Hilton Tokyo and Shinjuku

November 23, 2012 (Friday) Hilton Tokyo, Shinjuku

Our plane arrived Narita at around 8am. After much consideration, we decided to take the Airport Limousine (bus) from the airport to the Hilton in Shinjuku because it has a stop right at Hilton where we booked a room for the night using HH points. If we take the train, we would have to take the hotel shuttle to the hotel, tagging along all the pieces of luggage through the crowded station. It didn't sound fun at all. The bus ride was long but still comfortable and dropped us right at the front door of the hotel.

A very quiet Tokyo morning.

It was very busy at the Hilton with a lobby filled with people. We were fortunate to be able to check-in early. When asked if we were on the Executive Level because of Hilton Honor Gold, we were told that the only room left on that level was a regular size room. Mr. Tsai, the manager there, suggested that we take the junior suite instead. His reasoning was that if we are going to be out around town there is no reason to have access to the lounge anyway and the suite is much more spacious for the three of us. He gave us drink coupons to the bar at the lobby and to get more if needed. Coupons to the restaurant for breakfast was also provided. He was right, we were out all day and didn't even have a chance to use the drink coupons. 

The suite was really roomy and nice. A rollaway bed was put in and we rested for a couple of hours before heading out to town.

The bathroom looked a little dated but it was fine.

from our hotel window

We ventured out in the afternoon taking the hotel shuttle. It was quite crowded. The shuttle dropped us off at the Shinjuku station. I could see that it would be very confusing for us to find this bus stop if we had taken the train into town. It was fun walking around the area, checking out the stores and people watching. As we got hungry, we looked for a restaurant to have dinner. This sushi restaurant caught our eyes and it looked great for a good meal. A young lady came out and urged us to go inside so we did. Afterward we found out that this is one of the restaurants that was featured in the guidebook that we had with us. This restaurant is reasonable in price and you can also tell the sushi chef what you want that's on the menu but not coming through the conveyer belt. We enjoyed a wonderful sushi meal here.

150 yen for the white plates

I think the green plates were 200 yen.

These plates were 250.

our plates stacking up

A nice dinner indeed.

That's it, Himawari Sushi!

A noodle restaurant neaby, they make their own noodles there.

The name of the noodle restaurant.

food court at the department store

After Shinjuku shoppping district, we walked back to the hotel. On the way, we made a short cut through another hotel lobby to the Tokyo Metropolitian Government Office building...

...to the 45th floor observatory.

night views of Tokyo, free admission

easy walk back to Hilton