Stay & Play

Sterling Accommodation in Ginza

by Steve Gillick

Travelers in the know, know to travel with an open mind. And so back in 2012, based on our experience in Canada, we decided to stay at the Courtyard by Marriott in Ginza, while in Tokyo for a few days. The relatively reasonable price was a draw for this four-star business hotel but we would soon discover that the ‘location-location-location’ mantra of seasoned travelers would be ‘the’ irresistible attraction.

Ginza’s reputation was established in 1612 when it was chosen as the site for a silver coin mint, and while the mint was destroyed by fire in 1872, the reputation of the area seems to have continued to enjoy a silver lining to this day with upscale shopping and dining experiences, as well as creative architecture, ranging from the Wako Clock Tower which was a symbol of modernity when it was constructed in 1894, to the façade of the Louis Vuitton building, evoking images of art deco and the soft, plush feel of leather.

From both Narita and Haneda airports, there are regular Limousine Buses that include the Courtyard in Ginza on their route. And from the train and bus stations, while many taxi drivers know the hotel by its current name, it’s sometimes helpful to remind them of the former name, Tobu Hotel-Ginza.

Once you arrive you can expect a friendly greeting, a quick check-in, and a walk along a warm-coloured hallway into a comfortably-appointed room. The hotel has a small fitness center and a self-serve business center with free computers. The buffet breakfasts provide a great selection of hot and cold foods, from Western omelets to rice, natto, fish and miso soup.

And then there are the ‘walking-distance’ attractions that make the hotel so convenient.

Tsukiji, the world’s largest and busiest fish market is a ten-minute walk to the south-east. The indoor market, which is mostly wholesale and includes the tuna fish auction, is scheduled to move two miles south to the Toyosu area after June 2018. But in the spirit of creating the ultimate ‘food theme park”, the outdoor area with shops selling fish, seafood and kitchen gadgets, as well as restaurants featuring ultra-fresh fish and seafood dishes, will continue to operate.

A five minute walk north of the hotel brings you to the Kabuki Theatre, right by the subway station that links with the Ginza subway line and other lines, providing easy access to just about every place you would want to travel in the Greater Tokyo Area.

A five minute walk north-west brings you to the department stores, shops and restaurants that have made Ginza famous, while further west, but still only a 15-20 minute walk away, is Yurakucho, a great area for shopping and for restaurants (try one of the open-air Yakitori places, but be prepared to wait for a seat).

While the Ginza area sells itself as a destination, the Courtyard by Marriott Ginza complements the destination so well, not only because of its location, but also because it’s a comfortable and easily accessible ‘home’ for a rest in the middle of the day or to launch your travels elsewhere in the city. It’s fitting that you can enjoy sterling accommodation in the venue made famous, a short 400 years ago, by silver.

www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tyocy-courtyard-tokyo-ginza-hotel/