The Hotel Villa Fontaine
The Hotel Villa Fontaine I saw on TV the Hotel Villa Fontaine in Shiodome (she oh doh may) just opened August 9th. What makes it different is it's a more Western style business hotel. Very much like an Embassy Suites. Larger Western style rooms with either 2 doubles or one king size bed and a reasonable price. Starting a 10000yen a night (about $90). Net connection in every room supposedly.

It's in Shiodome which is a new part of town that just opened about a year ago. Only 2 stops from Tokyo station and walking distance from Ginza (10 mins), and Shinbashi (5 mins) it's probably a great place to stay for anyone visiting Japan on business. Shinbashi means easy access to the Yamanote line which is the main line through Tokyo. The Shiodome station is also there which is on the Oedo Line which will get you straight to Roppongi and Shinjuku in just a few stops.

To give you a comparison, 5 years ago I stated at the Shinjuku Washington Hotel, another hotel labeled a "business hotel". The rooms were tiny. 2 twins size beds with about 1.5 feet between them against the walls on 3 sides. A bathroom you had to duck to fit in and it was 25000 a night!
Comments:

[ e ]

The Villa Fontaine chain is excellent for foreign visitors.  I often put up my colleagues from overseas here as the accomodations are acceptable and affordable.  There is also a more central location at Roppongi I-Chome (with direct access to the Nanboku-sen as part of the Izumi Garden Complex).  The Nihonbashi location is also convenient with access to the Ginza, Hanzomon, Hibiya, Tozai, Asakusa and JR Lines no more than ten minutes away.

However, from my experience the food offered at these hotels is sparse.

If you have a little bit bigger budget and are looking for a nicer/bigger room than is usual in Japan, the Dai Ichi Hotel Tokyo in Shimbashi is nice at about 230.000 YEN per night.  Underground access to Shimbashi station makes this hotel convenient year round.

posted by deevi0sAugust 10, 2004 at 4:28

Cheers dude [ e ]

Thanks for this man. I have three people coming over between Aug 18/28 for a shoot so this is an ideal place to put 'em in, especially with their budget constraints!

posted by DuncanAugust 12, 2004 at 1:30

Excellent budget choice [ e ]

Although I prefer the mid price luxury of the Park Hotel Shiodome I have made the Villa Fontaine my current hotel of choice in Tokyo (I'm there about 4 - 5 times a year). As the other comment noted, food choices are limited inside of the hotel, but I almost never eat in the palce I stay because I like getting out and about. Fontaine sits on top of the Shiodome shopping complex wher you will find several great restaurant choices, a fantastic boulangerie, and a couple of convenience stores that stock great Bento meals. You will have no problems with food. Directly across the underground walkway you find the entrance to the Park Hotel, where there are another half dozen casual restaurants, and one more convenience store. This place is clean, simple, and in a fantastic location for walking excursions and access to the trains. Easy walk to Yurakcho and Tsukiji.

posted by HomeAwayFromHomeJanuary 24, 2007 at 16:58