We booked a decent rate through Agoda, but it was non-refundable, which was my biggest complaint. The hotel itself was really nice; modern decor, very clean, nice rooms, decently sized, etc. The location is practically right on top of the Hanzomon subway stop. It's good that it's convenient to go elsewhere, because there's not too much in the immediate area. Service was excellent.

My sister and I stayed at this hotel…..and we loved it! It’s like a 5 star hotel! It’s a trendy boutique hotel. The rooms are super cute…well decorated and always super clean. The beds are comfy, the bathrobes are styling, and the bathrooms are fabulous! The rooms were perfect in size (not too small….we had 2 twin beds). The hotel is located steps away from the Hanzomon subway line....very easy to get to anywhere in Toyko. The hotel is located in a very nice high-end condo residential area. The area is really safe (even in the middle of the night). We loved this hotel and would highly recommend it to anyone! And I would definitely stay there again! It’s a nice place to call home after a long day!

Aman
-Toronto, Canada

This was our very first hotel that we booked in Japan and we weren't disappointed! The hotel was small but that was really of no surprise to us as that seems to be the trend in Japan. Everything was tastefully decorated and overall kept quite clean. The location just couldn't be beat. We were able to walk to the Imperial Gardens and the main shopping district and there were tons of great little restaurants and cafe's in the area. The hotel itself was a little difficult to get to on the subway system from the airport but that was mainly because we didn't know which line to transfer to when we arrived in Tokyo station. You can either try to figure it out or just take a taxi. It should only be about $15. If you're looking for a great central hotel to all the main things in Tokyo, I highly recommend this hotel!

Stayed at the Monterey Hanzomon for two nights in January 2008. Fantastic location, right in the center of town, with the Hanzomon Subway station right across the street (it’s a small station, and you hardly even notice the entrance). The rates here are great. I booked two superior singles for my mother and I, and paid approximately $90 USD per night, per room. Considering there are $600 USD per night hotels nearby, this is an amazing deal. The hotel is an immaculately decorated boutique hotel, with all the amenities. The furnishings make you think this hotel should be in the five star category, but it’s not because the rooms are small size (just enough for two people per room). I recommend you book this hotel as there was nothing to fault. The view was great from my room, the bed was really comfortable (one of the best I have stayed in), and the furnishings make you feel like this is an incredible bargain for the price. Don’t miss the breakfast buffet. It is a great way to start your sightseeing day, and is a good value considering all the offerings (Japanese and Western). If you forget your laptop, there is Internet in the lobby for around $5 USD per hour. Also noticed a nice Chinese Restaurant off the front lobby, which appeared to have many local people from the neighborhood eating there. There are small cafes, coffee shops, a Texas style BBQ, an Indian restaurant, and convenience stores within a stones throw, so you’ll have plenty of choices. The Hanzomon subway station is located directly across the street, but BEWARE, when you get off at Hanzomon there are apparently three exits which can take you topside a few blocks away. This confused the heck out of us late one night. My suggestion is to take note of how things look when entering the station across the hotel so you can choose the correct exit topside. It’s a long flight of stairs and is a pain in the behind to have to go back down and figure it out after a long day.

The verdict: I can’t fault this hotel for anything. It truly is a great place, upscale, very clean, located centrally, and affordable.

---------Tips for Tokyo--------
If you go to Japan, don’t bring a lot of stuff because there just isn’t room for tons of suitcases and junk (that will be true in trains, hotels, and even cabs).

I recommend a small guide book that indicates the subway stop for places you want to visit. I also recommend a small compass so you know what direction to walk when you get topside. Most stops have big tourist maps that are topside to help you get your directio0n, but some of the less popular stops do not.

I recommend a day pass on the subway (10,000 yen or approximately $10 USD). This will save you money and time. At every transfer you need to re-purchase a ticket, but daily pass holders zip right through.

The subway was not crowded on the weekend, and actually quiet and clean. Plan accordingly because I heard weekday rush hour is murder, especially if you don’t like umbrellas pushed into your back by people trying to get off the train. The trains get so crowded you may want to have a back-up plan in case you get separated from your party.

If you’re looking for nice gifts to take back home, I recommend some of the nicer department stores. In addition to having all the floors dedicated to the latest fashion, they have floors dedicated to house-wares where you can buy china, wood and bamboo sets, art, etc. The prices are good, they usually offer shipping to your home country, and the service is fantastic and very personal.

If you’re out shopping and want to find an affordable place to eat, try the basement floors of department stores. There are great sit-down places to eat with low prices.

Tsuki-Ji Fish Market was dead on Sunday. The place appeared vacant, so plan for any day except Sunday.

Akihabara Electronics District was different. Avoid this district unless you like the New York Times Square feel, with tons of cheapo looking stores, neon lights, and absolutely no bargains. If you like shopping at Best Buy or Circuit City, this place will be a disappointment, and it’s more expensive. It was also the dirtiest place I saw in Tokyo.

Tokyo Tower was a good lookout point that allows plenty of great cityscape viewing and pictures. Visiting the tower helped us get a better idea of how big Tokyo really is…and it’s enormous! They pack small groups into elevators and whisk you to the middle section of the tower. There are good picture angles from there. If you want to go to the top, it costs like 900 Yen more, and you wait in line for another elevator. Overall a good experience, but it was winter and the crowds were small. You may want to plan for more time in summer. Also, they have a weird agenda of returning you streetside by dropping you off at two different floors on the way down (Probably to get you to spend money on stuff). Just take it all in stride, enjoy the views and people watching. You’ll be up and down from there in about an 1 – 2 hours. The pictures will be amazing, and you’ll have a better idea of how big Tokyo really is.