minute from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae subway station, is a great way to enjoy the ancient city of Kyoto.

Kyoto Hotel Okura Reservation[octopustravel]

The Hotel Guide Director says

The distinguished Imperial Hotel, which first opened its doors in 1890, is a large city hotel with 1,019 rooms, 13 restaurants, 4 bars and lounge located in Hibiya, Tokyo.

I stayed in one of the "Superior Twin Rooms," located on the Hibiya Park side of the main building (approximately 42m2), but compared to other modern hotels the guest room was quite simple and the bathroom not that spacious.

However, the staff was excellent and I was pleasantly surprised throughout my stay by the fast and friendly service! I was particularly impressed by how much the staff seemed to enjoy their jobs. I had many questions and requests before and during my stay, and the service was always wonderful.

Guest Room (Main Building Superior Twin Room)

My wife was very happy with the dresser located next to the window, saying it made the room brighter and convenient. I requested a DVD player when I made my reservation, so it was already set up and ready when we arrived in the room. I should mention that the DVD player rental was free, and VCRs, CD and MD Players were also available for rent.

English tea, green tea and coffee were also complimentary. Electricity outlets and a fax line were available. An internet modem was also set up, so that if you have a network terminal (10/100BASE) or a LAN card, internet is available free of charge.

The bathroom is a little small but very clean. The toilet had a bidet.

Bathroom

Compared to the spacious main room, the bathroom, which included a sink, toilet and bath, felt rather cramped. There was no shower booth. However, it was very clean, and there were more than enough towels available. Shampoo, rinse, shower gel, soap, toothbrushes, hairbrush, comb, cotton swabs, shower caps, shaving foam, razor, and body towels were available. A women's bathroom set was also available upon request, and included face wash, toner and moisturizer. Bathrobes are also available.

Buttermilk Pancakes with Seasonal Fruits, a classic Imperial Hotel dish

Teatime

At Eureka, the caf? and restaurant located on the first floor of the main building, I ordered the Buttermilk Pancakes with Seasonal Fruits set (1,890yen including tax, service charge not included), which came with either coffee or tea. This dish was introduced to their menu in 1953, where it remains a favorite to this day.

The cake set (1,365 yen including tax, service charge not included), in which a few cake choices can be sampled along with a choice of coffee or tea, also looked good. Of course refills of coffee or tea are free.

Room service is available 24 hours aday. Here we ordered beef curry, a hamburger steak sandwich, and cream-of-corn soup.

Here is a selection from the morning buffet at The Imperial Viking Sal. The chef prepares your omelets for you right before your eyes.

IMPERIAL HOTEL TOKYO Reservation[octopustravel]

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