So, the plane landed late. One of those long ones where you feel like you’ve been folded up in a box for a day. We came in through Haneda, which turned out to be pretty convenient. The taxi ride to this Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel wasn’t terribly long, maybe 20-30 minutes without crazy traffic, and cost something like ¥7,000 to ¥9,000 yen – call it $45 to $60 US dollars, plus or minus whatever the meter decides.
First look at the outside of the hotel at night, it doesn’t jump out at you. It’s got some interesting window shapes and all, tidy like everything in Japan seems to be. Modern enough. Then you see it in daylight, and it’s got this lower profile than most Tokyo hotels, kind of post-modern maybe. It felt sort of quiet, visually, which wasn’t a bad thing at all. It’s pretty new, apparently opened in April 2020, so maybe that’s part of it – hasn’t got that worn-down city look yet.
The entrance is neat as a pin. Inside, the lobby hits you – really high ceilings, spacious, clean lines. There’s a garden area off to one side, and this little tunnel connecting straight to a Family Mart, which is pretty handy for grabbing drinks or snacks without a big production. They had a table near the entrance with free amenities too – combs, toothbrushes, razors. You see that around, but the stuff here seemed decent quality, like they actually expected people to use it.
Checking in was easy, no fuss. The room itself, for four of us, was okay. Clean, modern, had what you needed. The view wasn’t much from our floor, but then again, we weren’t exactly planning on spending all day looking out the window. We were out exploring Tokyo. You notice the Prince Hotels have a different feel to the big international chains, like Hilton or wherever. Not better or worse, just different.
Now, the location – some people might find it a bit out of the way if they want to be right in the thick of Shibuya or Shinjuku every minute. I’ve done that before, stayed right in the middle of it all, and honestly, this time it was kind of nice being somewhere quieter. Shiomi felt more like a real place people live. And you’re certainly not isolated. The Shiomi train station is right there, practically connected to the hotel, and it’s on the JR Keiyo Line. That turned out to be pretty great – just a few stops, maybe 7-10 minutes, right into Tokyo Station. All the connections are there. And if you’re going to Tokyo Disney Resort, it’s the other way, about 3 stops, under 10 minutes to Maihama Station. So, it’s actually really convenient if you figure out the trains. There’s a good supermarket just down the street, some places to eat, even a decent burger place nearby. The hotel has its own restaurant too, ‘Restaurant & Bar TIDE TABLE Shiomi‘, if you don’t feel like venturing out.
The thing that really stood out for me, though, was the public bath – the ‘Daiyokujo’. It’s free for guests, which is nice. I’ve been to a few hotel onsen-style baths in Japan, some in pretty fancy places. This one was something else. The entrance was all dark stone, very atmospheric, reminded me a little of that Blade Runner movie. Inside, it was huge, incredibly clean, and both times I went, almost empty. Just peaceful. Hot water, quiet. After a long day walking around Tokyo, it felt genuinely good, a really proper way to unwind. It was probably one of the best hotel bath experiences I’ve had, personally.
I’ve stayed somewhere else in Tokyo since then, and I found myself thinking I’d probably come back to the Shiomi Prince next time. There was just a straightforward comfort about it – the modern style, the easy train connections, especially that public bath. It felt like a good, solid place to come back to after a busy day out in the city. It felt authentic.
Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel: Key Facts at a Glance
Family-Friendly Rooms: Offers various room configurations, including options specifically designed to accommodate families (e.g., rooms sleeping up to 4 guests).
Direct Rail Access: Located steps from JR Shiomi Station on the convenient Keiyo Line, providing direct access to Tokyo Station (approx. 3 stops / 7-10 mins).
Tokyo Disney Resort Convenience: Excellent base for Disney trips, only 3 stops (approx. 7-9 mins) on the JR Keiyo Line from Shiomi Station to Maihama Station.
Impressive Public Bath (Daiyokujo): Features a large, modern, and highly-rated on-site public bath facility (often referred to as an onsen experience), complimentary for hotel guests.
Free Wi-Fi: Complimentary wireless internet access is available for guests throughout the hotel premises.