Hotel 1899 Tokyo – Hotel Review

Furnished with a warm and welcoming minimalism, the simple Shimbashi Hotel 1899 Tokyo serves up a hospitable (and budget-friendly) stay in the heart of the city — with several special treats for tea lovers. Read on for the full review.

At Hotel 1899, green-tea devotees have myriad ways to enjoy the beloved Japanese beverage. At the hotel’s light and bright on-site teahouse – attached to the lobby space and overlooking the street – green tea is served steaming as is or infused in cakes and laced through ice cream twists or dripped into sodas. In the rooms, it’s the inspiration for the leaf-coloured carpets and cute light shades in the shape of whisks. It’s all part of the property’s efforts to infuse every stay with Japanese hospitality and heritage, confirmed by every steaming cup of tea served with a smile.

Where is Hotel 1899 Tokyo?

On a corner block overlooking Akarenga Street, Hotel 1899 Tokyo is in the centre of Shimbashi, near Shimbashi train station. The suburb is a fun tangle of bars, restaurants and crowds of commuters. It’s about an hour and 15 minutes cab ride from Narita International Airport.

What’s near Hotel 1899 Tokyo?

Tokyo Tower, a brick red spire that can be seen from all corners of the city, is less than 15 minutes away on foot and offers incredible views of the skyline. If you’re in town for shopping, the designer-store district of Ginza is about 20 minutes away on foot (or closer on the metro via nearby Shimbashi Station).

Room types

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Compact rooms are a Tokyo standard and, with the exception of the (relatively) spacious Corner Deluxe Twin, Hotel 1899’s are in step with the rest of the city, size-wise. Most of the cosy oat and sencha-coloured rooms have smart little seating and desk spaces (notably, Superior Doubles and above), for any short remote working stints, as well as bathtubs, nightwear, slippers and beverage stations. Bathroom amenities are green tea scented, of course.

Cafes

In addition to Chaya 1899 Tokyo’s tea-spiked treats, guests can opt to add the buffet spread to their bookings. Here, matcha bread makes a delightfully umami partner to soft scrambled eggs and there’s also an array of fresh salad and fruit goodies to pluck from – as well as the requisite cold and hot green teas to pair with it all.

Travel for work

You’ll want to grab a seat at the lobby cafe for extended work stints but the wi-fi is free (and green tea is plentiful).

What you need to know

The lobby offers free tea for guests, in addition to the extensive array on offer at the cafe.

  Best for: Budget travellers (and green-tea lovers)
    Design: Simple
    Ambience: Welcoming
    Number of rooms: 63
    Rates: From JPY15,500
    Wi-fi: Free
    Parking: Three spaces only, reservation required, ¥2,500 per day
    Address: 6-chōme-4番1号, Shinbashi , Minato City, Tokyo
    Phone: +81 3-3432-1899