InterContinental Tokyo Bay — Hotel in Tokyo

UPDATE April 30, 2025 Every time we stay at the Intercontinental Tokyo Bay I tell myself to give this place 1 star because they refuse to address an easy fix that I have written about (and others) with their fitness center. It is the worst in the Intercontinental chain and should be an embarrassment to the brand and whomever owns the hotel. But to do that would take away from all the great people that work there and the hotel itself which is a good property. Hayasaka-san the Front Reception Supervisor was great at check in and recognized our Diamond Ambassador status, Igor the Captain and Suzuki-san the Assistant Manager keep the Chef's Live Kitchen working well and are real professionals, Kamal in the bar and as always Jovette and the whole concierge team are great. Oh I almost forgot, it is the best Bell staff we have dealt with in our many travels. This is why I don't give it 1 star. BUT...there is no reason that this has to persist except a complete dismissal of a need of many guests that is easy and inexpensive to fix especially in an environment of ever increasing rates. With this in mind, as soon as I am back home, I am going to write Elie Maalouf the CEO of IHG and then work my way through the BoD until this is addressed. I am even an ADR owner of IHG stock. I hate this kind of theatrics but every person in the gym is shocked at how small and poorly equipped it is. The Crown Plaza in Sapporo has a much better Fitness Center!!! Great property with great people but a GM/or owner who would make a lot of people happy by addressing this one issue.

UPDATE March 2024: Stayed again for four nights at the Tokyo Bay Intercontinental in March 2024 so this is a very tardy review.. This was our third stay at the hotel and by any measure what was good is getting better. The hotel is in a good location and not too much trouble to access the JR and Metro lines. The service is as good as ever from top top bottom. Housekeeping is great and very helpful as always, the Bell Desk took care of our luggage when we took a side trip for a few days and are always helpful, front desk staff is very efficient even if a bit too rigid at times, the bar crew was fun and made a great martini and the concierge pros were just that totally professional. Extra special mention to Jovette whom I should have singled out on our last visit for his extraordinary help and advice. BUT....there is always a but..... .as in the 2023 review the fitness center is still not up to any Intercontinental standard. It's terrible. If you can cannibalize two regular rooms just take a third so you can get a bit more equipment in there. This is a very easily corrected downside. All else is great and we just booked today for April 2025 at the Tokyo Bay. A great property.

March 2023: My wife and I recently stayed at the IC Tokyo Bay for a week. We stayed 3 nights and then traveled around and then another four nights. I have to admit the first three nights were marginal but mostly in small stuff e.g. poor English at the front desk, unaware of the IC programs and benefits etc. Our room was fine and an upgrade they said. However our subsequent four nights were great. The room again was fine and housekeeping left extra towels etc as we asked. The breakfast was busy but efficient and the front desk and concierge staff were terrific. The bellman were great on both visits as we had a bit of luggage. One downside I can think of is that the bar closes very early during the week at 9:30PM. The one other thing is that IC needs to absolutely instruct the ownership to do something about the gym which is just a couple of rooms cannibalized with minimal equipment. We stay often at Intercontinental hotels and they invariably have great gyms. It was not the worst one I have seen but very marginal. All in all we found this a good property and would come back. Since the nearest station is JR and not Japan Metro do yourself a favor and get a Suica card which works on everything to save yourself some hassle. All in all we...

I was deeply disappointed with my recent stay at Intercontinental Tokyo Bay. While the outdated condition of the hotel was a concern, the most upsetting aspect of my experience was the racial discrimination I encountered. Despite Japan's reputation for exceptional hospitality, I observed several instances where non-Caucasian guests, including myself, were treated with noticeable discomfort and impatience by some staff members. On multiple occasions, staff exhibited frustration and irritation when language barriers arose, even when I used Google Translator to facilitate communication. Despite these efforts, they failed to engage with proper respect and empathy, which was incredibly disheartening.

What upset me most was witnessing the stark difference in how local guests were treated compared to international guests. It was evident that locals received far better service, despite the fact that international guests, like myself, often spend significantly more money at the hotel. This blatant inequity in treatment was both shocking and insulting.

Adding to my frustration is the fact that we even paid extra for lounge access, expecting a higher level of service and hospitality, but the experience was still incredibly disappointing. While the female lounge staff were noticeably nicer and more accommodating, the overall service in the lounge fell short. Additionally, the menu at the lounge remained the same for three consecutive nights, which was both monotonous and uninspired. For the price we paid, I expected more variety and thoughtfulness in the offerings.

The worst service experience came after our private teppanyaki lunch where we were directed to have dessert near the Italian restaurant. Despite spending almost a thousand dollars on the meal, the staff member serving desserts displayed a shockingly bad attitude. Her behavior was dismissive and rude, making it one of the most frustrating moments of our stay. This kind of treatment was unacceptable, especially given the significant amount of money spent on what should have been a premium dining experience.

Overall, I spent thousands of dollars on this stay(around $6000 USD for 2 rooms)—far exceeding what one might expect to pay for an average hotel experience. Yet, despite this significant investment, I felt unwelcome and undervalued. It was particularly disappointing to encounter such treatment during the busy holiday season, a time when warmth and accommodation should be prioritized.

The bar service further added to the negative experience. The staff appeared disengaged and uninterested, and the atmosphere fell far short of what one would expect from a hotel of this caliber. Enjoying the hotel’s amenities was nearly impossible due to the lackluster service.

That said, there were some positives worth mentioning. The location of the hotel proved convenient, with the nearby monorail station and a convenience store making transportation and small errands easy. Additionally, the concierge team was truly exceptional, offering assistance with genuine care and professionalism. Another standout was the tall, older doorman, who was an absolute gentleman with his service. His warm and attentive demeanor made every interaction pleasant, and his dedication to guests stood out as a shining example of excellent hospitality.

Even with recent renovations, the hotel still felt outdated and failed to meet the high standards its price point suggests. However, it is the racial discrimination, poor communication, repetitive dining options, and subpar service that have left the most lasting negative impression. This experience has profoundly affected my view of both the hotel and Japan as a destination. Moving forward, I will choose to spend my money in places where my business is genuinely valued, and where I am treated with the respect and...

I had a short business trip to a company nearby. In the past, I have stayed at Hotel Indigo in San Diego, and several Holiday Inn Expresses, but this is my first time to stay at an Interncontinental Hotel. I kind of knew what to expect, as I had visited this particular hotel in the past when I used to live in Tokyo nearly 25 years ago. Now, as an actual customer, I was very impressed with the level of service at the hotel.

Since this was basically a short stay (1 full day in Tokyo, with arrival and departure day), it is very convenient from HND. I could have taken the monorail to Hamamatsu-cho, and then either walked or transferred to Yurikamome line to Takeshiba, which would just drop me off in front of the hotel, but opted for taxi since I didn't want to sweat in the heat. Luckily, it was obon season, so traffic was relatively light, but even with heavy traffic, I would not think it would take very long to arrive to the hotel. For this time, it was about 15-20 mins.

Upon arrival at the hotel, the staff was already out to grab my bags, and usher me into the lobby to help me get checked in. While waiting in line, someone greeted me, and escorted me to the correct line. Checking-in was a breeze, and I was stoked that I got an automatic upgrade.

When I got into the room, the windows were open, and I had a magnificent view of Tokyo Bay. I had a clear view of the Fuji TV ball, and all of Odaiba! :) A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door, and a nice lady brought my bags in for me. I had spoken with her a few minutes earlier, when she was greeting me at the elevator. We had a nice chat about the Duty Free Johnny Walker I had bought for a friend I was meeting later that evening, and this actually helped set the tone for the rest of my stay. I have never encountered a friendlier staff at a hotel before.

My first order of business was to find a convenience store because I forgot to pack socks, and because I just love going to convenience stores in Japan. Luckily, Family Mart wasn't too far away. I bought way too many snacks and drinks, but more to bring home. :)

The location of the hotel is very convenient for what I was doing. My friend came by, and told me that since it was Obon season, not a lot of restaurants were open. We ended up taking a short taxi ride into Tsukiji and found Sushi Zanmai was open. Later, a bunch of other friends wanted to meet up in Azabu-Juban area, and that was a fairly quick taxi ride away as well.

When I got up in the morning, the hotel breakfast catered more towards Chinese and Western palettes, but it was convenient, reasonably priced, and also featured another magnificent view of Tokyo Bay. After finishing up, I noticed that I was able to walk out onto a deck to take in the sight without a window. In fact, from there, I could walk directly to Takeshiba station without needing to cross the street, since I was on the 3rd floor.

As I was strolling around in the early morning, I just kept walking around, and discovered that after passing the train station, there was a bridge that lead right into the building where my meeting was going to be held. This was certainly too good to be true!

For this trip, for the proximity to the airport and to my meeting, I was able to maximize my time in Tokyo to its fullest. Combined with the excellent staff, clean room, and awesome views, this was by far one of the best business trips ever. In the future, I will be staying here again, as I will need to start visiting my customer more often! :) So happy to have chosen Hotel...