The Capitol Hotel Tokyu

I have very mixed feelings about this hotel. I have stayed at this property for at least 5 times pre and post COVID-19 pandemic. I was also one of the first returning customers to stay at this property when the pandemic restrictions were just getting lifted. Very unfortunately, standards have dropped here, although the hotel's physical features and amenities are still very good. First, the pricing. Hotel prices in Tokyo in general, have gone sky high, way beyond the usual inflationary factor. But this hotel's prices are now ridiculously high to the extent that I cannot imagine that many people who are able to afford to stay here. Maybe that is the real intent? To sieve out the "rift raft". If so, that's fine I suppose. So this review is really in the context of soaring prices. When I compared to the first time I stayed here pre-pandemic, the prices have more than doubled. Yet, the offerings and standards have clearly dropped. As always, check in was uneventful, if not rather formal and "cold". The staff at the reception area have never been known to be warm and smiley. They simply do not smile, period! But they will bow in the typical Japanese way. I must say that the door personnel are much nicer and more hospitable. The room I booked was alright in terms of size. About 60 square metres. Regular shaped. All the pre-arrival requests were fulfilled properly. So that was good. The bed was firm, which I liked. As were the pillows (also specially pre-ordered). The bathroom was good as well, very well maintained. Housekeeping was probably the best thing about the service in the hotel - always reliable, and on most days (except one day), the staff did a very good job at cleaning and keeping the room tidy and neat. Breakfast was a rather dull and sad affair. After 2 days, you'll get tired of the offerings. A very limited selection at the buffet area. Very restrictive menu offerings when breakfast is included in your room rate. The food quality is good though, just don't expect a huge variety. Even the fruits and juices were rather limited. As I had booked the Club Floor Room, I could use the lounge on the 27th floor. It had the usual offerings of drinks, snacks and desserts in the evenings and there's a cooking station where the chef makes beef fillets or some seafood dish but each person is ONLY entitled to ONE dish per evening! I found this rather odd, but I suppose it's a cost management tactic. The worst experience came on my last evening in the hotel. I went to the lounge as usual, Tried to sit myself down at my favorite seat, which was at a corner, but was told by one of the staff that I could not sit there! I did not know that seating at the Club Lounge could be reserved?!?! How absolutely ridiculous! So I sat elsewhere and waited to see exactly who was to sit there at my usual table. Well, NOBODY! Instead, some young looking guys with I suppose their father sat at the tables nearby. I left about 15 minutes before the evening canapes / snacks and drinks were stopped and did not see anyone sitting at the table. So if you like experiencing feeling like a second class customer, I'd invite you to try this club lounge.

Great location. Great room design and furnishings. Excellent bathroom. Try and get a room overseeing the Shintu shrine. You can hear the monks chanting early in the morning. The Tokyo skyline at night is magical. The front desk clerk charged our credit card upfront for the whole 12 day stay despite claiming that they only took a small guarantee for incidentals. The fake apologies and bowing for the mistake happened here as well. I was told to take the matter up with my Bank. The Bank reversing the charge however cost me extra due to the exchange rate difference at the day of the charge and the day of the reversal charge along with lots of paperwork, affidavits, emails etc... Incompetent bad intentioned front desk employee! Shame on you and shame on the Capitol Hotel. Watch out for the bait and switch and misrepresentations folks... This is not over yet! The housekeeping department was absolutely the gold standard. Best I've seen. The concierge and bellhops were great. They have artists play traditional Japanese instruments afternoons on certain days. These ladies were great. The hotel has a private tunnel leading to the Tokyo subway with a 7-11, Starbucks and Family Mart convenience store nearby. Avoid the 7-11 and try the Family Mart which has better employees and a larger and fresher selection. Absolutely avoid, avoid, avoid the in-house Origami Restaurant. I wrote a separate review about them here on Tripadvisor.. Disrespectful rude racist employees. Refused us service. Complained to hotel management weighing in on how foreign guests need to be treated. The service delivery failure or rather the racist refusal of service recovery came in the form of a fruit plate brought to the room. Great location, nice rooms, and excellent housekeeping but racist Origami employees and Financial improprieties by the front desk despite being repeat guests... Hotel guest beware!

After staying here in February we decided to stay here again this October and I don’t think we’ll ever stay in another hotel in Tokyo ever again. Impeccable style and class. Quiet, with wonderful views of the National Diet (parliament) and the Imperial Palace grounds. The hotel is so beautiful that tour groups coming to see the adjacent Hie Shrine come by to admire the hotel’s zen gardens. I’m almost hesitant to leave this review as I want to keep this place a secret, but it wouldn’t be fair to this hotel lol. My only gripe is that the gym is not as expansive as in other hotels of this class.

This hotel is just super great - both regarding the rooms and location. We had connecting rooms on the 24th floor overviewing the imperial garden and the city. The hotel is located directly above a subway station making it really easy to navigate around Tokyo… only small issue is that you need to be above 18 to use the spa - and two of my three kids are below. Other hotels we have visited is that age 12. Can surely recommend this hotel.

Hotel, staff and amenities were exceptional. We had a five day stay in August, and it did not disappoint, easily accessible to metro, very central, short walk to Imperial Gardens. The hotel restaurant was excellent, we stayed on the lounge level and the staff there could not be more attentive. Will definitely stay there on future stays highly recommended.