Terms of Reference:
Location: Some people prefer to stay in the
heart of a city for the excitement, the energy,
the transportation connections and the nightlife.
Others may prefer to stay some distance away
for the peace and quiet or for a specific cultural
experience, while still others might choose a
hotel right out of town for the natural setting and
solitude.
Lifestyle refers to your own needs. This may
relate to the star-rating of the hotel and your
Location- Decor- Attitude:
preference for 1 star or 5 stars. Lifestyle can
The Courtyard by Marriott Tokyo Ginza Hotel Ginza has it all
also be affected by everything from the colour
scheme used in the rooms and hallways, to the
amenities in the rooms or how ‘green’ the hotel is in terms of their environmental footprint.
In Japan, lifestyle can relate to the type of room you are looking for: Western or Japanese. Western
rooms mirror those you will find anywhere in the world—one or two beds, a bathroom, a television, a
desk etc. Japanese rooms –also known as tatami rooms, are a different experience.
Tatami: These straw mats cover the floor of the room and are used for all activities including sleeping.
The furniture in a tatami room may be knee-high or shorter, with the idea that you sit cross legged, with
your legs in front of you or side saddle. The chairs --more like chair-backs-- offer back support as you
sit at the tea table. Tatami rooms usually have a television, a storage closet where you’ll find the futon,
blankets and pillows that the house-keeping staff will lay out on the floor for you at night time. Rooms
will have a washroom, equipped with a Japanese bathtub—which is usually very deep for soaking.
Other lifestyle factors may relate to the type of hotel: a high story hotel with hundreds of rooms, a small
hotel for a more intimate stay, a Ryokan (a traditional bed and breakfast), a business hotel (usually 2-3
stars) for convenience and cost, and of course ‘capsule’ hotels which the author has scrupulously
avoided to date.
A smile conveys the attitude of the Niwa Hotel:
friendly, helpful and positive
Attitude: The attitude of the hotel, as a whole, is
often what inspires people to return. Do you
receive an enthusiastic greeting when you arrive or
robot-like demand for a credit card? Is the decor of
the hotel and your room to your liking or does it
remind you of something that your grandparents
would love—or at the opposite end of the spectrum,
something that would be better placed in Las
Vegas, rather than Tokyo? Does the staff make a
concerted effort to smile, be friendly and act helpful
or do they try to look busy whenever you approach
the front desk or the concierge. And lastly, does the
hotel leave a good impression on you when you
check out—are they friendly and wish you a good
trip onward, or is the check-out an impersonal
business transaction from an unsmiling clerk who
just wants you to pay the bill and leave?