Conrad Tokyo review: King Room Bay View

Conrad Tokyo Review

Here is my Conrad Tokyo review!

For this family trip to Japan involving my husband and two children, we were in Tokyo for three days (and Osaka for a week). Within Tokyo, we stayed two nights at Fraser Suites Akasaka Tokyo and one night at Conrad Tokyo.

Hilton Singapore Review Family suite bed

Twentyeight – bar and lounge on the 28th floor

When we arrived at Conrad Tokyo, the lobby area was a little crowded, so we were ushered to wait a little Twentyeight, the adjacent bar and lounge, while waiting to check in.

Cloudy day over the Tokyo skyline

The staff were super friendly; they offered us water and were kind to the children. All the details of our stay (booked with Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts Rate) was also laid our clearly for us.

Conrad Tokyo Review: AMEX FHR rate

With the American Express Platinum Charge Card, I possessed two key benefits for this stay: Hilton Honors Gold status, and the ability to book American Express FHR (Fine Hotels and Resorts).

Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) rates include

Complimentary room upgrade upon arrival, subject to availability
Complimentary breakfast
Early check-in at 12pm, subject to availability
Guaranteed 4pm late check-out
Hotel credit of USD 100 or more (depending on property) to be used during the stay

Note: for this stay of ours, we had USD125 in property credit, which worked out to be JPY15,250.

Platinum Charge Card holders may make travel bookings via the Amex Travel Portal website.

In addition, with the American Express Platinum Charge Card – which comes with SGD800 worth of annual travel credits (SGD400 for flight, SGD400 for hotel), these benefits can be stacked with flight or hotel bookings that are made via the Amex Travel Portal.

Translated: For this stay, I enjoyed BOTH the FHR benefits AND reduced the cost of my stay by SGD400. At the time of booking, the Conrad Tokyo was about SGD420 in total including taxes. I paid about SGD20 for the stay.

American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) welcome letter. Property credit at the time of stay: USD125 = JPY15250

I’ve loved the Hilton / Conrad hotels as far as I can remember, and so far I’ve stayed mostly at places in Singapore (e.g. Conrad Centennial (centennial king suite) and Malaysia (e.g. Doubletree by Hilton in Johor Bahru, and in Hilton Kuala Lumpur).

But this is our very first stay at a Hilton property in Japan.

Corridor along Conrad Tokyo

Want to apply for an American Express credit card? Apply through one of my referral links and receive either bonus Membership Rewards points, vouchers and / or Krisflyer miles:

The Platinum Charge Card: Use this referral link and receive up to S$900 statement credits and Samsonite Choca Spinner 68/25 (worth S$700) when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
The American Express Platinum Card: Use this referral link and receive up to S$350 statement credits when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 38, 000 Krisflyer miles and S$50 statement credits when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.

Conrad Tokyo review: King Room Bay View

As part of Amex FHR benefits, my family received a complimentary room upgrade. Our original booking was a King Room City View, but the hotel upgraded it to a King Room Bay View.

Hilton Singapore review Hilton Family Suite

Entrance

The King Room with a Bay View is 48 square meters (516 square feet) in size. This is generous by Tokyo’s standards – i hightly recommend this place to anyone who cares about spaciousness.

King Room Bay View

We had requested for a baby cot for our stay, and it was delivered a little later.

Baby cot was later delivered

We love the room’s layout – there is an option to lift the bamboo (I think) curtains over the bathroom. For a parent, this means that lazing in bed while watching your kids play in the bathtub – is very possible.

Baby cot positioned next to the King bed

On the other side, is the television, coffee-and-tea-making facilities, a workdesk and couch.

TV and desk area

The wooden cabinet opens up to reveal a mini fridge, some cups and glasses, a kettle, wine bottle opener, ice box, and some cutlery.

Well-stocked

There’s the standard nespresso machine, along with a more traditional Japanese teapot and cups, for making tea. Definitely a different feel than typical ‘western’ style cups that resemble IKEA white cups.

Coffee and Tea making facilities

The wardrobe on first glace looks typical: hangers, ironing board, and a space to store luggage.

Hilton Singapore review Family suite living area

Wardrobe

But what makes this cool? (i) the luggage storage doubles up as a set of drawers, and (ii) a set of pyjamas is given to each guest (including children; child-sized pyjamas available upon request).

In Japan, it is common for pyjamas to be provided for guests – it’s really thoughtful and ‘hotel pyjamas’ feels special. Plus, one less thing for visitors to pack!

Drawers with pyjamas

As the name of the room suggests (King Room Bay View), the room provides a wonderful view of the Tokyo Bay area.

View from room

Breadthtaking in the day and romantic at night, the view alone sufficiently scores brownie points for this Conrad Tokyo review.

Night view

Bathroom

The bathroom is generously sized. Most eye-catching is the bathtub, right by the glass wall. Curtains can be drawn up or down cover the glass wall.

Bathtub

Position yourself at a good right angle in the bathtub. And it’s suddenly possible to make eye contact with another person in bed. Lol.

Some tower racks by the wall.

Towel Rack

And of course, double sink area by a large round mirror.

Double Sink

Bath amenities of all sorts were provided.

More bath amenities

A separated shower area and toilet cubicle are hidden behind sleek doors of frosted glass.

Glass doors

Below: open the glass doors. Shower with rain shower capacities on the left, and toilet on the right.

separate shower and toilet area

I am also wildly amused by Japanese toilets.

Toilet

Fun fact: Japanese toilets are kind of cool / amusing / a navigational challenge. Why settle for simple flushing when you can have full-blown toilet control functions?

Japanese Toilet Configurations

Jokes aside, overall the bathroom is a beautiful one.

Conrad Tokyo Review: Child-Friendly

I must say, in this Conrad Tokyo review, that the hotel is truly welcoming to children.

For a starters, during reception check-in, they handed my children plastic water bottles in the shape of Hello Kitty and the Tokyo Bullet Train. (No pictures unfortunately – kids ran off with them and lost them later in the day).

In the bathroom, we found a diaper bin!

Diaper Bin

It’s hard to say if this is a common practice for hotels in Japan, but at our last stay at Fraser Suites Akasaka Tokyo, we were also given a diaper bin. If only more places globally would do the same – anything to help parents with young children is always greatly appreciated.

Odour prevention

In addition, both our kids were given little gift bags to welcome them to Conrad Tokyo.

Child Gift Bag

In it was a bunch of child amenities. A cute sponge (it becomes fat and poofy in water), child toothbrush, and child bedroom slippers.

Bath sponge, Toothbrush, Slippers

The icing on the cake… super adorable child bathrobe!

Child Bathrobe

Modelled by the five-year-old.

Bathrobe and Slippers

It doesn’t end there. When we entered the room, my kids spotted this: Sitting on the king-sized bed were some adorable welcome gifts: The Conrad bear and a rubber ducky. Joy for the kids, and amusement for the parents.

These toys are really typical of the Conrad brand – in my previous stays at Conrad Centennial Singapore, we too have received similar little cuties for our stays.

Complimentary Toys

When children are happy, so are the adults. All these little things add up – if anything, knowing that these child-friendly set ups are provided for gives encouragement for young families to visit the Conrad Tokyo.

Swimming Pool and Gym

At Conrad Tokyo, Mizuki Spa and Fitness includes the swimming pool, gym, and spa areas.

Entrance to Mizuki Spa and Fitness

The hallways have multiple doors that lead to separate exits – changing rooms, swimming pool, spa and gym.

Near the reception areas

The indoor pool here is pretty standard one.

Swimming Pool

Hardly anyone seemed to be swimming at the times we went. Quite a surprise that the pool was empty – I can only attribute it to the likelihood that the hotel isn’t operating at full capacity.

In the evenings, the pool is especially beautiful.

Night View

Bonus: Floating stuff available for both children and adults!

Floats

In the vicinity, is a well-equipped gym.

Gym

It has everything one could need – threadmills, weights, a multitude of body-building machines, weighing scales, spare towels and water.

With Social Distancing in place

Indoor Spa facilities

Hotel guests at the Conrad Tokyo have access to the indoor spa facilities.

Hilton Singapore review executive lounge

Locker Area

The place huge. There was a separate areas for those who just wish to chill.

Resting Area

And wow – for the health conscious, there’s a blood pressure machine here.

Yes, that was my blood pressure of the day

The dressing areas are particularly impressive. It’s made so nicely for personal grooming: large mirrors, wash basins, high-end hair dryers…

Dressing Tables

… and an array of skincare and haircare products. The daughter and I tried all of them, and we were so impressed with how fragrant, smooth, and comfortable these were.

Spoilt for choice

By the wall, there’s spare towels and water for everyone.

Sharing some pictures of the public spa / bath areas. The soaking tubs had four separate areas in a flower-shaped formation, and the sauna and steam bath was behind the baths.

Note: for obvious reasons, technically, photo-taking is discouraged in this area. I took pictures only because NO ONE ELSE WAS THERE at the time of visitation. If there are other people around, for courtesy’s sake, do avoid even bringing cell phones into this area.

Soaking tubs. And doors to the steam bath (left behind) and sauna (right behind).

The baths (all warm) also had jacuzzi functions – it had a slight massage effect which wassuper comfortable and relaxing.

In Japan, before using the public bath, one should thoroughly shower and ensure 100% cleanliness before entering the baths. The washing area exists for this purpose.

Washing Area

During our stay, the five-year-old loved the public baths and spa facilities so much, that at one point, we ended up coming here three times within a 24-hour period. She said that enjoying the bubbles (jacuzzi) and having the grooming table after (completed with hair dryer and all the wonderful moisturizers and face/body milk made her feel like a princess).

Such is the world through the eyes of a child.

Breakfast at Cerise

For Hilton Gold or Diamond members, or those who booked their stay with FHR benefits, breakfast would be included as part of the hotel stay.

Hilton Singapore review breakfast opus bar and grill

Cerise – seating area

The breakfast is an international buffet style, with both traditional Japanese and Western fare.

The Japanese section is spectacularly impressive: there’s an array of pickles, soba noodles, miso soup…

Japanese section

… and seafood / fish options that go oh-so-well with Japanese rice.

Bonito Tataki with Grated Yam

The salmon here, grilled with a bit of salt, had a crispy skin but tender meat – enjoy these as part of a healthy breakfast.

Grilled Salmon and Fried Fish Cake

The hot western section looked just as inviting. There were pastas, brocolli / steamed vegetables, cheese hash brown, sausages, tomatoes and bacon.

Western Section

Of course, what’s a breakfast buffet without bread?

Breads

To complement the breads, there were jams, butters, syrups… and a toaster / panini press machine (I think).

Jams, Butters, Maple Syrup, Honey, Nutella, Peanut Butter

This is one buffet where I’m actually super encouraged to be healthy – just look at all the beautifully-arranged salads and fruits and vegetables. Everything looked so fresh and carefully prepared. The kitchen definitely knows what it is doing.

Salad section

Equally eye-catching are the carefully plated cured meats, smoked salmon, and cheeses.

Cured Meats and Cheese

Special mention goes to the ajillo (see the black dish with mushrooms and anchovies drowning in a paprika-infused olive oil?). That was the favourite item of the day – for BOTH the husband and myself. It was so flavourful; a wonderful blend of vegetables and fish in a deeply satisfying heavy dish. We had extra servings without regrets.

And a very tasty ajillo (Spanish dish of vegetables in a hot olive oil)

For those who prefer less-fancy breakfasts, cereals and muesli are available. (Though I personally would not choose cornflakes at a hotel breakfast buffet of this standard).

Milks, Milkshakes, and Yogurt-based drinks (left) and Cereals (right)

And the desserts. Oh my God.

I am a sucker for pannacotta (I would describe it as a milk pudding), and the Conrad Tokyo does it so well. Super milky and creamy with a sour berry topping – its the perfect way to end the breakfast.

Yogurt and Chia Seeds Parfait (top) and Berry Pannacotta (bottom)

Surprise of the day: dried fruits.

I hardly expected anything from dried fruits; my regular experience of dried fruit is basically having raisins and nothing else.

Here, my two-year-old went CRAZY over these dried fruit and could not stop having them, so I had to see what the fuss was about. These were a pleasant surprise: sweet, rich in flavours and not drying to the mouth – they were surprisingly enjoyable!

I was not offended when the kid, upon trying these, wanted dried fruit ONLY for breakfast.

Assorted Dried Fruits

Breakfast was made all the more special because each adult diner could choose ONE premium main item from the breakfast menu.

Conrad Tokyo review: Breakfast Mains to choose from

These were prepared over an open kitchen and guests could witness their food being made by professional chefs.

Preparation of Premium Mains. I see Eggs Benedict in front (bottom left)

The husband chose the Fricassee Lobster Omelet. This was so savoury and rich; the lobster bisque added an extra taste of the ocean to the fluffy soft eggs.

Fricassee Lobster Omelet: Lobster, Mushroom Fricassee, Lobster Bisque sauce

I had the Smorrebrod Lobster (lobster open-faced sandwich). Its the most wonderful blend of lobster and avocado ever. And the tomatoes – super juicy, super sweet – just right to balance out the otherwise rich velvet taste.

Smorrebrod Lobster: Pain de Seigle, Lobster, Scrambled Egg, Tomato, Avocado, Mushrooms

Spot the large lobster piece.

A very decadent sandwich

I swear, if we ever return to Tokyo, I might come back to Cerise JUST for the breakfast, it’s that good. There is a hefty price tag of JPY5000 (plus taxes and service charge), so by Japanese standards it’s definitely not cheap. Yet this is a price that we are actually willing to pay – it is VERY worth the quality and variety.

Gardens by Conrad Tokyo

The beautiful thing about Tokyo is that, despite how busy, ultra modern and metropolitan it is, there’s actually abundant greenery located within the city itself.

Gardens – walking distance from Conrad Tokyo

This is the Hama-rikyū Garden (浜離宮恩賜庭園). Open to the public, the Garden contains some Japanese elements. The villa here used to be the property of the ruling Tokugawa family during the 17th century.

Hama-rikyū Garden

If one is accustomed to the bright lights and endless shopping districts in Tokyo, it may be hard to believe believe that this could be Tokyo as well. The park itself is the epitome of serenity: quiet and peaceful.

Garden surrounds a lake

During the day, we brought the kids here to run about and get a dose of fresh air. The garden is walking distance from Conrad Tokyo – it’s literally in the hotel’s backyard.

Spot the Conrad Tokyo hotel

Overall thoughts

Conrad Tokyo review and final verdict: there is something about the Conrad Tokyo that makes you fall in love with it, in so many different ways. From the warm welcome by all staff, to the Japanese hospitality, to the level of detail given to ensure guests’ comfort, it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly makes the Conrad Tokyo hotel so special.

But a few things do stand out.

Healthy breakfast

The breakfast, despite being a buffet, is easily the MOST HEALTHY breakfast buffet I’ve seen in any hotel. I’ve never seen a higher proportion of food items that are as fresh, rich in fiber, and more vegetable-laden in any other breakfast buffet.

For an International audience

I have not mentioned this yet – but the hotel’s location is wonderful. It is near a train station (Shiodome) and is located in Shiodome/Shinbashi within Tokyo. By car/public transport ride, it is 5-10 minutes away from Ginza. Awesome for both tourists and buisnessfolk alike.

Oh how I miss the room

Looking at everything else – the child-friendliness, wow-worthy spa facilities, the room itself, i can only describe this stay in one word: perfect.

The Conrad Tokyo has been informally rated by many bloggers and the Hilton Honors facebook community group (search ‘Hilton Honors Community’ on facebook) as the best Conrad hotel in Asia (if not in the world), and it definitely lives up to that reputation.

And of course, the cherry on top has to be the benefits that came with American Express FHR rates – the room upgrade, complimentary breakfast, and 4pm late checkout just amplified the perfection in ways we can’t explain.

Hilton Honors points earned

For this Conrad Tokyo review, I declare that, as a Hilton Honors Elite Gold Member, I also earned the following points from the stay in the King Room Bay View.

– Base points: 2055

– 2022 More Nights, More Points, Double Points – 2055

– Gold Elite 80% Bonus: 1644

Total points: 5754.

The stay for this Conrad Tokyo Review was booked using American Express FHR (Fine Hotels and Resorts) rate.

The cost of the stay was also offsetted by an SGD400 travel credit; this is an annual benefit that comes with the American Express Platinum Charge Card.

For all benefits of the American Express Platinum Charge card, please check out this post right here.

Apply for an American Express credit card and get bonus points!

American Express Platinum Charge Card (Image source: American Express)

Inspired by this post and want to apply for an American Express credit card? Apply through one of my referral links and receive either bonus Membership Rewards points or statement credit:

The Platinum Charge Card: Use this referral link and receive up to S$900 statement credits and Samsonite Choca Spinner 68/25 (worth S$700) when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
The American Express Platinum Card: Use this referral link and receive up to S$350 statement credits when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 38, 000 Krisflyer miles and S$50 statement credits when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.

Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed on this page are that of Happy High Life and may not necessarily reflect the position of American Express. Happy High Life is not responsible for any decisions made by readers. The terms and conditions for each credit card's application and usage may be subject to change by American Express. Therefore, readers are recommended to check any matters with American Express or its partners; the list of all benefits of the Platinum Charge Card can be found here.

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Tags: AMEX Fine Hotels and Resorts AMEX Platinum Charge Card Credit Card (American Express) Hilton Hotels Hotels in Japan Travel

Conrad Tokyo review: King Room Bay View

Conrad Tokyo Review

Conrad Tokyo Review: AMEX FHR rate

Conrad Tokyo review: King Room Bay View

Bathroom

Conrad Tokyo Review: Child-Friendly

Swimming Pool and Gym

Indoor Spa facilities

Breakfast at Cerise

Gardens by Conrad Tokyo

Overall thoughts

Hilton Honors points earned

Apply for an American Express credit card and get bonus points!

you may also like the following:

Hilton Kuala Lumpur review: Executive King Room

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Johor Bahru: Double Double Executive Room and Lounge review

Mandarin Oriental review: 14th wedding anniversary staycation in Sea View Room King

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Conrad Tokyo review: King Room Bay View

Conrad Tokyo Review

Conrad Tokyo Review: AMEX FHR rate

Conrad Tokyo review: King Room Bay View

Bathroom

Conrad Tokyo Review: Child-Friendly

Swimming Pool and Gym

Indoor Spa facilities

Breakfast at Cerise

Gardens by Conrad Tokyo

Overall thoughts

Hilton Honors points earned

Apply for an American Express credit card and get bonus points!

you may also like the following:

Hilton Kuala Lumpur review: Executive King Room

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Johor Bahru: Double Double Executive Room and Lounge review

Mandarin Oriental review: 14th wedding anniversary staycation in Sea View Room King

Like this:

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