Aloft Tokyo Ginza

Aloft Tokyo Ginza is a hotel that aims to blend music, art, and design — and it does it pretty well. Its colorful aesthetic gets young travelers in the door and the rooftop, bar, and altogether lively atmosphere make them stay. There is the risk of sensory overload, but this shouldn’t be a problem for those who thrive on dynamic, creative energy.

What’s the hotel like?

The hotel is lively and vibrant. It has many unique art pieces from well-known designers and a stand-out color theme. At night, it really shines — quite literally — when the facade is lit up with LED lights. The color changes depending on the season.

What facilities does the hotel have?

There is a 24-hour gym, restaurant, rooftop area, and bar (serving drinks and food from 3 p.m. to midnight) with a pool table and monthly events. Your hotel keycard gives you access to your floor without the need to press a button in the elevator.

Is there anywhere to hang out in the hotel?

There are quite a few places to sit down and relax. If you want some fresh air (and it isn’t raining), you can lounge on Aloft’s rooftop from noon. It isn’t super spacious — it has 28 seats and a vintage Volkswagen van that fills most of the space, but it still has a cool vibe and a killer view.

From 6 p.m. on weekdays and 3 p.m. on weekends, the rooftop turns into Roof Dogs, a cafe serving hot dogs, burgers, fries, and more American classics. Beer is around ¥950. It’s open throughout the year, but the food service may close during the winter months.

As for other spaces to work or chat in, the reception area can be used as a lounge and has chairs and a large table with sockets. The bar is also free to work in during the day, but may get loud and busy in the evenings.

What are the rooms like?

With large, wide windows, the rooms at Aloft get plenty of light. There isn’t much of an entranceway, but most of the space is spent in the bedroom. Here you’ll find a comfortable corner sofa and table instead of a desk, but there are still plenty of sockets. In the rooms that face the main street, there is a faint, almost indistinguishable sound of cars.

The bathrooms have a separate toilet and shower (bonus points) with both a waterfall shower and regular shower head — the only bathtubs are in the suites.

Other amenities:

• Clothes steamer
• TV with Netflix and other applications (signs out automatically)
• Drip coffee bags
• Cork noticeboard

How big are the rooms?

There are two types of rooms at Aloft: a standard size room (23 square meters) and a larger, more generous size (27 square meters). This is reasonable for Tokyo, and the minimalist layout and design accentuates the space.

Are the rooms comfortable?

The beds use Simmons mattresses and the pillows are all one type, but other variations are available at the reception. While there is no room service, you can bring things in and place them in the refrigerator. If you are looking to take a nap during the day, the air conditioner is quiet and there are black out curtains.

What’s the view like?

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.

Should I order the breakfast?

Currently, the hotel is offering a half-buffet breakfast — cooked food made to order with drinks and other food available from a buffet — but this may change in the near future to a complete buffet.

Breakfast is served in the restaurant (The Warehouse), which has a giant vintage Harley Davidson in the middle of the floor, exposed piping, and a beautiful mural by British artist Hush.

Their hot food options include a basic bacon bagel with soup, a selection of egg dishes, and a rice ball set. It took some time coming out from the kitchen. The buffet offers fresh juice, oat milk, muesli, cereal, dried fruits and nuts, as well as savory pastries, donuts, muffins, and fruit.

The standalone price is steep at ¥3,630, especially for the current service they are offering, although when included in your room, it works out at around ¥2,965. Note that the hotel does allow you to bring in your own food, and there is a Lawson convenience store across the road.

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 Lawson opposite, 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?

While there are some rooms for families (mainly the suites) and the ability to have a cot in some rooms, this hotel is predominantly for the younger crowd. The bar on the first floor and the rooftop might mean some quite rambunctious nights.

What sustainability measures do they have?

The hotel is in the process of providing a more sustainable stay, but so far, they have:

• an air conditioner that automatically turns off when you aren’t in the room
• a biodegradable toothbrush and hairbrush
• the ability to re-stock your own toiletries
• a pump bottle for shower products
• in-room recycling

Their current usage carbon footprint is 35.76 kg of CO2 per room per night and their water footprint is 404.68 liters per room per night (Source: Marriot Bonvoy).

Tips and tricks for the best stay

If you don’t want to shell out on a whisky at the bar, the hotel also has its own mini shop and stocks reasonably priced alcohol. There is also the Lawson convenience store across the street. Don’t feel guilty; you are allowed to bring in outside food and drink.

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