Asian Adventure: Cathay Pacific B777-300ER Business Class San Francisco to Hong Kong
Asian Adventure: Cathay Pacific Lounge Review: The Cabin at HKG
Asian Adventure: Cathay Dragon A330-300 Business Class Hong Kong to Beijing
Asian Adventure: Regent Beijing Hotel
Asian Adventure: Beijing - Dongcheng District
Asian Adventure: Beijing - The Great Wall
Asian Adventure: Beijing - Run-ze Jade Garden
Asian Adventure: Beijing - The Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs
Asian Adventure: Beijing - The Legend of Kung Fu
Asian Adventure: Beijing - Tiananmen Square
Asian Adventure: Beijing - The Forbidden City
Asian Adventure: Beijing - Hutong Tour via Rickshaw, Tea Tasting, Flying to Xi’an
Asian Adventure: Hotel Shangri-La Xi’an
Asian Adventure: Xi’an - Qing Dynasty Terra Cotta Warriors
Asian Adventure: Xi’an - Tang Dynasty Dinner and Show
Asian Adventure: Xi’an Wrap-Up, Flying to Lhasa, Lhasa Home Visit
Asian Adventure: Shangri-La Hotel Lhasa
Asian Adventure: Lhasa - Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Market
Asian Adventure: Lhasa - Canggu Nunnery and Sera Monastery
Asian Adventure: Lhasa - Potala Palace
Asian Adventure: Leaving Lhasa and Flying to Chongqing
Asian Adventure: Viking Emerald
Asian Adventure: Shibaozhai Temple
Asian Adventure: Cruising the Three Gorges
Asian Adventure: Three Gorges Dam
Asian Adventure: Jingzhou City Walls Tour
Asian Adventure: Wuhan - Hubei Bells Performance and Provincial Museum
Asian Adventure: Shanghai - Shanghai Museum
Asian Adventure: Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai
Asian Adventure: Shanghai - Old Shanghai and Yuyan Gardens
Asian Adventure: The New Otani Tokyo Hotel
Asian Adventure: Tokyo - City Tour
Asian Adventure: Mt. Fuji and Hakone Tour Returning by Shinkansen
Asian Adventure: ANA Suites Lounge Review, Tokyo Narita
Asian Adventure: All Nippon Airways B777-300ER First Class Tokyo Narita to Houston
The next morning, a Tuesday, the three of us from our small group were up early to catch our flight to Tokyo. Those who were heading back to Nashville all had later flights. Originally Viking had put two of us on one flight to Tokyo and the third person on a different flight but we got them to put us all on the same flight. The down side of that was that we had to fly on Delta instead of experiencing a new airline. We did manage to grab some bulkhead seats (for a fee) so at least we had legroom on our 3h 40m flight.
There were about 35 people on the Tokyo extension and I was surprised that not only were we not all on the same flight, people were arriving on quite a number of different flights. I think some did not get to Tokyo until dinner time or later. There were probably 7-8 of us on our Delta flight and once we arrived and retrieved our luggage we all started looking for the Viking rep. What we didn't know was that on these extensions, we're actually getting a local guide and not a Viking employee. The reason that matters? Color. When out with tour groups, Viking guides always have on a red shirt and/or a red jacket. Even the boat's staff members, when they were outside the ship guiding us back to the correct place wore red coats. But once we finally found our guide she did not have anything red on her. And every single one of us looking for her had expected someone in red. Eventually we did connect and make it to the motor coach that took us to the New Otani Hotel.
As we expected by now, check-in was quite efficient with our guide working the desk and then handing us our keys. We all took off for the elevators where we found an employee standing by just to push the UP button for us along with a polite bow, naturally. This is something we saw several times during our stay. It seemed to be most common during the busiest hours.
The three of us from our small group had connecting rooms on a fairly high floor. I believe this is the first time I've ever seen a connecting door that had to be unlocked by management but they had no problem doing that while we went out to dinner.
Compared to the hotel rooms we'd had in China, this one was a bit of a let down. It was plenty functional but we'd been spoiled by the luxury in the prior two weeks. Like the other rooms we'd had when stepping into the room there was a bathroom on one side, the closet on the other and the bed, desk and chairs in the back by the windows.
This room was not large enough for two double beds so we were back to twins - though these were a lot more comfortable than the ones on the boat. There was a single night stand between the beds.
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| New Otani Beds |
We lucked out in that our room was the last one on the hallway and the outside wall curved a bit so we had quite a few windows. The day we arrived and the following day it was overcast or raining most of the time but in the evening the city lights were pretty.
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| New Otani city view |
The bright green area is probably a park or athletic field, I'd guess.
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| New Otani city view |
There were two chairs under the window, with a small table between them.
Against the right wall was a large piece of furniture that combined the desk, mini-bar, fridge and drawers. The TV sat on top of it and there was a place for luggage at one end. I ended up pushing the two chairs to the left a bit so I could open up my suitcase on the floor.
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| New Otani mini-fridge |
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| New Otani snack drawer |
Since we were only there for three nights we didn't make use of the closet but it was fairly large and had some shelves as well as the safe inside. Bathrobes and slippers were provided as well.
As modern and high-tech as Tokyo is, it amused me to see this very old-school thermostat. I think I was lucky it was overcast as it helped keep the room cool.
Compared to our last hotel, the Fairmont Peace, the bathroom was positively miniscule. Compared to other hotels it was on the smaller side but adequate. On the left side was the sink and the vanity.
On the right side was the tub shower with complimentary artwork.
Remember the low-tech thermostat? Meet the high-tech toilet. Rather, it's a combination toilet and bidet with electronic controls. However it still wasn't as fancy as the one at the airport that also had a setting to play music! I assume that's to help drown out any noise you may be making while seated....
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| New Otani toilet controls |
These may have been my least favorite toiletries of the trip. They were made by Aroma.
The hotel complex is huge. There are two towers of hotel rooms and a third tower that is office space with some retail. Beneath the main lobby of the hotel are a few floors of retail and restaurants in addition to the hotel's own restaurants. For breakfast Viking provided us with vouchers for one of the three buffets. There was one on the main floor and the other two were up at the top of one of the towers.
The hotel is located near the Akasaka District and there were tons of different restaurants in easy walking distance. We had fun just walking through the area checking out the sights and sounds.
The hotel is near at least one subway line and a major highway so it was not difficult to reach at all.
We saw lots of business people staying at this hotel as well as tourists so it’s likely convenient to businesses as well.
I wouldn't mind staying here again though my first preference would be to try out somewhere else.
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