BELLUSTAR TOKYO, a Pan Pacific Hotel

My wife and I stayed here during our recent honeymoon to Japan. We stayed in a spacious corner suite with a large bath, and the panoramic views were nothing short of spectacular (especially given that Kabukicho tower is so much taller than everything around it). The service was also very friendly and their recommendations on what to do and where to eat in the area were very much appreciated. I don't think this is really the hotel's fault obviously, but I do have to say it was truly a bit much to stay in the heart of Kabukicho. The vast majority of cool spots even within Shinjuku, as well as most of the main metro lines connecting you to the rest of the city, were a decent walk away through the crowds. The hotel itself felt like an oasis above all of the activity to its credit, and it was definitely a good idea to build *a* luxury hotel there, but there's no getting away from the location issue. I also respected the bold choice to go with a heavy blue and black color scheme--and liked the furnishings that went along with the theme--but it did make the vibe a bit overwhelming and cold rather than relaxing or homey. That being said, we were aware of these drawbacks before booking and chose to stay here because they offered by far the best price and location for a luxury hotel on the west side of Tokyo. By comparison, the Hotel Indigo, sequence Miyashita Park, and Cerulean Tower in Shibuya charged comparable or even sometimes higher rates for smaller, less luxurious rooms than the one we booked here. And the others in both areas that were priced lower were primarily business hotels with smaller rooms that cater to business travelers. It's all relative with Tokyo hotel prices, but we did get a good bang for our buck here.

Perched high atop Shinjuku, this practically brand new hotel with lux restaurants, great views and prime location was a treat. The staff were helpful and the corner suite I stayed in was fantastic. One minor annoyance is the elevator from the ground floor to the lobby could take a while to arrive, but that's about it as far as faults go. It was very quiet being so far up with the only noticeable noise being the faint sounds of trains, but nothing to bring your earplugs for. If you have kids, there are plenty of amusements in Kabukicho Tower to keep them busy for a while.

A great hotel with a view. The hotel is situated strategically at Kabukicho Tower, right in the heart of Shinjuku. All the activities at your foot step, but when you reach your room, a high enough level away from the bustle and you are at your own peaceful safe space. The front desk was a delight. Checking in is an experience in itself. The staff are what made Bellustar such a great hotel. Check in was a breeze and so reassuring as they answered all my questions. Really exceptional team. The room is fantastic. Floor to ceiling windows made the view so fantastic. We saw Skytree tower and DoMoCo tower from our room. Going to the penthouse lounge, we could see Mount Fuji. Food was excellent. Their breakfast set for in-room-dining was so well presented and delicious. This stay was worth every yen.

We booked a deluxe 2 bedroom suite direct with the hotel using the early bird and Pan Pacific member discount. Received email booking confirmation with details of suite cost for the duration of our stay. During check in the hotel staff member explained they would be taking a 10 % deposit . This is standard hotel procedure, no problem. We were shown to our suite and it was breathtaking - Tokyo as far as the eye could see from the Sky Tree to the Metropolitan Government Buildings and beyond. A view you never tire of. Suite itself was well furnished and perfect size for our family of 4. Beds very comfortable and spacious lounge area. During our stay we made use of the complimentary hotel car for 1 hour which was perfect for our early morning booking at TeamLab Borderless and one of the girls on the ground floor desk was so helpful in arranging it. A few hours after check in (whilst we were watching the sunset at Shibuya Sky) we received notification from Amex that over £5k had been held by the hotel (a much larger amount than the 10% they said they would be taking). The hotel had in fact requested a hold of the basic last minute room cost + 10%. Upon check out we were then presented with the bill for our suite which tallied with the email we received at time of booking. We paid this and were told it could take up to 2 weeks for the original £5k to have the hold removed - not great when we still had another 2 weeks holiday booked and were heading to Australia. It soured our stay and can’t understand why they operate this way , especially towards Pan Pacific Discovery members . instead of just charging you the cost of your total stay inc tax + a deposit to cover damage and room charges so only your deposit is held for 2 weeks. We consider ourselves lucky to have had funds available - albeit taking time away from our itinerary to move funds into global accounts that allowed us to continue our holiday but others may not.

First class accommodation. Although Bellustar Tokyo was conveniently situated within walking distance of Tokyo's most bustling train station: Shinjuku, one enters an entirely different world upon stepping into the Hotel's lobby, which rose 200 metres above the city. Every room was spacious with an unobstructed view of Tokyo and beyond. The service was exceptional and the food and beverage was amazing. Would highly recommend.