DoubleTree by Hilton Tokyo Ariake [In-Depth Hotel Review]

After several weeks of traveling across Japan, we returned to Tokyo before flying to China. My wife and I wanted to have a new hotel experience in Tokyo for our final night, which also happened to be her birthday.

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), Tokyo has a bunch of hotels to choose from. Narrowing down hotels took quite a while. Ultimately, I selected the DoubleTree by Hilton Tokyo Ariake, as I have had fantastic Hilton hotel stays across Japan.

Here’s an in-depth look at my experience at the property and why you should consider staying there if you’re traveling to Tokyo.

Booking DoubleTree by Hilton Tokyo Ariake

For our last night in Japan, before heading to China for 10 days, we decided to book a hotel in Tokyo to relax and enjoy ourselves. We wanted to stay at a hotel we had not stayed at before, so I began by looking at various properties around Tokyo across all 4 major hotel chains: IHG, Marriott, Hyatt, and Hilton.

After narrowing down the search based on cash prices and award pricing, I ultimately selected the Doubletree by Hilton Tokyo Ariake, which is in a different part of Tokyo than where I usually stay.

I began by looking at the points price for a standard room at the property. The cheapest room could be booked for 40,000 Hilton Honors points. We value Hilton Honors points at 0.5 cents apiece, making 40,000 points worth $200.

As always, I compared the points price to the cash price. A standard room at the property could be booked for around $160, including all taxes and fees. For this stay, it was an easy decision to pay cash, as using points would have yielded a very poor value.

I booked a standard 1-queen bedroom and hoped my Hilton Honors Diamond elite status would get us upgraded to a nicer room at check-in. As with all of my Hilton Honors bookings, I paid for the stay using my Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card*, as it earns 14x points at Hilton.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

Welcome Offer

Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.

150,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$750

Annual Fee

$550

APR

20.24% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

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Paying hundreds of dollars for an annual fee on a co-branded hotel card might seem ridiculous, but you should know that the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is much more than your run-of-the-mill hotel credit card.

The Hilton Aspire card is not only a phenomenal card for Hilton Honors loyalists, but even those who visit Hilton hotels just a few times a year can still get excellent value out of all the benefits that are packed into this card.

So let’s have a look at what makes the card so valuable to travelers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 14x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
• 7x points per $1 on select travel and at U.S. restaurants
• 3x points per $1 on all other eligible purchases

Cons

• High annual fee of $550

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Card Highlights

• Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership
• Earn 14x Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio
• Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible travel purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies
• Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery
• Earn 3x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for other eligible purchases on your card
• Enjoy up to $400 in Hilton Resort Credits (up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually) on your card each anniversary year when you stay at participating resorts within the Hilton portfolio
• Enjoy complimentary Diamond status
• $550 annual fee

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24% - 29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

*The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

In the special requests box at the bottom of the page, I mentioned that the stay would be our last night in Tokyo and that my wife’s birthday was the day of checkout. I also stated that I would love it if the hotel could arrange a surprise for my wife.

Hot Tip:

Consider booking your Hilton stay with one of our top recommended credit cards for Hilton loyalists.

DoubleTree by Hilton Tokyo Ariake Location

The DoubleTree by Hilton Tokyo Ariake is on the western end of Tokyo Bay. The hotel is near many popular Tokyo attractions, including the SMALL WORLDS Miniature Museum, Tokyo Big Sight, teamLab Planets TOKYO DMM, Tokyo Joypolis, Ariake Arena, Toyosu Market, and Odaiba.

Getting There

The DoubleTree by Hilton Tokyo Ariake is relatively easy to reach thanks to Tokyo’s fantastic public transportation system. The hotel is less than a 5-minute walk from 2 Tokyo stations: Kokusai-tenjijo Station and Ariake Station.

From Tokyo Station, you can take the Keiyo Line to Shin-Kiba Station. You can transfer to the Rinkai Line (going in the Osaki direction) and get off at Kokusai-tenjijo Station. The hotel is less than a 2-minute walk from the station. 

From Haneda Airport (HND) Terminal 2, you can take the Tokyo Monorail to Tennozu Isle Station and then change to the Rinkai Line to Kokusai-tenjijo Station.

Hot Tip:

Check out our detailed guide on the best ways to fly to Japan with points and miles.

Checking In at DoubleTree by Hilton Tokyo Ariake

As we exited Kokusai-tenjijo Station, we immediately saw the main entrance to the property.

The elevators that led to the lobby and guest floors were directly down the hall. The hotel’s lobby was on the second floor.

After getting off the elevators on the second floor, we turned the corner and proceeded straight to the check-in counter, which was to the left.

A front desk representative greeted us and welcomed us to the property. He requested our passports for identification and to look up the reservation.

The front desk representative thanked me for my Hilton Honors Diamond elite status and said that the room we originally booked was not ready at the moment. We’d arrived at the property at around 1 p.m., hours before the hotel’s official check-in time of 3 p.m.

However, he mentioned that he could upgrade us to a High-Floor 2 Double Bed room on the 16th floor if we wanted a room right away. We chose that route.

I requested a 4 p.m. late checkout, a perk of Hilton Honors Diamond elite status, but the front desk representative told me that the hotel would be extremely busy the following night and that 4 p.m. would not be possible. He did extend the late checkout to 1 p.m., 2 hours after the hotel’s official checkout time of 11 a.m.

The representative then gave us our room key cards, a sheet with hotel information, and vouchers for complimentary drinks from the Starbucks machine in the lobby.

He also provided information about where we could have breakfast in the morning. We were eligible to have breakfast at SAUS on the first floor or Brew 33 Bar on the second floor. He mentioned that the venues’ menus were similar, but Brew 33 Bar was exclusively for Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond elite members.

Lastly, he also mentioned that the hotel did not have an Executive Lounge but did offer a daily cocktail hour at Brew 33 Bar between 5 and 6 p.m.

After collecting our bags, we thanked the front desk representative and were ready to head up to our room.

Lobby

Before heading to our room, we walked around the intimate lobby to see what it offered. There were 2 seating areas next to each other, which offered cozy places to relax, although they did get busy at times.

Between the 2 seating sections, a wall section was decorated with different types of coffee beans from around the world.

On the other side of the hall, directly to the left of the check-in desk, was a large counter with even more coffee-related items. Here, there was also a Starbucks machine that offered several different types of drinks.

Guests could purchase a drink by tapping a credit card or a mobile transportation card like Suica or PASMO. Since we had 2 vouchers for drinks here, we decided to come back later in the evening for our drinks.

Lastly, Brew 33 Lounge was down the hall next to the lobby seating area. Here, guests could lounge and order food — more on that below.

High-Floor 2 Double Bed Room

As we got off the elevators on the 16th floor, my wife and I proceeded down the hallway to room 1604, the last room in the hall.

As we entered the room, a long and narrow foyer led to the main living quarters. Directly to the right was a large closet with ample storage space. Next to the closet, there was a large mirror.

The entrance to the bathroom was directly past the mirror on the right side. Meanwhile, the toilet was on the left side of the wall behind its own door.

The closet featured hangers, a shoehorn, a shoe scrubber, a fabric air freshener, an iron and ironing board, and complimentary pairs of pajamas and slippers. The room’s safe was also in the closet.

The bedroom was directly past the bathroom entrance. The room’s 2 double beds were directly next to each other against the right wall.

The room was incredibly small, with limited walking space, particularly on the sides of the beds. It was as if the dimensions between the walls were for 2 double beds only.

Behind the bed, a wall-mounted wooden headboard featured reading lamps, light fixtures, and an AC power outlet embedded on each side.

Each bed had 4 pillows: 2 soft and 2 firm. The beds were quite comfortable and provided us with a solid night’s rest.

Across from the beds was a multipurpose unit with a television on top. 

I found the placement (and, by extension, the angle) of the television to be quite poor as I couldn’t see much on the screen (from the left bed) because of the massive glare.

On top of the unit was a sheet with information about the hotel, the room’s telephone, a box of tissues, a desk lamp, and 2 complimentary glass bottles of mineral water.

There were small cabinets in the unit’s lower section, including one containing the room’s minifridge.

Another cabinet contained glassware, coffee supplies, an ice bucket, and a kettle.

Below the multipurpose unit, there was also a Panasonic-branded air purifier, which proved to be very useful.

A comfortable chaise longue was next to the multipurpose unit, creating a cozy corner.

There was also a small sofa tray table for those wanting to have a snack while relaxing. I found it to be very practical and convenient, as there was no other surface in the room to sit and enjoy food.

Lastly, since we had a corner unit, we had views in 2 directions. First, the windows across from the bed (next to the cozy corner) offered views of the Ariake Coliseum, residential buildings in the area, and the highway below.

Meanwhile, the windows to the right of the room offered views of Tokyo Bay, buildings in the area, and Ariake Station below. It was nice to see trains passing by every few minutes throughout the day.

Bottom Line:

Overall, the room was incredibly small. There was not enough space to comfortably open our bags and suitcases. However, the room was cozy enough and provided us with what we needed for a 1-night stay.

I’m glad the hotel upgraded us to a higher-floor room. The room offered excellent views across the Tokyo Bay area.

Bathroom

As we reached the main living quarters of the room, the entrance to the bathroom was to the right of the foyer.

There was a set of blinds that divided the bedroom from the bathroom, which provided some privacy. 

The vanity and sink were directly across from the bathroom entrance. Below the vanity were several towels, 2 bathrobes, and a hairdryer.

The vanity contained glassware, Crabtree & Evelyn hand wash and body lotion, and several hand towels. The hotel also provided a box of toiletries, including dental kits, a comb, a shaving kit, a shower cap, and a vanity kit.

The shower was to the right of the vanity and included both a soaking tub and a shower. Although I did not use the soaking tub, my wife said it was quite relaxing.

The shower featured both a handheld showerhead and an overhead waterfall option. The hotel provided Crabtree & Evelyn shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel.

The toilet was across the hall, separate from the rest of the bathroom.

The toilet room featured its own door and contained a Japanese-style toilet with a bidet. 

There was also a sink where you could wash your hands. This may have been the smallest sink I have ever seen, even in Japan.

Amenities

The DoubleTree by Hilton Tokyo Ariake featured several guest amenities.

Fitness Center

The property boasted a fully equipped fitness center with Technogym equipment, open 24 hours a day. The fitness center was on the second floor of an entirely different building outside of the hotel lobby. 

To access the fitness center, guests had to use their room key cards.

As I walked into the fitness center, I saw a rack containing kettlebells, medicine balls, and yoga equipment. Next to the rack was a Technogym total body workout machine.

The machine had images showing the different workouts it could do. This was quite informative and extremely useful.

Next, there were 2 different types of stationary bikes for those wanting a cardio workout.

There was also a single elliptical and 4 treadmills for guests to use.

There was also a section with free weights and dumbbells for those wanting more straightforward strength training.

Meeting Rooms

The hotel featured several meeting and conference rooms in the same building as the fitness center. Guests could make reservations to use the meeting rooms at the front desk.

Laundry Facility

The hotel also featured a self-service laundry room on the third floor, open 24 hours a day.

The laundry facility featured 6 individual washing and drying combination machines and a vending machine.

Airport Limousine

Although the hotel does not offer an airport shuttle service to Tokyo’s international airports, there is an Airport Limousine bus stop outside the hotel that goes to both airports.

Guests can reserve seats online or through the QR code on the bus schedule flyer provided by the hotel. It is worth noting that the bus schedule is quite limited. However, the Airport Limousine stops at all 3 terminals at both airports.

The bus ticket to Haneda Airport (HND) is ¥800 ($6) for an adult, and the journey takes approximately 40 minutes. Meanwhile, the bus ticket to Narita Airport is ¥3,100 ($22) for an adult, and the journey takes about 70 minutes.

Parking

The hotel does not offer any on-site parking. However, guests can park at an off-site parking facility nearby.

Guests must bring parking tickets to the front desk to apply the hotel guest discount. Payment must be made in cash at the car park exit.

Food and Beverages

There were several on-site food-and-beverage venues at the DoubleTree by Hilton Tokyo Ariake.

Brew 33 Bar

Brew 33 Bar is outside the hotel on the lobby level, near the fitness center. The bar and restaurant serves a wide selection of craft beverages and comfort food.

Brew 33 Bar is open for breakfast daily between 7 and 10:30 a.m. and for dinner daily between 5 and 11 p.m. 

The restaurant featured the hotel’s daily cocktail hour between 5 and 6 p.m. for Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond elite members, which my wife and I attended.

The hotel’s cocktail hour was a major letdown. I hoped to have a quick bite before heading out for the evening. Unfortunately, only popcorn was available. This was massively disappointing. However, several wines were available for guests to try.

Breakfast at Brew 33 Bar

As mentioned, Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond elite guests can have breakfast at Brew 33 Bar, which is what we did.

The property offered a decent selection for breakfast. First, there was a hot food station that included roasted broccoli, grilled salmon, and fried fishcakes.

 Other hot foods included pork, sausage, bacon, and ratatouille.

Guests could also select from scrambled eggs and tater tots. The tater tots were fantastic and probably the highlight of the entire breakfast meal.

The gyudon (Japanese beef rice bowl) station was a nice touch.

The bakery selection included some solid options, including different types of bread, croissants, muffins, English muffins, raisin bread, Danishes, and baguettes.

There was a waffle maker with numerous toppings, including maple syrup, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and sprinkles.

Next was a small cereal station. Options included crispy chocolate, cornflakes, and granola.

The buffet had a good selection of fruits, including apples, oranges, kiwis, and melons. Plain and fruit yogurt were also offered.

Lastly, a salad bar had various salad toppings, including tomatoes, cucumbers, roasted cauliflower, and sliced root vegetables. Cold cuts and cheese were also available.

The decent selection of beverages included infused water, fruit juices, and different types of milk.

A high-end Nespresso machine could make hot and cold coffee drinks.

After grabbing our food, my wife and I sat down to eat. We didn’t go the healthiest route with our choices.

Bottom Line:

Overall, breakfast was average at best, with a decent selection of food. However, nothing stood out, with the tater tots being the highlight. Unfortunately, the hot food items were not all that hot, and the heated stovetops were clearly not working as intended.

SAUS

The hotel has an all-day dining restaurant, SAUS, specializing in lunchtime comfort food. The restaurant is open daily for breakfast between 6:30 and 10:30 a.m. and for lunch between 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

During our visit, the menu offered a variety of food, including burgers, noodles, and grilled meat, including chicken breast and salmon.

Brew 33 Lounge

The hotel also has a self-service lounge, Brew 33 Lounge, on the lobby level near the hotel elevators. The lounge is equipped with free Wi-Fi and charging stations.

Guests can order food via the QR code menus placed at each table.

Service

The hotel’s service was quite positive and reflected the traditional Japanese hospitality we’ve come to expect. The hotel staff members were always smiling and there to assist us with whatever we needed.

Although there were language barriers with some staff members, the experience was very positive. The property also employed several Nepali staff members, and our interactions with them were fantastic.

The hotel went out of its way to provide my wife with a birthday card when I mentioned it was her birthday, which was a nice touch.

During the cocktail hour at the restaurant, the restaurant manager brought my wife a very well-prepared fruit platter, which was a nice surprise.

Final Thoughts

The DoubleTree by Hilton Tokyo Ariake is a solid Hilton property near Tokyo Bay. Although the property is far from many of Tokyo’s biggest tourist attractions, it is near other popular spots, including Odaiba and the Disney parks.

Our upgraded room was quite small, even by Tokyo standards. However, it offered incredible views, an acceptable trade-off for a 1-night stay.

The staff at the property was incredibly welcoming and helpful, which always makes hotel experiences better.

Unfortunately, the hotel does not have an Executive Lounge. It does offer a cocktail hour, but the food was limited to popcorn, which was a major letdown. The breakfast selection was solid, but nothing stood out.

Given the many excellent hotels in Tokyo around a similar price range, I wouldn’t stay at the property again. Unfortunately, the hotel does not justify its price considering its location and amenities.