Worth Going to Park Hyatt?
 

I've got a one-night layover in Tokyo coming up (arrive at Narita at 16:30, leave again 11:00 the next day). Is it worth it to go into Tokyo to stay at the Park Hyatt (Gold Passport points)? It's the last night of our honeymoon, and it sounds absolutely spectactular, but I'm wondering if the 3 hrs of travel time round-trip makes it worth it or not, vs. staying at the Hilton at Narita.

If we go to the Park Hyatt, I assume the airport bus is the way to go, right? Might splurge on a cab inbound, is that worth it? Looks to be Y20000 vs Y6000 for two people for the bus.... Any input is appreciated!

If you plan to stay between 7/24 and 8/31, you may want to take note of the message below. On such a short stay, where you will be at the hotel mostly at night-time, it would influence my decision.

ニューヨーク グリル＆バー
リニューアル改装工事に伴う営業一時休止のご案内
7月24日（月）～8月31日（木）

「ニューヨーク グリル＆バー」は、2006年夏にリニューアルを実施いたします。リニューアル改装工事に伴い、「ニューヨ ーク グリル＆バー」は7月24日（月）より8月31日（木）までの営業を一時休止いたします。期間中、ご宿泊な らびにレストランご利用のお客様には大変ご迷惑をおかけいたしますが、何卒ご了承のほどよろしくお願い申し 上げます。
なお、工事期間中も日本料理「梢」（40階）、ヨーロピアンダイニング「ジランドール」（41階）など、そ の他のホテル内レストラン、バーはすべて通常通り営業いたします。「ニューヨーク グリル＆バー」の営業再開日は9月1日（金）の予定です。


お問い合わせ ： ニューヨーク グリル＆バー　電話：03-5323-3458

OK, OK, for the very, very few of us who DON'T read Japanese fluently, can you explain what the message means? I THINK it might be the Japanese analogue of the following comment from the English hotel website:

New York Grill & Bar will close temporarily from July 24 until September 1, 2006 as its facilities undergo a design renewal. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your understanding.

To the OP:

First of all, with that short a stay, the New York Grill will be the least of your concerns. If you want to eat in the hotel, Girandole will do just fine. Second, with an 11:00am flight outbound, you will have to catch the 8:03am Narita Express at Shinjuku or take the 7:05am limousine bus (the next bus at 8:15 is too dangerous a choice).

Maybe if you had an afternoon flight out, going into Tokyo would be the best choice, but with a morning flight, I would disrecommend it unless it is likely to be the only time in your life you would visit Tokyo. Even then, I'd strongly recommend getting a hotel at Ueno and taking the Keisei Skyliner to minimize travel time.

None of the Narita hotels are anything special, but it's probably your best choice under the circumstances. I am sure you can think of other things to do that night after you visit the temple in Narita, which is about the only thing worth seeing, although there is a 100 Yen shop on the walk to the temple that I thought was rather enjoyable.

That would be what it is saying, indeed! :) I managed to get into the NY Grill and Bar before its renovation, last month and had a great time up there!

Also I would recommend being at NRT at least 3 hours before flight time, to check in and explore a bit of NRT before taking off.

Sanosuke!

If I had one brief night like that in Tokyo, I would take the train all the way to Shinjuku, and stay at the PHT. I would go for a late afternoon swim, Kozue for dinner, and then up to the New York Bar where I would smoke a good stogie, drink a bunch of single malt, listen to music, enjoy the jet lag and the buzz from the stogie and the single malt, and then crash in my comfy bed.

However, since the Bar will be closed, the incentive is much reduced. If you're ready to pay the same big bucks, you could stay at the MO or the FS in Tokyo station, which are much closer in and should keep you in good stead during your honeymoon.

I heard that this closure was actually precipitated by a health and safety issue...

Pray tell, do not keep us on pins and needles. Personally, I don't like to eat there (the food is OK and overpriced, although the ambience and the view certainly makes up for a lot of that), so unless they are doctoring my Glenmorangie or spiking my Montecristos, I'm not too impacted.

Hey, but Bill Murray got to SLEEP with the jazz singer from the New York Bar. Whassamatter you?

In fact, on one stay just after the movie came out, the then-current GM mumbled something to me about how he hoped no one expected that. :)

But you gotta admit that what you propose is not a perfect evening for a couple on a honeymoon! And that evening you describe would likely cost about Y30,000 above the cost of the room alone just for one person.

P.S. I too would like to hear more about this health and safety issue.

Yea, but (a) it took Bill Murray a number of evenings to end up with the singer, and (b) she was gnarly, which I think was part of the joke. As for then GM, are you referring to Malcolm Thompson? The man is coming back to Tokyo to be GM of the new Peninsula in Yurakucho. Traitor.


I actually spent a few days of my own honeymoon at the PHT (and the MO in Bangkok and a couple of other nice places), and the schedule would have been only slightly altered: the swim still applies. Mrs. Pickles loves to swim. So does the dinner at Kozue, and the listening to music while drinking single malts. I would probably skip the stogie if I wanted to do anything more than crash in my comfy bed afterwards. Cost should be only about 28,000 yen, if we leave out the stogie.

The Tokyo Express train is the way to get into Tokyo from Narita. The bus can be ok when it runs properly, but my more often than not my colleagues have horror stories of it taking 3-4 hours once they get on the bus to their hotel (vs. 1 hr 15-30 minutes via the train).

In your shoes I would definitely go into Tokyo on your night there. Great way to end the honeymoon. Going all the way to Shinjuku is one option. Another is taking the Tokyo Express to Shinagawa and staying at the Le Meridien or one of the other hotels there. You can get to Shibuya, Shinuku, or Roppongi relatively easily via subway or circle line and then you are right there for the Tokyo Express back to Narita (catch the 6:40 or so departure).

Even though Shinagawa is less travel time to Narita vs. Shinjuku, you still have to get up early for the first Narita Express to be there 3 hours in advance. But I think it is much easier to find the Tokyo Express at Shinagawa and Le Meridien and Shinagawa Prince are right across the street vs. the Hyatt/Hilton/other Shinjuku hotels which you need the shuttle.

Two other things if you do this... first, make sure to reserve both of your Tokyo Express legs to guarentee availability. And 2nd, regardless of which one you choose make sure you are in the right car of the train when they seperate at Tokyo station.

deleted! thought I was in another thread :o

I don't exactly remember and wouldn't want to start speading unsubstantiated rumours! Anyway, the official line is that they're closing for refurbishment. If the place looks pretty much the same when it re-opens then you can jump to your own conclusions!

alternative
 

Since you won't reach PHT much before 7pm and you'll need to leave there by 8am.... I vote for staying near the airport.

If the airport Hilton seems too sterile, then you can go into Narita City itself. Stay at the Wakamatsu Honten for a more "japanese" experience. Sure, there's no skyview swimming pool, no single-cask Lagavulin and no Romeo Y Juliettas... but you can find them anywhere... well maybe not...

Are you saying that it closed because it was forced to shut down by the health authorities? In that case, the closure order should be available somewhere as public record, no? Let me take a look....

I'm not saying that. It definitely wasn't forced to close.