Review: Pullman Tokyo Tamachi hotel
Tokyo hotels are all about location, but when you need to visit multiple districts on one trip, there's an easy solution: Pullman.
By Chris C., September 27 2019
Country
Japan
City
Tokyo
Hotel
Pullman Tokyo Tamachi
Notes
The Good
- Easy access to rail and Tokyo's Haneda and Narita airports
- Stylish Executive Lounge
The Bad
- Rooms are on the smaller side, but that's Tokyo
X-Factor
- KASA restaurant is top notch
Introduction
There's a lot to consider when choosing a hotel in Tokyo: which airport(s) you'll be flying through, where you'll need to be for business meetings, and where you'd like to spend any free time.
With a busy schedule – or one that takes you around the entire city and perhaps into neighbouring areas like Yokohama – it's often easiest to stay near the city's railways: and that railway connection is one of the Pullman Tokyo Tamachi hotel's most favourable attributes.
Location & Impressions
Situated in Tamachi in Tokyo's Mita district, the Pullman Tokyo Tamachi is easily reached by car and rail, with a street entrance on the ground floor and railway stations within easy walking distance via an upper level concourse.
This includes Tamachi Station – connected to the JR East Yamanote and Keihin-Tōhoku lines – as well as Mita Station, linked to the Toei Mita and Asakusa lines.
This sees the hotel connected to both Tokyo's Haneda and Narita airports via a single train journey (no changes required), with a travel time of around 25 minutes to/from Haneda Airport, and around an hour for Narita Airport.
Inside, there's an open and inviting reception area, where staff process check-ins efficiently, across from a bar which you can return to later.
Guests with Executive Lounge access can also check-in at the lounge, which has a relaxing vibe and great views of the area.
There's no shortage of shopping and dining opportunities opposite the hotel, accessed via the same exit as for the train.
Overseas visitors, take note that while most ATMs in Japan can't accept foreign cards for cash withdrawals, the 7-Eleven store in this area features an internationally-connected ATM, which did not charge a transaction fee to make a withdrawal using an Australian debit card.
Also while venturing beyond the hotel, the neighbouring city of Yokohama is just half an hour away by express train.
Room
Superior Executive Rooms are cosy but sufficient, combining the bedroom with the bathroom in the same general area, aside a bench usable either on the bathroom side, or with a chair on the bedroom side as a work station.
Here, you'll find a mirror, walk-in shower, and a separate restroom around the corner.
Giving travellers a hint of local culture before they've started exploring the city, origami art is also displayed in the room.
For a coffee hit any time of the day or night, each room offers an espresso capsule machine, too.
Finally, most lights are dimmable as desired, with bedside AC and USB power at-hand.
Just note, for this AC outlet, you won't be able to use the three-pin 'Japan/USA' style adaptors as are commonly sold as travel accessories – you'll instead need to keep your eyes peeled for a two-pin plug, without the earth pin.
Work
As above, access to the hotel's Executive Lounge is included with this room type – and for Accor's Platinum-level members staying in any room – with the tables lining the windows suited for laptop work.
Need power? The table on the far right has outlets galore, with AC outlets in the wall and USB chargers built into the nearby lamp.
There's also a communal working area down on the ground floor of the hotel across from reception, where charging ports are again available. Unlike the Executive Lounge, this zone is open to all guests.
WiFi is speedy with both downloads and uploads hovering around 45Mbps during the stay.
Eat
Executive floor guests and Platinum members can enjoy breakfast at the Executive Lounge from 7-10:30am daily, where there's a selection of pastries, fruits, cereals, yogurts and sushi to start the day.
A selection of à la carte dishes can also be ordered such as Eggs Benedict and pancakes, either up in the lounge for guests with access, or downstairs in KASA restaurant, where the hotel's main breakfast is served.
Of course, KASA offers a similar buffet, with those Western staples and sushi at the ready.
However, KASA brings a little more variety and colour. After enjoying some local bites, it was impossible to resist the temptation of a delicious yoghurt pot, as well as an excellent latte that would hold up in any great Australian cafe – the hotel's General Manager is an Australian expat, after all.
KASA serves lunch and dinner as well, and accepts Accor Plus discount cards, which give travellers savings of 25-50% off their food bill plus 15% off beverages.
The wine list is international, so a glass of 2016 Ivory & Burt Chardonnay from California begins a Saturday night dinner, alongside bread with olive oil.
With a focus on Asian-influenced Mediterranean dishes, the waiter recommends two of the restaurant's most popular starters: Japanese tomato and peach in kimchi vinaigrette with buffalo mozzarella, and the citrus-marinated BBQ octopus with chorizo cream and fennel salad – both of which were delectable.
For the main course, it's impossible to look past the 150g Wagyu A5 tenderloin, sourced from a nearby prefecture – A5 being the highest wagyu grade that can be given – which was simply divine, as was the artfully-presented coconut bavarois for dessert to finish.
Back up in the Executive Lounge, drinks and canapés are served daily from 5-7pm. Guests are greeted with a refreshing cold towel, with the bites on offer catering to a variety of tastes.
Drinks are self-service including beer, wine and spirits, with non-alcoholic refreshments such as tea, coffee and soft drink available throughout the day, from 7am until 10pm when the lounge closes.
The hotel also has two bars: The Junction down in the lobby, and Platform 9 up on the rooftop, with similar views as can be enjoyed from the Executive Lounge.
Relax
With time to spare, head to the hotel gym and catch up on your workout: or in the evenings, notch up extra steps with a walk to Rainbow Bridge, about 20-25 minutes away on foot.
Of course, the Executive Lounge remains available to relax, socialise, and unwind.
Overall, Pullman Tokyo Tamachi is a great choice for both business and leisure travellers visiting Tokyo, with a solid restaurant and a nice Executive Lounge, not to mention that easy connection to the rail network, including services to Tokyo's Haneda and Narita airports.
Those trains can also take you to the city's major sightseeing attractions, including many which can be reached via a single train, as sightseeing opportunities on foot are relatively limited here.
Chris Chamberlin was a guest of the Pullman Tokyo Tamachi hotel.
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Sep 2013
Total posts 16
I stayed at the Pullman late last year and thought it was a wonderful hotel. Obviously the location is no where near as lively as Shinjuku/Shibuya etc but it is busy enough with lots of restaurants/bars within walking distance. The train station is a 2 minute walk from the hotel so easy to get around. I have platinum status but I don't recall what room we were upgraded to but it was a good size and very modern. We had some drinks in the lounge but it's silly to have breakfast there over the restaurant as the variety doesn't compare. The main restaurant breakfast buffet had really good local and international options and as you said the coffee was great too.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 May 2012
Total posts 178
I was in the Pullman for a few days earlier this week. It's a wonderful hotel and location,staff,rooms,food and importantly coffee was brilliant. Would definitely recommend it as a place to stay. Juts left the Swissôtel in Osaka which couldn't compare in any department.
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