Review: The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection

During a stay in Tokyo in my early days as a Marriott loyalist, I was looking around for a place to stay. Hotel availability was pretty sparse during peak summer travel season, so properties like the Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho and the Tokyo Marriott Hotel had already sold out for my dates.

I considered splurging on The Ritz-Carlton, but the absence of elite benefits at Ritz-Carlton hotels meant that I couldn’t quite justify the splurge at the time.

In the end, I decided on The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection brand, for my stay.

T.J. also had a more recent visit to this property on his Winter 2023 trip to Japan, and has added his experience to this updated review.

The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection – Booking

Because the Marriott Travel Packages were such a good deal at the time, I redeemed a seven-night certificate for the stay despite only needing to stay for four nights – I could use the extra elite qualifying nights anyway.

Nowadays, The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection prices out from ¥35,000–68,000 ($350–680 CAD) per night, with an average of around ¥50,000 ($500 CAD).

As for booking your stay with Marriott Bonvoy points, expect to pay around 45,000–56,000 points per night, with an average of around 50,000 points.

If you have a Free Night Award at your disposal, you could get a decent return by topping it up for a stay at the Price Sakura Tower Tokyo. Otherwise, you’ll likely get around our current valuation of 0.9 cents per point.

I booked my stay for 52,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. The cash prices at the time were in the upper end of the aforementioned range due to high occupancy around Lunar New Year, and while I didn’t get outstanding value for my points, I was pleased with it nonetheless.

Keep in mind that The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo participates in Marriott Luminous, a preferred partner program.

By booking your stay through an authorized travel advisor, you’ll enjoy a number of additional benefits at no extra cost. At this property, the benefits include free breakfast for two, priority for one-category room upgrades (subject to availability), and early check-in/late check-out (subject to availability).

The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection – Location

The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection is located a short walk away from Shinagawa Railway Station, which is relatively close to Haneda Airport via the Keiō train line.

The Shinagawa district isn’t really close to the major attractions, and is instead more of a local transport hub on the south side of Tokyo. However, Tokyo’s effective rail transport means that you can get to virtually anywhere you need to go by taking the JR Rail from Shinagawa station, so the location shouldn’t pose much of a challenge if you’d like to do some sightseeing around the city.

The Tokyo Tower and its environs are around 15 minutes from the hotel by car, or 30 minutes by transit. It takes around the same amount of time to get to the Imperial Palace by car or by transit, too.

Tokyo Haneda Airport is relatively close by, and takes around 20 minutes by car or half an hour by transit.

Tokyo Narita Airport is a bit farther away, and you’ll need around an hour to get there by car or just shy of two hours if you’re going by train.

The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection – Check-In

To get to the hotel from Shinagawa station, take a few steps north, head across the footbridge, and you’ll arrive at a road sloping uphill that brings you to the doorstep of The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection. There are quite a few high-rise hotels clustered in this area all known as “The Prince”, so be sure you’ve found the right one.

An unassuming gate welcomes you to the hotel, and a few more steps up the hill brings you to the entrance.

The lobby consists of a large square room designed in a beautiful modern Japanese style, with woodgrain and stone setting the mood.

The check-in staff was kind and efficient, letting us know that my Marriott Platinum Elite status entitled us to Executive Lounge access and daily breakfast in the mornings from 6–10am.

I’d previously emailed the hotel to enquire about the chances of a suite upgrade as well, but alas we were told we’d merely been upgraded to a “nice room on a higher floor”.

My check-in experience was very similar to Ricky’s. I arrived at the hotel in the early evening, after triple-checking that I’d indeed made my way to the correct “The Prince” hotel. 

I was proactively upgraded to a Corner King Room, which happened to come with a great view of the Tokyo Tower.

The elevators are located down a long hallway, and we made our way up to the 12th floor, where we’d been assigned Room 5210.

While the lobby and public areas of the hotel are quite stunning, the guest room floors are a bit more dated. While they’re still in good condition and aren’t run-down in any way, the décor just seems to harken back to a bygone era, and could certainly use a bit of a refresh.

It’s worth noting that the numbering convention of the rooms is also a little confusing, as it wasn’t immediately clear why Room 5210 was on the 12th floor.

My guess is that this is because The Prince Sakura Tower is almost fully integrated with its neighbouring Prince-branded hotels. There are covered walkways connecting the hotels and they also share green spaces and various amenities, so perhaps the rooms are all numbered so as to not overlap with their neighbours as well.

The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection – Deluxe King Room

Upon entering the room, we found that it offered a very reasonable amount of space, and the understated finishes were appreciated after spending four nights at the extravagant W Suzhou. In keeping with the name of the hotel, the carpet was decorated with an aesthetically pleasing sakura (cherry-blossom) pattern.

The king bed occupied one side of the room, furnished with a simple wood panel backboard.

The far side of the room played host to a set of comfortable chairs and a small table. Jessy and I spent much of our time in the hotel room at this table, snacking on the delicious food that we had bought from the 7/11 right opposite the hotel.

The countertop-and-desk combo ran along the opposite side. You’d find in-room amenities such as the minibar, bottled water, a coffee maker, and a tea kit located here.

I thought the desk was decent for getting work done, although it could’ve been a little more spacious.

As is commonplace in Japan, the Japanese-style toilet is in a separate room from the main bathroom itself. The toilet room is on your left as you enter the room, and includes a small washbasin as well.

Meanwhile, the main bathroom is on the right, and consists of a double sink together with a shower and bathtub. Rather oddly, the bathtub is actually at a lower level than the ground itself.

There was also a small marble countertop in the corner, which was useful for storing toiletries and loose items. I liked the marble accents in the bathroom, although I did notice a few first signs of wear and tear that were beginning to creep in.

Also situated in the foyer was a small closet, as well as a drawer in which pajamas were provided for guests to use. I didn’t get around to using them, but it was nice to know they were there.

One thing that’s worth pointing out about the room is that it could certainly benefit from better lighting. Even with all the lights turned on, the ambience felt a bit dim, which isn’t something that leaves a positive impression.

The room overlooked the huge central green space that’s shared by all Prince hotels in this area. We were in Tokyo in the middle of the summer heatwave, so the sunshine was naturally exceptional, and we often went down into the gardens for a morning stroll after breakfast before heading out for the day.

We also received turndown service each night, which consisted of a placard with the next day’s weather along with a few chocolates. This is something that’s always nice to savour when returning to your hotel room after a long day.

The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection – Corner King Room

I’d been assigned a Corner King Room on the 11th floor of the hotel. The room was located all the way at the far end of the hallway, which was a bit of a trek.

My room was similar to the one Ricky stayed in. Immediately upon entering the room, there’s a small hallway with the toilet room immediately to the right.

From there, you pass by the main bathroom and the room’s closet as you make your way to the bedroom.

The king bed takes centre stage here, and is set against the wall on the left-hand side of the room.

In front of the room’s lengthy curved mirror are two plush armchairs and a coffee table. I had a few friends come by to visit before we headed out for dinner, and there was plenty of space for our small group in the room.

Opposite from the seating area is where you’ll find the flat-screen television, a mini-fridge, the coffee maker, and a desk tucked in the corner of the room.

The view from my room looked out in the direction of the Tokyo Tower. It’s worth noting that during cherry blossom season, the rooms facing the various gardens may be more desirable, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to stay during the bloom.

The bathroom is fairly spacious, and had a separate bathtub and walk-in shower. There is also a makeup table and a double vanity on the opposite wall.

One feature of the hotel that I appreciated was the delivery of newspapers in the morning. After waking up, I was pleased to find a small bag that contained my requested newspaper hanging from the door to my room.

Overall, I was quite pleased with my room at The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection, as it was quite spacious and had a nice view of the Tokyo Tower. The bed was very comfortable, and it was in a very quiet part of the hotel.

As Ricky noted, the rooms are in good shape but appear to be a bit dated compared to other parts of the hotel. If you like a more classic style for hotels, then you’ll appreciate the décor; however, if you like cutting-edge or modern designs, you might feel a bit out of place here.

The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection – Sakura Suite

I also had a chance to take a look at some other rooms in the hotel. Aside from Deluxe Rooms, like the one Ricky stayed in, and Corner Rooms, like the one I stayed in, there are Junior Suites and a Sakura Suite. 

The Sakura Suite is a spacious 86-square-metre room with a separate living room and bedroom. 

The living room features a spacious couch with a separate large ottoman, as well as a vast wooden coffee table and an armchair. There’s also a bar in the corner of the room and one of the room’s two flat-screen TVs, making it a great option for hosting a small gathering.

In the bedroom, you’ll find two double beds, a pair of plush armchairs against the window, and a long desk. The flat-screen TV is directly opposite from the beds, and the coffee maker stands nearby.

The main bathroom sits adjacent to the bedroom. For all intents and purposes, it’s similar to the other bathrooms in the hotel, with a separate walk-in shower, bathtub, and double vanity.

Overall, the rooms at The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection are cohesive in their design, features, and amenities. The hotel is a mix of old and new, and the rooms offer more of a classic design and setup than other, more modern parts of the hotel.

Depending on the size of your group, you’ll have options to choose from a single bed, two double beds, or two double beds and a single bed. It’s worth noting that the Junior Suites appear to be very similar to the Corner Rooms, albeit with some more square footage.

The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection – Executive Lounge

The hotel’s Executive Lounge is located on the ground floor, and eligible hotel guests are given a special keycard to swipe for access.

It’s a rather intimate space with seating for about 50 people. The kitchen and bar area was located at the front of the lounge, and the breakfast and evening food spreads were placed along these surfaces.

The seating in this area mostly consisted of high-top tables and chairs.

Meanwhile the seating towards the back of the lounge was more relaxed, and some of the seats in particular enjoyed great views of the gardens outside.

Guests with lounge access can enjoy a small breakfast buffet here in the mornings. There’s also a larger buffet in the restaurant opposite from the lounge, although you’d have to pay for that one.

The breakfast buffet consists of a fusion of Western and Japanese items, with a few oddball items thrown in the mix. There was the usual scrambled eggs, sausages, and bacon, but also assorted steamed vegetables and minestrone…

Then there were pastries, cereal, and a selection of charcuterie on the other side of the lounge at the bar.

My favourite part of the breakfast buffet was the make-your-own-rice-bowl station, where you could combine freshly cooked Japanese rice with a variety of accoutrements, such as nori, cod roe, pickled plum, and dried fish.

The Executive Lounge also offers an evening spread of cheese bites, desserts, and complimentary beer, wine, and spirits.

The evening service ends at 9pm, so we had limited use for this given that we were pretty busy exploring Tokyo on most nights. Nevertheless, when we did return to the hotel before 9pm, it was nice to dip into the lounge for a snack and a nightcap.

The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection – Dining

The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection features two restaurants: Cilegio Ristorante Café and Nadaman Takanawa Prime Japanese Restaurant.

Cilegio is located on the ground floor of the hotel, and serves Italian cuisine throughout the day.

Nadaman is located on the third floor of the hotel, and serves Japanese cuisine overlooking the beautiful gardens outside. On the way in, you’ll also encounter a gorgeous colourful structure, which is very pleasing to the eye.

The interior of the restaurant is very sleek, with a variety of options depending on the type of experience you’re looking for. 

The restaurant was quite busy and had many tables reserved when I stopped by, and it appeared to be a very popular spot.

The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection – Other Facilities

The hotel has a central staircase, which leads to its various amenities as well as the other Prince hotels. There’s a helpful map of the grounds positioned near the staircase to guide you around the massive hotel complex; as you can see, The Prince Sakura Tower is but one of four Prince hotels on this block.

Take the staircase up a level from the ground floor, and you arrive at the doorway to the green space. The classical Japanese gardens are gorgeously maintained, with the highlight being the beautiful koi pond in the middle of it all.

The green space also boasts plenty of interesting shrines and pavilions, so there’s plenty to look at as you wander around. I didn’t get a chance to check out the other Prince-branded hotels (which are all accessible via the courtyard), but my sense is that they’re about on par with the Sakura Tower – very comfortable high-end hotels but not quite at the highest echelons of luxury.

Note, however, that only The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection is a part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection and can therefore be booked on points.

In terms of the hotel’s other features, there’s a small business centre located on the ground floor adjacent to the Executive Lounge and Cilegio restaurant.

Then if you take the spiral staircase down a level, you’ll arrive at the spa and fitness centre.

While there’s a whirlpool and sauna here at The Prince Sakura Tower, there’s no full-sized swimming pool; instead, we had been told upon check-in that we could use the swimming pool over at the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa, although we’d have to pay a fee to access it. (Naturally, we never did.)

It’s worth noting that you’re expected to bathe in the nude, and that guests with tattoos will be refused entry. There are two sauna and whirlpool bath areas, which are separated by gender, and both are open between 7am and 11pm daily.

Spa the Sakura is also located on this floor, and offers a variety of treatments to guests. 

There’s also a “Relax Lounge” on the ground floor of the hotel, which is equipped with a handful of comfortable chairs for guests to relax in.

Since we had dedicated our time in Tokyo to being good tourists and exploring as much of the city as possible, I also couldn’t really fit in the time to go for a workout at the hotel fitness centre, so I just popped downstairs to take some pictures.

It was a very nice fitness centre with a wealth of fitness equipment, and I’m a little sad I didn’t manage to make use of it.

After four nights at the hotel, we had a morning departure from Tokyo Haneda back to Beijing, so we grabbed a quick early breakfast in the Executive Lounge before packing our bags and heading out to Shinagawa station for our train to the airport.

Conclusion

The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection is a solid mid-range hotel choice for visitors to Tokyo.

While the location isn’t ideal, it also doesn’t matter too much given the efficiency of rail transport throughout the city.

Meanwhile, while the décor and ambience of the public areas are befitting of a stylish luxury hotel, the guest rooms and hallways are more dated, and I’d imagine that a round of renovations ought to be happening in the near future.

All things considered, I enjoyed my stay at The Prince Sakura Tower, but I’d probably want to try out some of the city’s other properties the next time I’m in Tokyo.