The Capitol Hotel Tokyu

I have very mixed feelings about this hotel. I have stayed at this property for at least 5 times pre and post COVID-19 pandemic. I was also one of the first returning customers to stay at this property when the pandemic restrictions were just getting lifted. ||Very unfortunately, standards have dropped here, although the hotel's physical features and amenities are still very good. ||First, the pricing. Hotel prices in Tokyo in general, have gone sky high, way beyond the usual inflationary factor. But this hotel's prices are now ridiculously high to the extent that I cannot imagine that many people who are able to afford to stay here. Maybe that is the real intent? To sieve out the "rift raft". If so, that's fine I suppose. ||So this review is really in the context of soaring prices. When I compared to the first time I stayed here pre-pandemic, the prices have more than doubled. Yet, the offerings and standards have clearly dropped. ||As always, check in was uneventful, if not rather formal and "cold". The staff at the reception area have never been known to be warm and smiley. They simply do not smile, period! But they will bow in the typical Japanese way. I must say that the door personnel are much nicer and more hospitable. ||The room I booked was alright in terms of size. About 60 square metres. Regular shaped. All the pre-arrival requests were fulfilled properly. So that was good. The bed was firm, which I liked. As were the pillows (also specially pre-ordered). ||The bathroom was good as well, very well maintained. Housekeeping was probably the best thing about the service in the hotel - always reliable, and on most days (except one day), the staff did a very good job at cleaning and keeping the room tidy and neat. ||Breakfast was a rather dull and sad affair. After 2 days, you'll get tired of the offerings. A very limited selection at the buffet area. Very restrictive menu offerings when breakfast is included in your room rate. The food quality is good though, just don't expect a huge variety. Even the fruits and juices were rather limited. ||As I had booked the Club Floor Room, I could use the lounge on the 27th floor. It had the usual offerings of drinks, snacks and desserts in the evenings and there's a cooking station where the chef makes beef fillets or some seafood dish but each person is ONLY entitled to ONE dish per evening! I found this rather odd, but I suppose it's a cost management tactic. ||The worst experience came on my last evening in the hotel. I went to the lounge as usual, Tried to sit myself down at my favorite seat, which was at a corner, but was told by one of the staff that I could not sit there! I did not know that seating at the Club Lounge could be reserved?!?! How absolutely ridiculous! ||So I sat elsewhere and waited to see exactly who was to sit there at my usual table. Well, NOBODY! Instead, some young looking guys with I suppose their father sat at the tables nearby. I left about 15 minutes before the evening canapes / snacks and drinks were stopped and did not see anyone sitting at the table. So if you like experiencing feeling like a second class customer, I'd invite you to try this club lounge.