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Chillax With the Biz Class at ANA Intercontinental Tokyo's New Lounge

Where: 1-12-33 Akasaka Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, 107-0052

Most leisure travelers will never get to experience it, let along know it exists, but for the busy business traveler, a hote's executive club lounge is a home away from home. Recognizing that Tokyo is a city with a huge executive traffic, the ANA Intercontinental Hotel has emerged as the frontrunner in the race to have the best lounge simply by building the biggest with the best views.

In fact, the new executive club lounge at the ANA is the entire country's largest as such, and the 2,000-square-foot space boasts more than just impressive couches, but six distinct areas: a welcome reception, library, relaxation space, dining room, bar and meeting facility. Instead of aiming for generic luxury with the design, the Intercontinental wants to know that you are kicking butt and taking names in business in Tokyo, so expect cultural touches like transparent divider screens, lacquer ware and bamboo use.

Although the lounge is large, it is far from packed and noisy as only 198 of the hotel's 843 guest rooms have access to it, and its startlingly awesome views of Tokyo's city centre, the Imperial Palace, the National Diet building and Roppongi Hills. Executive rooms begin at $350, which is quite good for Tokyo and the included use of the club facilities; free executive club martinis all around.

[Photo: IHG AHA Hotels Group Japan]

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The B Akasaka Could B 4 U

Where: 7-6-13, Akasaka, Tokyo, Japan, 107-0052

That's right, since the Purple One is all over the place these days, we figured we would bring back Prince titles--see above.

In any event, The New York Times recently sent writer Andrew Yang over to Tokyo's B Akasaka, and he's back with a fairly positive review. Tokyo gives the same sort of hotel room sticker shock as New York City, so it's good to see "budget" options expanding. The B Akasaka looks like a good entry in the Easy Hotel-style category--minus the blindingly-bright Stelios orange, of course.

Interesting then that the B Akasaka gets called out not as a Japanese Easy Hotel, but as an aloft-style budget-boutique. Says Andrew:

The hotel doesn't have certain services, like room service, in favor of a more do-it-yourself philosophy. No need to worry about extra charges for the minibar (there is none), or Internet access (it's free) or telephone calls (local calls are also free)...The B Akasaka is perfect for work-intensive business trips, quick solo weekend shopping excursions or just a place to stay while seeing friends. If you insist on being fussed over and want to have everything brought to your fingertips, this is not the place for you. But if you like the autonomy and anonymity that the metropolis of Tokyo affords, then the B Akasaka is a quiet, and serene perch from which to explore the city.

If you're not into Japanese minimalist hotels, this Sunday's Times also features the Lost Trail Lodge--a don't-even-think-about-WiFi lodge less than five miles from Truckee, CA. The Lodge has no phones, no plasma TVs and no roads leading to the property: you have to ski or snowshoe in from town. Minimalist indeed.

Image via Eloketh

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