Courtyard by Marriott Tokyo Ginza Hotel

While Courtyard has seen better days, it will soon undergo a renovation in 2023. Right now, its meeting rooms, gym, and reasonable breakfast should satisfy the typical business traveler.

What’s the hotel like?

The exterior of the hotel isn’t something you’d put on a postcard, but the interior “courtyard” entrance area somewhat makes up for those failings. Here you’ll find the reception desk, lounge, gift shop, and a central spiral staircase leading to the basement floor. The overall décor is clean and simple.

What facilities does the hotel have?

There are quite a number of facilities at this hotel including a fitness center, two restaurants — international and Japanese cuisine, bar, lounge, gift shop, and numerous event rooms. There is also parking available for ¥2,000 and an ice machine on every floor.

Is there anywhere to hang out in the hotel?

There are no “free” spots to hang out in the hotel apart from your room. While the lounge (Oasis) is light, airy, and inviting, you will have to pay for a coffee to get the privilege of staying there — plus, plug sockets are scarce.

There are also many conference and meeting rooms to rent and a bar to grab a drink at in the evenings. If you want to get work done, your best bet is locking yourself in your room with its generous desk.

What are the rooms like?

The rooms at the top of the hotel get plenty of light, and while the wallpaper is a bit worn and certain amenities are quite dated — the telephone and hairdryer –- these negatives will probably get revamped in 2023. Apart from that, they are well-stocked and every room, even the smallest, has a large desk.

Other amenities:

• Nespresso machine and tea selection
• TV
• In-room dining (from around ¥1,600 for a main dish)
• Massage service
• Pajamas
• Free Wall Street Journal access

How big are the rooms?

There are a few types of rooms at Courtyard with varying sizes. The Single is 16 square meters, as is the Economy Double. The Standard King, Queen, or Prime rooms are 26 square meters. The Deluxe King is 35 square meters and the Rose King is 44 square meters.

The bathrooms can be slightly cramped, unless you are in one of the suites (where the baths and toilets are separated).

Are the rooms comfortable?

The beds are large but nothing extraordinary. The pillows, however, are great for picky sleepers as you get a choice of firm or memory-foam soft. The deep baths are also inviting and can hold a lot of bubbles.

What’s the view like?

It depends on which floor you are in the hotel. The higher rooms have a reasonable city view of Ginza, but the lower you go the more likely your room will face another building.

Should I order the breakfast?

The buffet breakfast at Courtyard offers a wide selection of food to satiate your appetite. There are chefs there to offer you freshly made eggs — omelet, scrambled, or poached — as well as other Western favorites such as bacon and sausages. If you prefer dining Japanese-style, then you can grab dumplings, noodles, rice, and other delights. Fruit, juices, milk alternatives, and a candy tree are also available.

The standalone price was ¥3,630 and around ¥2,242 when included in your room. If you aren’t much of an eater, it might be worth opting for in-room breakfast so you can pick and choose (and maybe save some money), or head to the convenience store 2-minutes down the road.

How is the location?

The location is great for exploring the east of Tokyo on foot as well as via public transport. You are not far from the middle of Ginza and you are able to walk to Hibiya Park in around 10 minutes, and the Imperial Palace in 25. Courtyard is also surrounded by subway stations, which is convenient, but may be a little annoying if you have a Japan Rail Pass.

How is the access to trains and subway?

The closest stations are:

• Higashi-Ginza Station (3-minute walk): Take the Hibiya Line for Roppongi, Ueno, and Akihabara and the Asakusa Line for Asakusa and Tokyo Sky Tree.
• Ginza Station (5-minute walk): Take the Marunouchi Line for Shinjuku and Ikebukuro, the Ginza Line for Shibuya, Omotesandō, and Nihonbashi; and the Hibiya Line.

The closest JR stations are Shimbashi Station and Yūrakuchō Station — both around a 10-minute walk away.

How do I get there from Tokyo’s airports?

• From Haneda Airport: There is a direct line from Haneda Airport using the Keikyū Line, which continues on as the Asakusa Line to Higashi-Ginza Station. The whole journey takes 35 minutes and costs ¥470.
• From Narita Airport: This airport is a little more complicated. You can either take the Skyliner to Aoto Station and change to the Ginza Line for Higashi-Ginza Station (costing ¥2,400 and taking just under an hour) or directly take the Keisei Narita Skyaccess Line which changes into the Asakusa Line and get off at Higashi-Ginza Station (¥1,450 and taking 1 hour and 15 minutes).

What’s the surrounding neighborhood like?

Ginza is an upscale area that is known for its designer shops, art galleries, high-class restaurants, and plenty of other things to do. While, you won’t get to see the nitty gritty Tokyo, there are still plenty of bars when the lights go out — just expect to pay a little bit extra than you would anywhere else in Tokyo. If you take a short 10-minute walk to the Shinbashi area, you will find a livelier atmosphere with cheaper food.

Are there many good places to eat nearby?

Apart from a nearby 7-Eleven and Lawson at which to grab snacks and bentō, there are numerous places to eat nearby. Though, be warned, some of these come with a high price tag such as famous teppanyaki joint Ginza Ukai Tei. On the cheaper end, there is trusty Ippudo ramen, reasonably priced Kobe beef restaurant Gyūan, and row upon row of sushi shops — we recommend Sushi Iwa and Sushi Aoki (takeout from ¥3,500).

What points of interest are within walking distance of the hotel?

• Ginza 6 Shopping Mall (2-minute walk)
• Ad Museum Tokyo (8-minute walk)
• Tsukiji Market (9-minute walk)
• Hibiya Park and Tokyo Midtown Hibiya (10-minute walk)
• Hamarikyu Gardens (10-minute walk)
• Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station (20-minute walk)

Who should stay here?

This isn’t the kind of hotel where you come to party or make friends, and while there is the opportunity to have pull-out beds, this is still very much a typical business hotel. It’s large work desks, numerous meeting rooms, and basic amenities are designed for someone on the road.

What sustainability measures do they have?

At the moment, the hotel isn’t doing much for sustainability. They have:

• in-room recycling
• ability to reuse towels and linens

Their current usage carbon footprint is 73.77 kg per room per night. (Source: Marriot Bonvoy)

Tips and tricks for the best stay

To save money, join the Marriot Bonvoy Membership Club and get exclusive rates — it’s free, so you don’t have anything to lose.