This review is part of the Travel Report (A Weekday in Singapore) and contains reviews of airlines, hotels and lounges during my trip down to Singapore. Hope you can enjoy them all!

Introduction

Upon landing at Haneda Airport, I was about ready to collapse from not sleeping the entire way. Flying First Class on Japan Airlines (which you can read about here) made the adventure so much more exciting, and I was ready to finally give in to sleep.

Because it was such a last minute booking, my initial hotel was the Conrad Tokyo, but it was all sold out. The Hilton Tokyo looked like the the best thing, and I redeemed 60,000 Hilton Points for a night at this classic gem. Generally, these rooms average around $400 to $500, so utilizing the points was a no-brainer.

Getting from Haneda Airport is super easy with the Airport Limo Buses, but I was so antsy on getting sleep that I ended up getting into a taxi, which obviously costed way more than the bus. With the bus, it’s around $11-12 bucks USD for the ticket. But with the taxi, it’s quite pricey at times. Thankfully, I arrived rather quickly and was checked-in swiftly at their executive lounge, which was on the 38th floor.

Room 3819 | King Executive Room

As a valued Diamond member, I was fortunate enough to be assigned to the highest floor of the hotel, specifically room 3819, which offered a truly remarkable view of the vibrant and energetic district of Shinjuku. This area is always a stunning place to admire, with its bright lights and bustling streets. The room itself was exceptionally traditional in style, featuring elegant shoji screens and fusuma, which are also known as screen doors for those who may not be familiar with these beautiful elements of Japanese design.

Since it was blazing hot outside in August—registering an uncomfortable 91 degrees at 8am in the morning—the shoji screens played a crucial role in blocking out the relentless heat, making the room much more comfortable overall. To further enhance my comfort, I had the air conditioning set to a refreshing 21 degrees Celsius, which resulted in a pleasantly chilly atmosphere inside the room.

In addition, there is a nice large desk that I immediately dumped all my electric hardware on, and a nice comfy lounge chair. Chair was showing a bit of wear, but it was still comfortable. On a more practical note - the power outlets here do not cater to US outlets, so bringing some adapters is important. I was lucky to carry my two own chargers with me, and had to charge my laptop via the bathroom sockets. You can also borrow from the front desk, if needed.

The king bed came with literally six pillows (I requested two more), and I immediately knocked out once I came into contact with it. No doubt these Hilton beds are called Serenity, because it works like a charm. Bathroom from the King Hilton is typical. Nothing special here. Small and quite hilarious with the design. If you shower, water is definitely spraying everywhere. However, the amenities provided were awesome, and I had great time using them during my shower time.

Executive Lounge | Hilton Tokyo

Achieving Diamond Status at the Hilton provided me with exclusive access to the Executive Lounge for breakfast, an experience I truly appreciated, especially since I was the very first guest to arrive (I love breakfast that much). The wide range of selections available was simply amazing and matched quite closely with offerings typically found at the much more upscale Hyatt and Marriott properties.

Guests have the option to have breakfast downstairs at the Marble Lounge or, as I preferred, enjoying the meal upstairs in the Executive Lounge. I found that the upstairs location not only provided a pleasant view but also a more serene atmosphere with fewer people around. The breakfast variety was fairly impressive, featuring a plethora of juices, including an abundance of freshly squeezed orange juices, along with numerous egg and protein selections. Additionally, there were so many hidden food gems skillfully scattered throughout the lounge, waiting to be discovered.

Conclusion

In summary, I treated myself to an excellent and rejuvenating night of sleep, enjoyed some truly amazing breakfast options, and experienced a spectacular hotel view completely free of charge by using my accumulated points. It’s quite a steal when you think about it—especially when you consider that these invaluable points can cover a staggering $600 a night room. Plus, it’s situated in a centralized location in Shinjuku, making it literally a fantastic place to kick off your unforgettable Japanese adventure.