Granbell Hotel Akasaka

At this point in history an affordable, stylish city-center boutique shouldn’t really be a novelty. But in Tokyo it still is. Here you’ll find some of the finest high-luxury accommodation in the world, as well as a plentiful supply of average and below-average business hotels. But places like the Granbell are out to change that, one hotel at a time — first in Shibuya, and now in Akasaka as well.

It’s located in a fairly typical high-rise building, but this is Tokyo, and that’s what you get. Inside, though, it’s quite a bit more inspiring, projecting a sedate and somewhat grown-up image — the Granbell’s idea of design is closer to chocolate-and-cream luxury than to eye-popping graphic hip. As with the Shibuya location, the Granbell Akasaka begins with some very compact and affordable single rooms, and moves up to suites that are much more substantial — still just this side of enormous, but exceedingly comfortable all the same.

Once you move up the scale you’re in the same bracket as Tokyo’s classic business hotels — the value here is probably in the more affordable end of things. But either way it’s hard to fault the Granbell’s style, not to mention the location; Ginza, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Aoyama are all within easy reach.

How to get there:
From Narita International airport take the Limousine Bus to Akasaka Excel Hotel Tokyu Station.From here cross the pedestrian walk towards the Akasaka Mitsuke Station. Go through the station and turn left onto Espranado Street towards the Subway. The hotel is a 3 minute walk from here on right hand side.