Hotel 1899 Tokyo Review: Location, Breakfast, and Transport

Hotel 1899 Tokyo wraps its guest experience around Japanese tea culture, offering a calm Shimbashi retreat where tea sommeliers prepare matcha and sencha at a dedicated counter. The hotel’s official site describes it as a quiet base away from the busiest streets, with tea woven into the design, breakfast, and evening service. This review draws on guest feedback and verified property details to help you decide if this tea-themed boutique hotel matches your travel style.

Last checked: 2026-05-29

Hotel Name: HOTEL 1899 TOKYO · Location: Shimbashi, Minato, Tokyo · Number of Floors: 17 · Key Concept: Fusion of Japanese tea culture and hospitality · Breakfast Type: Buffet with green tea loafs and seasonal teas · Notable Amenities: Free WiFi, rooftop onsen, tea experience kettle

Snapshot of Hotel 1899 Tokyo

1 Core Concept

• Fusion of Japanese tea culture and hospitality (Official website)

2 Breakfast

• Buffet featuring green tea loafs and seasonal teas (TripAdvisor)

3 Notable Amenities

• Free in-room WiFi; tea counter with tea sommelier on the second floor (Expedia)

Fact	Detail
Hotel Name	HOTEL 1899 TOKYO
Location	Shimbashi, Minato, Tokyo
Number of Floors	17
Key Concept	Fusion of Japanese tea culture and hospitality
Breakfast Type	Buffet with green tea loafs and seasonal teas
Notable Amenities	Free WiFi, rooftop onsen, tea experience kettle

Hotel 1899 Tokyo at a Glance

Attribute	Detail
Address	6-4-1 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
District	Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Theme	Japanese tea culture boutique hotel
Nearest Station	JR Shimbashi Station (approx. 10‑minute walk)
Smoking Policy	Completely non‑smoking
On‑Site Café	CHAYA 1899 TOKYO (tea‑themed café on 1st floor)
Tea Service	Tea counter on 2nd floor with tea sommeliers (matcha, sencha, seasonal teas)
Breakfast	Buffet with green tea loafs and seasonal teas
Free WiFi	In rooms and public areas
Front Desk	24‑hour
Parking	Self‑parking available (limited, central location)
Accessibility	Wheelchair accessible; accessible parking

Hotel 1899 Tokyo reviews

Guest feedback across multiple platforms consistently highlights the hotel’s clean, well‑appointed rooms and the appealing breakfast. A 2026‑updated TripAdvisor page notes that rooms are clean and some offer views of Tokyo Tower. One guest on Eighty Flavors described the rooms as “fairly spacious by Tokyo standards,” with contemporary Japanese design and modern comforts. Hotels.com guests praised a big corner room for its amazing views and large windows.

Reviewers also mention the free tea tasting at the second‑floor tea counter. The Timeless Ryokan feature calls Hotel 1899 Tokyo “the ultimate hotel experience for the tea aficionado,” pointing to the in‑house tea experts and CHAYA 1899 TOKYO café. A YouTube review labels it an “affordable and aesthetic theme hotel focused on Japanese matcha,” noting the breakfast buffet, unique experience, and proximity to subway stations.

The pattern: guests value the tea‑centric concept, cleanliness, and breakfast, but a few note the location is quiet at night, which may not suit those who prefer a lively evening scene.

Hotel 1899 Tokyo location

Hotel 1899 Tokyo sits at 6-4-1 Shimbashi in Minato‑ku, a business district that buzzes with office workers during the day and becomes calm at night. The official website positions the hotel as standing “quietly beyond the hustle and bustle of Shimbashi.” It’s about a 10‑minute walk from JR Shimbashi Station on the Yamanote Line, one of Tokyo’s most convenient loop lines. That station connects directly to Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, and Shinjuku.

Timeless Ryokan describes the surrounding area as busy by day but quiet in the evening, shaping the hotel’s appeal to guests who want peaceful evenings with central daytime access. Expedia’s overview calls it a “calm escape in the bustling city center.” The location also places guests within walking distance of the Shimbashi subway station and a short taxi ride from Ginza and Tokyo Tower.

The trade‑off: while the hotel is central, it’s not in the very heart of tourist zones like Shinjuku or Shibuya. Guests trade a few extra minutes on the train for a quieter, more relaxed base.

Hotel 1899 Tokyo breakfast

The breakfast buffet at Hotel 1899 Tokyo is one of its most praised features. The official site says the meal incorporates Japanese tea alongside a spread of Western and Japanese dishes. TripAdvisor reviewers specifically highlight the green tea loafs and seasonal teas as delicious standouts. One regular guest on Hotels.com noted that the breakfast included “wonderful tea‑flavored baked goods.”

The buffet is served in the hotel’s restaurant, which also offers original “tea cuisine” for lunch and dinner—dishes that let guests “eat tea” according to the official description. The breakfast is not always included in the room rate, so it’s worth confirming when booking.

What this means: if you’re a tea lover or appreciate a breakfast with local character, this buffet is a highlight. The seasonal teas change throughout the year, giving returning guests something new to try.

Narita Airport to hotel 1899 Tokyo

Narita Airport is the primary international gateway for travelers arriving in Tokyo. Travel time from the airport to Hotel 1899 Tokyo typically ranges from 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the transfer method. The most common route involves taking the Narita Express or Keisei Skyliner to a central terminal, then switching to the JR Yamanote Line to reach Shimbashi Station.

From Shimbashi Station, it’s a 10‑minute walk west along Sotobori Dori. The hotel is on a quieter side street flanked by office buildings. Taxis from Shimbashi Station are also available; the ride is about 5 minutes. Some guests have noted that if you arrive after 10 p.m., the area can feel empty but safe, with convenience stores nearby.

The implication: direct train access makes the trip straightforward, but budget extra time if you’re arriving during peak hours or on a rainy day. The walk is manageable for most travelers with rolling luggage; the hotel is on a flat street.

Pros and Cons of Hotel 1899 Tokyo

Alternatives to consider

If Hotel 1899 Tokyo doesn’t fit your itinerary, other boutique hotels in the Minato area offer a similar size and design focus, but none replicate the tea‑centric concept. For example, properties near Shinbashi or Hamamatsucho provide comparable access to the Yamanote Loop. Travelers seeking a larger hotel with more facilities might look at options closer to Tokyo Station or Ginza. However, for the specific blend of tea culture and modern hospitality, Hotel 1899 Tokyo remains a distinct choice.

Readers interested in other Japan hotel reviews may also find the Nozawa Grand Hotel Review useful for comparing accommodation styles. For those drawn to boutique heritage properties, the Vue Grand Queenscliff: Boutique Heritage Hotel Review offers a different take on design‑driven stays.