Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo review: For travellers looking for a sense of zen
The Prince Sakura Tower operates as part of the Autograph Collection by Marriott International.
Japan has always been on my travel list since the borders reopened, and seeing that travel restrictions eased for the Land of the Rising Sun, I packed my bags and headed to Tokyo on a solo trip. My goal was to immerse myself in the culture and crafts-making workshops, and I've decided to theme this as my culture-learning trip.
I planned my trip so that two of the crafts-making workshops would take place in Ome, a city located two hours outside of Tokyo, and the last one in Tokyo itself.
On the first day of my arrival in Tokyo, I opted to stay at The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, a luxurious five-star hotel located in the Takanawa area, away from the hustle and bustle of the city so I could fully immerse myself in the sense of calmness and tranquillity. Interestingly, The Prince Sakura Tower operates as part of the Autograph Collection by Marriott International.
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Reasons to stay in The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo
The hotel is strategically located three minutes from Shinagawa station, but dragging it uphill can be a little challenging if you're coming in with large luggage.
The reception area is gorgeous, with one of the centrepieces in the lounge area mimicking a zen pool area with a water element. Checking in was easy with the reception staff, who were comfortable speaking in English to me, and once I obtained my key card, I got up to my room with no problem at all. A porter brought up my room about the same time, and then I could leave without worrying where my belongings went.
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But a little about the room: The Executive Tower View King was exactly what I wanted, with a starry view of Tokyo Tower at night. The room fits one king-sized bed and has a jet bath and a shower booth. The bathroom fittings had glorious white marble, and it comes with necessities like Japanese-inspired bath powder and a bidet toilet seat.
For a solo traveller like myself, I love the wide-open spaces I get when manoeuvring around the room. Since it was mid-noon, I was craving a bit of munchies, and an additional benefit that came with the room was that I could access the lounge area for coffee and some mochi; as well as the relaxation lounge, should I choose to use the sauna or whirlpool bath area.
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Outside, the hotel is surrounded by a gorgeous Japanese Garden covering an area of 20,000 square meter. I was told by the staff that 210 cherry blossom trees were planted here!
In spring, the Japanese Garden is at its most spectacular, with the cherry blossom trees of 17 varieties in full bloom. In the evenings, the cherry blossom trees are lit up, enabling visitors to enjoy the magical night blossoms. The annual “Cherry Blossom Festival” is held here between late March and early April.
The garden itself also features prominent historic buildings like the Kannon-do Hall, which was part of a three-story pagoda previously located at Chokyuji Temple in Ikoma City, Nara Prefecture. This building was then relocated to its current site in 1954. There is also the Bell Tower which was built in 1656, and the Sanmon Gate and Bronze Garden Lanterns. These sites were gazetted as tangible cultural properties by Minato Ward in 2021, making them important historical monuments! Because it was too rainy and windy to enjoy the garden by day, I took an evening stroll here and enjoyed the night lights very much. The garden also connects to two other hotels – Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa and Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa.
Food-wise, I was very well taken care of by Chef Ishibashi at Nadawan Takanawa Prime Restaurant that overlooks the Japanese Garden. Opened in 1830, the restaurant offers authentic Kaiseki dishes and you can expect seasonal menus as well. At the restaurant, when I relayed that I don't take red meat, the chef made sure my belly was full by whipping up some scrumptious seafood and garlic rice to meet my diet requirements.
The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo is also host to Ciliegio Ristorante Caffè, a Japanese-style Italian restaurant that focuses on healthy and hearty meals.
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Attractions near The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo Hotel
The Shinagawa Ura was once known to hold the main seaweed producers in the fishing industry. Today, the waterfront area serves as a docking area for private and leisure boats. Start your walk around here, and discover other interesting buildings like the Shinagawa Shrine and Terrada Art Complex, which houses private art galleries. There is also an art supply store, Pigment Tokyo, that's housed in a building designed by the famed architect Kengo Kuma.
I also found the time to take the bus to the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, which was previously the residence of Prince Asaka Yasuhiko and his family from 1933 to 1947. There weren't any special exhibits, but if you're a fan of art deco, you'll love the lamps, hardware design, and even glass works by René Lalique here. On display were some of Princess Nobuko's bright and intricate kimonos.
Nearer to The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo hotel, I wandered into Honryuji Temple, where cats are said to roam freely here. Unfortunately, because it had been a rainy week, I didn't spot any furry beings except for a statue or two.
What could be done better
Honestly, I couldn't find anything bad to critique, except for the high price point. I wished I could've extended another night but one night was good enough for me to experience the luxurious stay and the sweet offerings.
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