I stayed in the East Tower on the 10th floor and was shocked by just how small the rooms are in this hotel. I was expecting small rooms in Tokyo but this was amazingly small. They are SO tiny that the "small double bed" is placed sideways up against the wall because the room is not wide enough for it to be placed any other way.
Additionally, the bathroom resembles a cubicle that you would find in a caravan or mobile home (and I am not trying to be funny - just paint a realistic picture). Therefore, if you are a slightly larger person or a tall person i.e. greater or any where near 6ft or 170cm you will not fit in the bathroom comfortably.
The other reality about this hotel is that there are approximately 80 rooms per floor and there are 17 floors but only 2 lifts. At peak times such as check in, check out and breakfast it is hard to catch a lift down if you are on a middle or low floor (because they fill up on the upper floors before they get to you). There can also be long lines of people waiting to return to their room at busy times. So plan your time if you need to be somewhere by a given time.
On a positive note, the hotel has excellent service. I went down to the lobby to ask for a 2nd pillow and the staff member from house keeping was at my door with the pillow before I arrived back to my room. Also, as others have mentioned, the location is perfect. It is really close to Shinagawa station which connects directly to the airport line and the main or "green line" in Tokyo. There is also a shuttle bus that will take you and your luggage to the hotel (even though it is only a short walk across the street to the hotel area)
The other positives are the variety of restaurants in the hotel area or if you are too tired to go to dinner there is a 7eleven store where you can buy meals and heat them in one of six microwaves. There are also three differnt restaurants to choose for breakfast. A "Western Cafe" which serves only western style food. A Japanese and Western buffet restaurant which is the most popular but it is really large and is exceptionally well staffed and serviced. Finally, there is a Japanese buffet restaurant which is also meant to be good.
There are MANY "Prince Hotels" in Tokyo so check out which one you are staying in so you are not diappointed. The Main Prince Hotel (right beside the East Tower) is much nicer and has a beautiful roof top bar and restaurant but if you are only after a bed and have minimal cash then this is the hotel for you (providing you are not to large or too tall).
- Prince Hotel Minato
- Shinagawa Prince Hotel
- Prince Hotel Tokyo
- Minato Prince Hotel
