Tokyo's Hidden Gem: Richmond Hotel Shiba – Unbeatable Luxury!
Tokyo's Hidden Gem: Richmond Hotel Shiba – Unbeatable Luxury! (Seriously, It's Pretty Darn Good)
Okay, buckle up, because I'm about to spill the tea on a Tokyo hotel that almost made me cry (in a good way, mostly). We’re talking about the Richmond Hotel Shiba. This ain't some flashy, Instagram-overloaded place. This is a real hotel. A place where you can actually unwind and feel…well, pampered. (And trust me, after navigating the Tokyo subway system, you need pampered.)
Let's be honest, finding a decent hotel in Tokyo can feel like winning a lottery. Everything is either a shoebox with a questionable mattress or a ridiculously overpriced palace you can't afford. But the Richmond Hotel Shiba? They actually get it. They understand the weary traveler.
Accessibility: Smooth Sailing (Mostly)
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes! This is a MAJOR win. Elevators are plentiful, and the common areas are easy to navigate. I saw a few guests using wheelchairs, and they seemed to be doing just fine. That's a huge relief for anyone with mobility issues. This is a HUGE win in a city that can be notoriously challenging to navigate when you’re not perfectly able-bodied.
- Facilities for disabled guests: I didn’t personally stay in an accessible room, but the listed facilities are encouraging.
- Elevator: Naturally. Thank goodness.
Cleanliness and Safety: Breathe Easy (Seriously, They Try)
- Hygiene certification: Yep, check. They claim to be up to snuff.
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Rooms sanitized between stays, Professional-grade sanitizing services: They’re trying. I saw staff constantly cleaning and I felt a LOT more comfortable compared to other places I've stayed. Maybe it's the Japanese dedication to cleanliness, but I felt safe.
- Hand sanitizer, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Individually-wrapped food options: Little things that make a BIG difference. Makes you feel like they actually give a damn about your health (and that’s what I’m looking for).
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Saw staff wearing masks and generally being pretty careful. That’s a good sign.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Definitely makes you feel like you're not moving into a place that's been a petri dish.
Internet & Tech Stuff: Connected and Comfortable
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Bless them be! (And it actually works well! Not always a given in Tokyo).
- Internet, Internet [LAN]: They have the basics done right.
- Laptop workspace: Definitely a plus for the digital nomads or business travelers.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events, Projector/LED display: For those who have to work or want to do some serious entertainment.
Dining, Drinking & Snacking: More Than Just Noodles (Thank God)
- Breakfast [buffet], Buffet in restaurant, Asian breakfast, Western breakfast: Okay, breakfast is essential. And the Richmond Hotel Shiba… they deliver. A decent buffet that actually has a good mix of Western and (more) Asian-inspired options. The scrambled eggs aren't the best I've ever had, but those little pastries? Divine.
- Restaurants, A la carte in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop: For those rare times you don't want to immediately run out for ramen.
- Room service [24-hour]: Perfect for those jet-lagged nights when you just want to be horizontal.
- Bar, Happy hour, Poolside bar: I didn’t see a pool, but a bar! This is Tokyo, a drink is always appreciated.
- Snack bar: Always a good thing to have.
Services and Conveniences: Making Life Easier
- Concierge, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Luggage storage, Laundry service, Dry cleaning, Ironing service: The concierge was super helpful. I needed help making a very complex dinner reservation. They nailed it.
- Cash withdrawal, Currency exchange: Very convenient for travelers.
- Elevator: Gosh, yes, it's essential.
- Contactless check-in/out: They seem to keep up with the times!
- Convenience store (nearby): So you can grab a quick snack, water, or a toothbrush at 2 am. Life saver.
- Food delivery: Good to know if there is anything you want!
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: Almost a Spa Day
- Gym/fitness: Fine, I'll admit it, I peeked in. It looked decent. At least functional.
- Spa/sauna: They have a spa! (Details are vague, could be a massage and a sauna). I think there's a steam room too.
- Massage: Needed that after a day of walking.
- Sauna, Steamroom: Yes. Yes. YES.
- Pool (with view): I didn’t see this. Perhaps it’s mistaken, or the view is from somewhere else.
For the Kids & Family Friendly:
- Babysitting service: Good if you have a family and you feel the need.
- Family/child friendly: I saw a few families.
Getting Around:
- Airport transfer: Yes!
- Car park [on-site], Car park [free of charge]: Good news if you are renting a car.
- Taxi service: Everywhere in Tokyo.
Available in All Rooms: Your Cozy Home Away From Home
- Air conditioning: Essential in Tokyo’s summer!
- Free Wi-Fi: Yess!
- Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Blackout curtains, Coffee/tea maker, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Hair dryer, In-room safe box, Ironing facilities, Mini bar, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, Separate shower/bathtub, Slippers, Smoke detector, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries: The basics are solid. And those blackout curtains? A lifesaver after a long flight.
- Additional toilet, Bathtub, Bathroom phone: Nice extras, tbh.
- Extra long bed, Non-smoking: A blessing.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: Good for families and groups.
- Reading light, Shower, Wake-up service: The small details make a difference.
- Mirror, Seating area, Sofa: Nice to have.
- Open window: Great if you need some fresh air.
Cleanliness and Safety:
- Smoke detectors, Safety/security feature, Fire extinguisher, Security [24-hour], CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property: All the things that help you sleep soundly.
My Deeply Personal (and Slightly Rambling) Thoughts:
Okay, so let's get REAL. This hotel isn't perfect. It’s not the Ritz. But it felt good. It felt… humane. After a few days of navigating the sensory overload that is Tokyo, I found myself actually wanting to go back to my room. That's a big deal.
I remember one particular day. I'd spent hours lost in Akihabara, feeling like I'd aged a decade. By the time I got back to the hotel, I was a sweaty, grumpy mess. But the check-in was quick and friendly. They handed me a little welcome drink (ice cold water!), and the air conditioning hit me like a glorious wave of calm. The room was spotless. I took a long, hot shower, wrapped myself in a bathrobe (a real bathrobe!), and collapsed into that ridiculously comfortable bed. That night, I slept like a rock. Seriously. No jet lag. No stress dreams about getting on the wrong train. Just…peace. That one little moment? That, my friends, is worth its weight in gold.
The "Unbeatable Luxury" Claim? Maybe Not, But It's Damn Good!
Look, it's not luxury in a gold-plated, Michelin-star-every-meal kinda way. But it's smart luxury. It's the kind of luxury that understands what a traveler actually needs: comfort, convenience, and a place to recharge. I think they deliver everything advertised.
The Imperfections (Because Nothing’s Perfect, Right?)
- The gym. It's small. But like I said, it’s functional.
- The food at breakfast could be a little more creative (but is great enough).
- I forgot to check if a pet was allowed, I should have asked.
My Honest Recommendation (With a Hint of Enthusiasm):
Go. Book the Richmond Hotel Shiba. If you’re going to Tokyo, and you want a place that feels like a proper sanctuary after a day of
Amman's BEST Twin Hotel? This Boutique Will SHOCK You!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups! This ain't your sterile, perfectly-planned travel itinerary. This is a reality show itinerary, starring yours truly, in the glorious, slightly overwhelming, neon-drenched insanity that is Tokyo. And the unfortunate, yet utterly charming, setting? The Richmond Hotel Tokyo Shiba in Shiba, Tokyo. Pray for me.
Day 1: Arrival and Initial Panic – The Shibuya Scramble and Ramen Rage
- 14:00 (ish) - Arrival at Narita (NRT). Oh dear god. This is it. The airport is CLEAN. I'm not sure I'm ready for this level of cleanliness after a transatlantic flight. Customs was surprisingly smooth… until I realized my passport photo makes me look like a deer caught in headlights. Note to self: Get a better photo, because you're going to need it.
- 15:00 - Train from Narita to Shiba. The train! Efficient. Sleek. Terrifyingly quiet. Where's the screaming baby? The guy eating a whole onion raw? Is this real life? I'm already culturally exhausted. My brain is doing a slow-motion panic: "Tokyo… skyscrapers… no, no, it's Tokyo… wait, do I have my wallet? Is that a vending machine offering pickled plums? Are pickled plums a metaphor for… well, everything?"
- 17:00 - Check-in at Richmond Hotel Shiba. Okay, the room is… compact. Let's just say I could touch all four walls simultaneously if I really wanted to. But hey, it's clean, the Wi-Fi works (thank the heavens), and there's a weird little robe. I'm calling it "The Zen Robe of Perpetual Mild Discomfort."
- 18:00 - Shibuya – The Scramble. People. Everywhere. Like, an ocean of people. Crossing that famous pedestrian crossing? It was like being a salmon fighting upstream. I'm pretty sure I saw a robot with a briefcase. Seriously. Did I dream that? Probably. Jet lag.
- 19:00 - Ramen Apocalypse. Found a ramen place (after wandering aimlessly for 45 minutes and almost bursting into tears of frustration). The soup was… chef's kiss. The broth was a symphony of umami. I slurped so loudly I'm pretty sure I nearly broke the sound barrier. Mortifying. Glorious. I may or may not have drooled a little.
- 20:00 - Lost in Translation (the hotel). Took a wrong turn, ended up on the wrong floor, and had a full-blown existential crisis in front of a vending machine. It did not understand my yen. Finally, found my room. Collapse. Bed. Bliss.
Day 2: Temples, Tiny Streets, and Karaoke Catastrophe
- 08:00 - Breakfast at the Hotel. The breakfast buffet. Tiny portions. Mysterious, jiggly tofu. But also, little sausages! And coffee! Victory. I’m going to need all the fuel I can get after yesterday!
- 09:00 - Tsukiji Outer Market. This place! The fish! The chaos! The glorious, overwhelming, fish-fueled chaos! I actually witnessed a tuna auction (or, at least, part of one, because, you know, sleep). It was like a ritual dance of intense focus and… well, fish.
- 11:00 - Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa. Finally, some peace! The temple was beautiful, the incense smoke thick and fragrant. I tossed a coin, mumbled a desperate prayer for my sanity, and accidentally almost tripped over an elderly woman's shopping cart. Note to self: refine clumsiness skills.
- 13:00 - Lunch in Asakusa. Found a tiny udon shop. The noodles were perfect, the broth warm. But I still can't shake the feeling that I'm going to accidentally insult someone, or worse, get lost.
- 15:00 - Exploring Harajuku (Omotesando & Takeshita Street). Okay, so this is where the real weirdness begins. Takeshita Street! Crepes! Rainbow everything! Girls dressed as… well, I’m not even sure what they were dressed as. It was a sensory overload in the best possible way. I bought a ridiculously fluffy pink cat hat. Don't judge me.
- 18:00 - Dinner in Shibuya (Again!) I felt like I was going to have a stroke just trying to find a decent restaurant. The restaurants are all underground… how do you get down there? Why aren’t there signs?! I’m hungry! I’m going to die!. Found a spot that looked like it was good.
- 20:00 - Karaoke. Or, Karaoke Catastrophe. This was a mistake. I was feeling brave, I was feeling… cultured, so I joined a group for karaoke. My chosen song? “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. Which I subsequently butchered, horribly. I think – no, I know - I cleared the room. The Japanese are polite, though, they just smiled sweetly and clapped. I’m officially banned from karaoke.
Day 3: Serenity and… More Serenity, and a Tiny Regret
- 09:00 - Ueno Park & Tokyo National Museum. Finally, some peace and quiet (relatively speaking). The park was beautiful, the museum interesting. The art was stunning and I almost made it through the museum before getting distracted by a cat, which led to me almost getting lost.
- 12:00 - Lunch in Ueno. Another tiny restaurant. The food was delicious, even though I'm still terrified that I'm going to accidentally use the wrong chopstick technique.
- 14:00 - Exploring the Imperial Palace East Garden. More beautiful gardens! More peace! I'm beginning to understand why people are so zen here… until the heat, and the inevitable crowds, started to get to me, but it was still a good experience.
- 16:00 - Ginza Shopping. Wow. Designer everything! This is where the rich people hang out. I took some photos and went back to the hotel.
- 18:00 - Dinner. This is where I have a story. I'd noticed a little restaurant every day on the way to the station. It was small, tucked away down a side street, and always filled with locals. I’d been too intimidated to go in, but today, I had to. It was a tiny place. The food was nothing I’d ever seen before. But I ordered a dish based on the waiter's excited (and probably incorrect) description. It was served beautifully, and… well, it was… interesting. I'm still not sure what I ate, but it was an experience. And I've got to say, it was the best thing I ate.
- 20:00 - Post-Dinner Contemplation. On my way back to the hotel, I paused. I’ve survived, I’ve maybe thrived, and I’ve experienced some kind of culture shock. I think I wouldn't change anything.
Day 4: Departure - Farewell, Tokyo
- 08:00 - Breakfast at the Hotel - Again! Another day, another bowl of jiggly tofu. I think I’m starting to like it, which is probably a sign of irreversible brain damage.
- 10:00 - Last-Minute Souvenir Shopping. Okay, need to find gifts. This is where I realize I can’t read the labels. Panic sets in. Managed to find some weird Kit Kats and some questionable art.
- 12:00 - Check-Out. Said goodbye to the Zen Robe of Perpetual Mild Discomfort.
- 13:00 - Train to Narita. Again. This time, I know the routine. I survived!
- 15:00 - Airport. Bye-bye, Tokyo. I'm exhausted, slightly traumatized, and utterly in love. I'll be back. Maybe with a translator, and a stronger wallet.
There you have it. My Tokyo adventure. It wasn't perfect, it wasn't always smooth, but it was real. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a nap. And maybe some ramen. Seriously, though, I need ramen.
Jeddah's Hidden Gem: Shirván Hotel City Yard - Unforgettable Luxury!
Okay, so like... what *is* this even about? And why the drama?
Alright, alright, settle down. This is supposed to be a FAQ, supposedly, about... *something*. I'm not going to be pedantic about the subject matter. We'll just *go* there, wherever "there" is. The drama? Honey, that's just me. I'm a drama queen. (Or, you know, just a person.) Also, let's keep it real. Most FAQs are BORING. So, I decided to spice things up, like adding a whole bottle of hot sauce to a bland quesadilla. Expect the unexpected.
Are you... an expert? Because you sound like you might have pulled all this out of thin air.
Expert? Bless your heart. No. Absolutely not. I'm more like a… a *curious observer*. I dabble. I read. I get really, REALLY obsessed with random things. Then I forget half of it. Honestly, I'm probably 80% caffeine-fueled opinions and 20% actual knowledge. So, take everything I say with a gigantic grain of salt. Maybe a whole salt lick. I’m the friend who *thinks* she knows how to bake a cake but usually ends up with a kitchen disaster. (Speaking of which, I did attempt to bake a tres leches cake last week, and it was... a tragedy. Flavour was good, though!)
So, like, what’s the point of this… this rambling, unstructured… thing?
Good question! Honestly? I'm not entirely sure. Maybe it's just… a vent. Or, an excuse to ramble about the things that take up way too much space in my brain. Maybe someone will find it entertaining? Maybe someone will learn something? (Probably not, though. Sorry, future learners!) Mostly, this is just me, word-vomiting onto the internet. Consider yourself warned. Think of it as a weird performance art piece? Except I’m not sure if it should be here, but I’m here anyway, so... *shrugs*
Okay, okay, moving on. What makes you… *you*? Why should anyone even *listen* to you?
Ah, the million-dollar question! My "charm", if you want to call it that, comes from my… well, my *human-ness*. I stumble. I make mistakes. I get excited about the dumbest things. Like, I still get ridiculously hyped up about a perfectly made latte art (yes, I'm *that* person). And I *love* a good rant. Or a good cry. Or a good laugh. I haven't got many opinions, just *a lot* of opinions.
Also, I’m genuinely curious about… everything. And sometimes, my overly enthusiastic curiosity leads to truly embarrassing situations. Did I tell you about the time I tried to speak Italian to a family in Florence, butchering every single word, and then accidentally started crying because I wanted to show them their family photos? It was a whole thing. But, even in the midst of utter humiliation, I learned something. And that, my friends, is what makes me… *me*. Or at least, a version of me. The one that is here now.
What about the *topic*? Spill the beans, already. What's this ALL about?
Alright, alright, fine! You want details? Fine. Okay, let’s say we're talking... okay, so how about... Oh, let's talk about *travel*. Yeah, that's it! Specifically, the *absurdity* of travel. The highs, the lows, the airport bathrooms. The delicious food you eat at 3 am to try and find connection. The people you meet, and will never see again. The things you never knew about yourself, or others. The constant running between places and trying to figure out what it all means.
Alright, travel… What’s your *favorite* travel memory?
Oh, man. Okay, this is a tough one. I’ve got a lot of memories, to be sure. But the *memories* I love the most are the ones that I can almost… feel. I remember I was in Kyoto, alone, and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. It was a perfect, ridiculously scenic view, the kind of thing you see in Instagram reels. You know, the kind of thing I try so hard not to like, but it was overwhelmingly beautiful. But what I *truly* remember is the smell of the rain on the stone steps of a temple I stumbled upon. The way the air smelled like wet earth with a hint of incense smoke. I sat there for hours, just… absorbing. I'm not even religious, but I felt a sense of profound peace. It gave me the courage to go out and explore and be vulnerable.
And then, because life is perfect, I tripped on my own feet and spilled a whole cup of matcha on myself. And burst out laughing. And went and got another one! But that moment of peace? Absolutely worth it. It’s the little imperfections that really stick with you, you know?
What's the *worst* travel experience you've ever had? Spill the tea!
Ugh, okay, this one is tough. But you want the truth? Here it is. This story still makes my blood boil, and, well, also makes me laugh. I *once* got stuck in an airport in Frankfurt for like… three days? Because of a massive snowstorm. I'm talking the kind of snowstorm that straight-up shuts down an entire airport. I was supposed to be in Ireland to see my grandparents. It was a Christmas gift. What I *remember* is the bone-chilling cold of that airport. The endless lines for… well, for everything. The smell of stale airport coffee.
I *also* remember… the *people*. I spent hours watching a couple, *screaming* at each other. I saw a man *try* to sleep on a suitcase, for like, 10 hours. I observed several small children develop what seemed to be a kind of collective, contagious madness. I heard someone *crying*, for like, a day straight. It felt like a zombie movie. I swear!
The only thing that kept me sane during that chaos was the kindness of a complete stranger. An older woman, who somehow managed to score a bag of pretzels from some kind of VIP lounge. She shared them with me. We spent a few hours talking and laughing. And I realized, even in the middle of a travel nightmare, there’s still some good. (And the pretzels were AMAZING, by the way. They tasted like victory.)
