AC Hotel by Marriott Tokyo Ginza

AC Hotel offers a comfortable hideaway in and outside of your room with plenty of areas to work or relax in — including a lounge and roof terrace. While it doesn’t cater to families, it’s a great spot for couples, friends, and business travelers.

What’s the hotel like?

This is a newly built hotel with a shiny finish. The interior design fuses traditional Japanese and contemporary art styles, such as wall art made from washi paper, while also including a splash of western influence — think decorative typewriters.

What facilities does the hotel have?

There is a large, 24-hour fitness center, rooftop terrace (featuring seasonal yoga), lounge, bar, and restaurant (AC Kitchen). For a welcoming treat, you are offered jelly candies — which you can infuse with alcohol — and the option to take a bag of lavender to your room for a good night’s sleep.

Is there anywhere to hang out in the hotel?

You can head up to the rooftop terrace in the day or evening to marvel at the floor-to-ceiling windows and open top. While the setup is very aesthetically pleasing, be warned that it can get pretty steamy during summer, and in winter it will be rather fresh. From spring to autumn, they do yoga lessons on weekend mornings for ¥1,000.

There is also the bar and lounge area which has an array of different comfortable chairs and sofas. If you prefer working at a desk, they also have large tables with built-in sockets.

What are the rooms like?

The rooms are spacious and have both natural light and warm mood lighting. The toilet and shower/bath are separate, which is a plus. While the bigger rooms have a bath and desk, the standard size only have a shower and small table for working. Most rooms have a window sill with a cushion instead of a long sofa — I’d have preferred a sofa.

Other amenities:

• TV with mirroring (Android only), Netflix, and other streaming services
• Nespresso machine
• Mini-fridge
• Bathrobes (upper floors only)
• Umbrellas
• Pajamas

How big are the rooms?

Rooms at AC Hotel are designed to feel big — the low beds and well-placed lighting contribute to this. A Standard King or Twin is 25 square meters, while the Superior rooms are 30 square meters. Coming out on top are the Premium rooms at 50 or 60 square meters.

Are the rooms comfortable?

The beds are soft and airy, as are the pillows. While you can’t open the windows, there is the option to open an air vent. The air conditioner is quiet and luckily no sound reaches the room from the street.

What’s the view like?

While the windows reach to the ceiling, as you are in the center of Ginza, there’s not much in the way of sights — you’ll either be facing the main road or other buildings. Your best bet is to go up to the rooftop to snap some photos.

Should I order the breakfast?

Breakfast is served in AC Kitchen (the restaurant) on the first floor, although you can also eat in the more relaxed bar and lounge area if you wish. The buffet has numerous options from the unhealthy: bacon (incl. crispy), sausages, donuts, and churros; to the reasonably healthy: fruit, cereals, salad, and yoghurt. They also offer made-to-order dishes including Spanish scrambled eggs, ramen, and pho.

This all seems very impressive, and it is, but it does come with a high price tag. If you turn up at the door, expect to pay ¥4,427. When included in your room, it works out at around ¥3,719 — still pricey.

How is the location?

The location is great for exploring the east of Tokyo on foot as well as via public transport. You are right in the middle of Ginza and you are able to walk to Hibiya Park in around 10 minutes and the Imperial Palace in 20. It is also surrounded by subway stations, which is convenient, but may be a little annoying if you have a Japan Rail Pass.

How is the access to trains and subway?

The closest stations are:

• Higashi-Ginza Station (2-minute walk): Take the Hibiya Line for Roppongi, Ueno, and Akihabara and the Asakusa Line for Asakusa and Tokyo Sky Tree.
• Ginza Station (5-minute walk): Take the Marunouchi Line for Shinjuku and Ikebukuro, the Ginza Line for Shibuya, Omotesandō, and Nihonbashi; and the Hibiya Line.

The closest JR stations are Shimbashi Station and Yūrakuchō Station — both around a 10-minute walk away.

How do I get there from Tokyo’s airports?

• From Haneda Airport: There is a direct line from Haneda Airport using the Keikyū Line, which continues on as the Asakusa Line to Higashi-Ginza Station. The whole journey takes 35 minutes and costs ¥470.
• From Narita Airport: This airport is a little more complicated. You can either take the Skyliner to Aoto Station and change to the Ginza Line for Higashi-Ginza Station (costing ¥2,400 and taking just under an hour) or directly take the Keisei Narita Skyaccess Line which changes into the Asakusa Line and get off at Higashi-Ginza Station (¥1,450 and taking 1 hour and 15 minutes).

What’s the surrounding neighborhood like?

Ginza is an upscale area that is known for its designer shops, art galleries, high-class restaurants, and plenty of other things to do. While, you won’t get to see the nitty gritty Tokyo, there are still plenty of bars when the lights go out — just expect to pay a little bit extra than you would anywhere else in Tokyo. If you take a short 10-minute walk to the Shinbashi area, you will find a livelier atmosphere with cheaper food.

Are there many good places to eat nearby?

Apart from the nearby Lawson convenience store, there are several places to eat nearby. Though, be warned, some of these come with a high price tag such as famous teppanyaki joint Ginza Ukai Tei. On the cheaper end, there is trusty Ippudo ramen, reasonably priced Kobe beef restaurant Gyūan, and row upon row of sushi shops — we recommend Sushi Iwa and Sushi Aoki (takeout from ¥3,500).

What points of interest are within walking distance of the hotel?

• Ginza 6 Shopping Mall (2-minute walk)
• Tsukiji Market (7-minute walk)
• Ad Museum Tokyo (10-minute walk)
• Hibiya Park and Tokyo Midtown Hibiya (10-minute walk)
• Hamarikyu Gardens (15-minute walk)
• Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station (20-minute walk)

Who should stay here?

There are no cots or pull-in beds available and there are also no family rooms. Occupancy tends to be limited to two people per room and because of this, we wouldn’t recommend this hotel for large groups. The atmosphere, design, and amenities on offer are geared towards the younger crowd, although the atmosphere seems suitable for all ages above 20.

What sustainability measures do they have?

Disappointingly they aren’t doing much at the moment To Marriott’s credit they are transparent in reporting their water usage and carbon footprint, which is something that very few other hotels in Tokyo do.

• In-room recycling
• No single-use plastic straws
• Ability to reuse towels and linen

Their water footprint is 570.86 liters per room per night and their carbon footprint is 43.25 kg per room per night. (Source: Marriot Bonvoy)

Tips and tricks for the best stay

To save money, join the Marriot Bonvoy Membership Club and get exclusive rates — it’s free, so you don’t have anything to lose.