Akasaka Granbell Hotel

You may have read my post about the Granbell Hotel in Shibuya, where I raved about its cozy hipness and unbeatable location. During the same trip, I decided to stay a few days at the Akasaka Granbell to compare.  I figured I couldn't go wrong staying in another favorite part of town.

Well, I was disappointed. The ambience was totally different at this hotel and decidedly more masculine and  businessey. My room's monochromatic black and grey interior and drab lighting weren't inviting enough to write or hang out in. The bed was fine, and the amenities were similar to the Shibuya location. Breakfast was much simpler - pastries and coffee or tea offered buffet style in the lobby, which you take to your room (unlike the full-on teishoku offered at the Shibuya Granbell). Only some staff spoke English.

The location however is excellent - metro lines in Akasaka or Akasaka-mitsuke take you pretty much everywhere you need to go in Tokyo. The neighborhood is upscale and caters to the business crowd, composed of charming narrow streets, bars and clubs, cafes and bustling restaurants ranging from the tachinomi style (stand and drink) to very expensive.  I stayed in an apartment in Akasaka-mitsuke for an entire month in 2008 and loved it - my intent at the time was to hole up in a comfortable spot and write with occasional excursions out, and the location was perfect. However the location is quieter and doesn't have the same energy and all-night excitement that Shibuya does, which draws a younger crowd. So it's a good thing if you prefer a quieter area, but not as appealing if you prefer the convenience of stepping from your hotel and walking a couple of blocks to where the action is, i.e. Shibuya.

Prices at Akasaka Granbell are comparable to the Shibuya location. Be warned, there is an English-style pub called The Mermaid in the hotel located on street level, a good place for inexpensive drinks that draws a large ex-pat crowd, a fun place to hang out, but noise from the pub patrons can carry to your room sometimes till the wee hours. It didn't bother me but others may find it annoying.

Another good thing is my favorite Indian restaurant, Moti, is across the street from the hotel. However I was so uncharmed by my room and lack of personality of the hotel I actually cut my stay short and went back to the Granbell in Shibuya.  My lack of good photos proves my lack of enthusiasm for this hotel. I'd recommend this hotel if you're looking for a reasonable price (about $129 per night when booked through their site) and excellent location, or if you're in Tokyo on a quick business trip and don't care about ambience and warm lighting.

Click here for the Akasaka Granbell Hotel site.