The Villa Fontaine Hakozaki Nihombashi
Japan is a very expensive country to visit. However, my partner, Marc, and I have found mid-range hotels that do not charge an arm and a leg for its rooms. By mid-range, I mean rooms that cost around the $100 price range.
One hotel we discovered a few years ago that was and continues to be value for the dollar is the Villa Fontaine chain of hotels. This is a Japanese franchise and it has been our choice of accommodation each and every time we return to Tokyo.
It is literally a block away from the Tokyo City Air Terminal and it is very convenient to travel to especially when one has lots of suitcases.
The main façade of the Villa Fontaine Hakozaki Nihombashi
A closer look at the main entrance of the hotel
The Villa Fontaine Hakozaki Nihombashi Annex Building. This is where my hotel room was actually located. I had to leave the premises of the main building, go around the block, and enter this building to get to my room.
The bed in my room, 5804
The TV and desk. Mind you, the TV only had Japanese channels available. There were no CNN, BBC World, and the like here folks. Should you absolutely need to have cable TV in English, then this chain of hotel will not work for you.
The light switch for the room and the hallway
A bit of space between the bed and the work desk. I stored my two trunk like suitcases in this very corner.
The immaculately clean bathroom
The sink with the liquid soaps and other bathroom amenities
A favorite of mine among Japanese hotels, the toilet with the built in bidet
The buttons for the Japanese toilet which is a big favorite of mine.
The hallway
This tiny alcove by the door was the extent of the closet inside my room.
There were slippers supplied for the rooms occupants. I didn't use any of them though. I brought mine from home.
There was a bathrobe for me to use as well.
The neighborhood where the hotel is located
This IBM Office in the Hakozaki Nihombashi area was right in the next block from the hotel
This 7 Eleven convenience store was located close to the hotel. Stores like this are excellent places to buy bento boxes at cheap, cheap prices. Should you be on a tight budget but wish to eat tons of good Japanese food, visit any Watson, Lawson, or 7 Eleven and you will get your fill, I promise.
The Lawson convenience store, also a block away from the hotel