Hotels in Odaiba, Japan

I was in Tokyo for a tradeshow being hosted at the Tokyo Big Site. It was very easy to get to the tradeshow within about 10 minutes. The room was very nice, great views, easy internet access and close to a great running trail on the harbor. The location isn't really in the heart of Tokyo and you feel distant from the true culture of the city, but for me I was just in and out for business and have done the culture trip before.

For the price, I doubt you'll find anything better in Odaiba, or any popular ward of Tokyo for that matter. Sunroute Ariake is a clean, comfortable, Western-style hotel, and I had a very nice stay there with my friends. Nothing will make you say "wow", and the building looks a bit spartan, but it has all the amentities you'd need (TV, minifridge, hairdryer, laundry, etc.). The rooms are small, but comfortable and clean. The beds and pillows were soft enough and definitely a relief for my Western back after a week of sleeping on tatami mats! The bathrooms are Western-style as well. I smelled a faint smell of mold in the bathroom but my friends in other rooms did not have the same problem. There are three restaurants ranging from cheap to expensive. My favorite was the breakfast buffet on the second floor, which combines Japanese and Western tastes. Sunroute Ariake also has a convenience store, "Lawson", which is open late. The front-desk staff spoke relatively good English and were incredibly helpful and kind, helping my group with our luggage, providing maps and directions, and helping us contact each other when we got separated. A few people booked the wrong kind of room and the front desk staff was happy to fix everything at check-in. The rest of the staffl is equally helpful and courteous. Best of all, the rates are far lower than most nearby hotels of equal quality. I paid $* for four nights (great by Tokyo standards) and I think the prices are usually even lower. Next time I might try to find a more interesting hotel, but I highly recommend Sunroute Ariake to anyone traveling near Odaiba who wants Tokyo (rather than their hotel) to provide the experience and is looking for a comfortable, no-frills hotel.