Read a lot of good reviews about this property but have never stayed here before. Most of the reviews focused on its physical attributes (building, location, convenience to shopping & restaurants, being on top of transport hub etc….). In addition, I would like to check out it’s inside attributes in services, facilities and value.
My wife and I stayed here for 2 years (technically yes, coz we checked in Dec 31; checked out Jan 2). Knowing ahead of time that we would not do too much sight seeing. Instead we would relax and check out the restaurants and shopping within the 2 towering buildings that is in fact part of the train station complex.
We took the Shinkansen from Osaka (the city) to Nagoya early morning of 12/31. Total journey time by the Nozomi from Shin-Osaka Station to Nagoya Station was 53 minutes, with one brief stop at Kyoto. From the platform of the Shinkansen to the hotel lobby is not as dramatic as some of the posts I read elsewhere on the web suggested. Simple, take 2 flights of escalator down to the main hall. Marriott sign shows up on the left corridor which is lined with shops. A 2-minute walk later, you see the elevator that will bring you up to the hotel lobby floor (15th F). Got off the elevator and headed toward a very large lobby with check-in counters on the left. Greeted by a young lady who proceeded to handle our luggage. Another young lady approached me, smiling and said it is too early to check in (it was few minutes after 11AM). I politely bent my head and said good morning in Japanese (the only phrase that I know), and handed her my MR plat card. She immediately acknowledged and said, “Ah, so sorry… please this way…” and ushered me toward an agent at the end of the counter. No more than 2 minutes later, the young lady with our luggage and us were on our way up to our room on the 45th floor.
So check-in was quick and sweet. No problem despite being early. They put us in a nice corner room. At check-in, I ordered fresh fruits and sakae as “welcome gift” instead of 500 points.
I surveyed the room briefly while the young lady with luggage was still with us. My wife and I were both happy with the room. In the US, I would have handed her $10. But in Japan, you do no such thing. So we thanked her as she left.
About 10 minutes later, the “welcome gift” of fresh fruits and sakae came. Another young lady rolled it in the room on a room-service table. ( 9 kinds of fruits on each plate; 2 plates). Yum! Left the sakae for tonight, New Year Eve.
I think the hotel occupies floors from 15th through 52nd. Convention center floors are 16, and 17. Some restaurants on the 18th F. On the top, the Sky Lounge Zenith and a French restaurant. If I have 5 days, I wouldn’t have sufficient time to check out everything about this place. It is huge. Not belong to the hotel are 2 floors (12 and 13) of restaurants. If you don’t find anything here to eat, you should be on diet. We loved the restaurants being so close by.
Our room is big by US standard. Being in a corner, it has windows to the south-east and south-west. Having a panoramic view from this high is awesome, despite the fact that Nagoya’s skyline is only so-so (particularly compared to Hong Kong where we were prior). What is interesting to me is seeing part of the train station and all the tracks. Every few minutes, you see a Shinkansen or a train (or both) gliding by the station.
Inside the room, everything is up to the best of Marriott’s standard. Bathroom is adequate in size (have seen bigger ones), but has plenty of amenities. The wired internet access is FREE.
There is a large observation deck just outside of the Lobby. 2 banks of express elevators serving it alone. From the deck, you see the Nagoya Castle in a distance. Quite amazing! Unique with this hotel.
The fitness club (gym, indoor pool, hot-tube, sauna, shower and locker) was free to elites. Otherwise, the charges is Y3,150 per day. It is a very stylish place with a sitting room adjacent to the receptionist’s counter. To get to the club (on 18th F) you have to take a specially designated elevator from the 15th F. A trainer was on duty when I visited. The gym itself though small, has all the essential equipment on hand. The pool is a lap pool, large. Everything is spotless.
The Executive Lounge is on the 36th F. Physically very large and along the curved side of the tower, but with tables spaced far apart. So no one feels cramped. The reception area is staffed with 3 to 4 people at all times. They handle many things including check-out (I used them for check-out). About 4 to 6 additional staffs handling food and drinks during peak hours. The place is very efficient. On New Year morning, breakfast was overflowing with guests. We were asked to leave name and room # so that they can call us in about 15 minutes. We went down to the observation deck and of course missed their call. We got back in about 15 to 20 minutes later, and we were seated with no problem. They like to serve you the drinks, so you place the order. Later they may or may not catch your need for refill. But the service is quick, polite and typical Japanese. Many staff with good command of English, particularly the young ladies. Food and drinks are good; food counters are clean. With a small round table by the window, you enjoy the view of Nagoya Castle while sipping latte. This goes down as one of my favorite lounges.
As far as service, you don’t know how good or bad until you have a need. Simply by mentioning to a lounge staff that we were to go out and see the city a bit. She immediately suggested a few sights (which I was aware of) and to purchase a Nagoya day-pass. She wrote down day pass in Japanese and gave direction to the subway.
I am sure I will re-visit this property again. It has everything that I look for in a hotel of this category, and I think it offers good value. Sorry for blowing up this supposedly a mini-report. Here are a few linked photos for your reference:
View from Executive Lounge
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...ofoto/4579.jpg
Views from room
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...ofoto/4616.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...ofoto/4535.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...o/DSCN4594.jpg
View from Observation Deck on Lobby Floor (15th F)
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...ofoto/4564.jpg
A New Year greeting card from the GM
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...ofoto/4554.jpg
Elite welcome gift
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...oto/4549-1.jpg
Bath amenities
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...ofoto/4545.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...ofoto/4546.jpg
Desk
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...ofoto/4533.jpg
Corner chair
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...ofoto/4530.jpg
King bed
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...ofoto/4527.jpg
Wet bar
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...ofoto/4525.jpg