Located in a tan high-rise on a quiet street in Tokyo, the Hotel Niwa is unassuming on first impression, blending into neighboring office buildings and apartments. Inside, the hotel softly hints at an Asian aesthetic, with calming neutral tones, simple lines and tasteful eclectic accents. Tan walls, blond-wood panels and patterned carpet in wavy lines lend an air of tranquility. The lobby has expansive two-story windows looking out over rocky vegetation and a small water feature. Low, backless benches are placed by the windows, giving a spot to relax and settle in by the front desk. Despite it’s location in the center of Tokyo, Hotel Niwa is somewhat out of the way of main tourist attractions, but its proximity to public transportation, attractive decor, and price still make it a hot spot for vacationers. Dedicated amenities bring in business travelers as well. 

Located on a relatively quiet street in Tokyo’s Chiyoda ward (right on the edge of the Bunkyo ward), the Hotel Niwa may technically be in the center of Tokyo, but it’s set away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo’s busiest areas. While in walking distance to plenty of restaurants, convenience stores, and shrines, it takes 25 to 30 minutes via public transportation to get to most of Tokyo’s hot spots. But with a train/subway stop only a five-minute walk from the hotel, many guests find the trek a fair trade-off for the competitive price. 

• Five-minute walk to public transportation (Suidobashi Station with access to subway and JR train)
• Nine-minute walk to Tokyo Dome
• Eleven minutes to Tokyo Station via public transportation
• 23 minutes to Tokyo Disney by car (50 minutes via public transportation)
• 25 minutes to Tokyo Imperial Palace & Gardens via public transportation
• 25 minutes to Shibuya Crossing via public transportation
• 26 minutes to Tokyo Haneda Airport via car
• 30 minutes to Meiji Shrine via public transportation
• 30 minutes to Tokyo Skytree via public transportation
• 35 minutes to Sensōji Temple and Nakamise Street via public transportation
• 35 minutes to Tsukiji Fish Market via public transportation
• One hour to Narita International Airport via car (one hour and 45 minutes via public transportation)

Guest rooms at the Hotel Niwa are a tasteful union of traditional Japanese elements with modern decor. And, compared to other accommodations in space-crunched Tokyo, they're fairly spacious, too. Japanese design is reflected throughout the rooms, with paper lantern-style lamps, carpeting reminiscent of tatami mats, and paper sliding-door blinds. There are no bold pops of color to jar the neutral palette of beige walls and blond-wood furniture. Guests find the beds comfortable, and even the Standard Rooms are packed with amenities such as a flat-screen TV, safe with a charging outlet, coffee and tea service, a work desk, and a mini-fridge. Higher room categories include a traditional tea service and Keurig coffeemakers.

The highlight of the rooms, though, is the bathroom, which generally features wood and white-tiled walls, a high-tech Japanese toilet, a large mirror, and a shower/tub combination with a deep soaking bathtub. Premium Rooms have jetted tubs and built-in flat-screen TVs over the faucet. All rooms have free toiletries and are stocked with pajamas and a hairdryer. 

The Hotel Niwa Tokyo has two restaurants. The chic Lieu Grill & Bar serves French-inspired cuisine as well as tea and desserts, and it's decked out in cushy seats, free-standing booths, parquet floors, and structural geometric accents. This is also where the buffet breakfast is served -- although it’s not included in the standard room rate. Still, guests find the range of Western and Japanese style foods tasty. The Japanese restaurant, Yukuri, serves up traditional dishes and offers simple decor, with sleek wood floors and ceilings and large windows that look out onto a courtyard with a classic Japanese-style garden. While the food receives good reviews, guests remark that the dinner menu is sparse and overpriced. 

The hotel also has a tiny fitness center with a bike, elliptical, and treadmill, and a small business center with two computers and a large coin-operated copy, printer, and fax machine. A 24-hour lounge has a smoking deck, free massage chairs, an ice machine, and microwave, in addition to coin-operated laundry and vending machines, including one for SIM cards. There's a self-service currency exchange machine in the lobby. Several chic private meeting rooms are available, and all guests receive a free digital subscription to The Wall Street Journal during their stay.