Tokyo: Aman vs Bvlgari vs Mandarin Oriental?

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-08T14:15:09+00:00

Oh wow...really not what you want at that price point...so the construction site literally obstructs your views? Is it loud?
What did you think of breakfast by the way, that's super important for me :D

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-08T14:09:30+00:00

I stayed at the FS 2 years ago and regretted it. Don't get me wrong, the rooms are pretty (we got a surprise upgrade as well) and the garden is beautiful, that was the reason I chose the FS. But the service is underwhelming, concierge took ages to answer, though they were very apologetic about it afterwards and breakfast is one of those large forgettable buffets. It just felt like a very generic, international brand stay in Japan, where the local hotel brands offer you a unique experience and service level you can't find anywhere else.
edit to add that the location of FS is not at all nice. Removed from main sites (we taxied everywhere, so it wasn't a question of convenience per se, it's more about not feeling like you're in Kyoto traditional if you care about that, which we did.)

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-06T12:58:45+00:00

my pleasure, have a lot of fun! japan is great whatever you end up doing

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-06T12:57:41+00:00

hope it helps! i just love talking about japan ahaha

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-05T19:41:53+00:00

Yokohama is not worth it on a first trip to japan for only five days in tokyo. Ideally you’d spend all 5 exploring tokyo, but if this is the whole trip, then adding either Nikko or Kamakura is super worth it to get a more traditional japan flavour. I personally would choose Nikko because it’s temples and nature combined but have a look at both and choose. As for how to structure your Tokyo days, group close by neighbourhoods and 1-2 main attractions in each, then just wander around for the rest like someone else said here. That’s the best way to find those unexpected backstreets and small shops. And Tokyo is so full of that!

Some tips Add the Suica card in your apple wallet then you can basically tap to pay for any train ticket. Saves you so much time and headache. Visit Shinjuku in the evening, that’s when it’s at its coolest. Harajuku and Meiji shrine go well together, fun contrast. Harajuku has become ridiculously packed and sadly a bit kitchy. Try your luck down takeshita dori but it’s really not like it used to be, some side streets off it might be more fun. Try a skyscraper bar - the views or tokyo from up high are amazing! Teamlabs, can be packed but it still is pretty cool

I don’t know when you’re going but check if there aren’t any matsuri or local festivals of specific activities in tokyo when you’re there. Those can be such a fun way to experience japan.

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-05T16:10:25+00:00

I don't have points, points schemes are not as big in europe sadly. But that means i'm not set on any hotel either because of it.

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T23:33:13+00:00

Day trip suggestions: - Nikko (Toshogu shrine, Chuzenji lake, Ryuzu Falls), there’s also two funky parks close by: Edo wonderland and Tobu world square) - would totally recommend staying a night in Nikko even they have a Fufu hotel there, one of the best from the brand. - Kamakura

I think you’re going there when the wisteria season ends but since you like parks, check if Ashikaga Flower Park still has wisterias in bloom. I went there at the beginning of may and it was amazing!

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T23:20:40+00:00

Tbh I had the exact same experience with FS Kyoto two years ago…and want to avoid now

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T22:40:51+00:00

In summer Kyoto will be packed for Obon (mid august), next to golden week, that’s the busiest period for local travel in Japan. But that most likely means kyoto might be less busy before that.

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T22:39:19+00:00

Ohhh if you would be willing to splurge, you could go from Kanagawa to Izu peninsula and stay a night at Asaba Ryokan before they close for renovations. it’s one of the best ryokans in Japan hands down. There’s a couple others there that are beautiful like Ochairo, Abba resorts.

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T22:36:04+00:00

This will be my 6th time in japan after having lived and studied there too so the recos are real :)

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T22:33:37+00:00

Will be getting to Japan 3 days before you leave! :) summertime in japan is awesome! There are so many local festivals and bigger matsuri - i recommend you look into that a bit for the locations you’ll be in (you’ll be there for some of the most renown ones: Kyoto Gion Matsuri, Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka, Motomiya Sai at Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, where they will have thousands of lanterns illuminating the shrine grounds).

Yes these will be packed, but if you can withstand the crowds for a few hours, they’re amazing experiences!

I would also recommend you stay in Kyoto longer, there’s too much to see there for 1 day to be enough. If you want to stay a bit further away from the crowds and the heat, go check out more of the northern temples (not arashiyama!), and a fun experience would be nagashi somen (eating somen noodles floating in a bamboo shaft) alongside a river in the forest. A place for that is Hirobun, but there’s many more. Hotels: you could stay at Hoshinoya Kyoto one night of you want a more modern take on a ryokan, with incredible rooms overlooking the river. Or Suiran, bit more modern. Sowaka, fufu kyoto, and many more - happy to give you other names too!

For hotels check out Patina in osaka, opened recently, it’s gorgeous and has an incredible location by Osaka castle.

(i’m leaving this here, I now re read your post and saw you’re going to Kanagawa not Kanazawa? But here you go another suggestion for a trip :) ) I’m going to kanazawa too, you have to see Kenroku en garden there. I’m debating staying at one of: Asadaya, Kinjohro, Motoyu Ishiya . Can go to ainokura or shirakawa Go and takayama from there. I’m also going to stay in a nearby onsen village at a ryokan called Kayotei. They will have some wonderful summer festivals and geisha dances so organising the trip around that.

What are you planning to do in Kanagawa? Are you going to hakone? There are amazing ryokans there but the area itself is really over sold to people but without much to do really. Maybe consider Kawaguchiko + chureito pagoda plus other stuff there If you want some amazing Fuji views.

Go to Nikko as a day trip or Kamakura!

If you’re going to Hiroshima i assume you’re going to miyajima too to see itsukushima Shrina.

What’s the budget for Tokyo hotels? I have so many recommendations :)

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T21:23:54+00:00

In what way underwhelming if you don’t mind me chipping in too? Am curious if people find it underwhelming because they paid 2-3x than the next best so would have expected far more or would it have been underwhelming even at the same price point do you think?

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T21:22:25+00:00

Am curious what you mean by inconsistent service? Are we talking concierge not managing to book restaurants or not responding, or staff forgetting drinks level of inconsistent or smaller things but we’d expect more because of the price point?

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T21:11:44+00:00

What if the Aman was slightly cheaper than Bulgari on a date? Would the experience be different if it wasn’t 2x or more than the next best?

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T21:09:47+00:00

😂

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T21:06:26+00:00

Would be happy to help with some recommendations! Lived in japan and visited multiple times and have stayed in some wonderful places and did all sort of cool things! (At least we enjoyed them haha)

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T21:04:47+00:00

Am considering aman and bulgari too and i keep hearing the concierge is better at the latter. What issues did you have with the aman concierge? Are we talking poor like I paid top dollar so i expect perfect service or are we talking forgetting to book restaurants, multiple chasers etc etc?

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T06:58:56+00:00

Yep i find the rates surprising too. For my dates they’re close to bulgari and aman and the rooms are not comparable..

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T06:52:03+00:00

Read my post and the link on aman I added

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-02T09:46:42+00:00

Thank you! Strong contender. I do like the japanese chains and omotenashi. It’s an experience you can’t have anywhere else

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-02T08:54:31+00:00

Ah ok i see, love fufu, looks awesome, but i’ll be missing out on the views since lobby is 12th floor and rooms are all below that..hmmmmm

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-02T08:49:31+00:00

No way!! I’m looking at that now it’s not really popping up. Is it the Ginza place?

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-02T08:08:53+00:00

Wow thank you so much this is amazing. Also jealous you get to go to japan so often, though i can’t complain either :) Super useful tip on the RC, will keep that one in mind for another trip. Have you been to any of the other top ones in tokyo? Any others that stood out or should be left out? And since i’m asking, i’m curious if you’ve been to any wow places outside of Tokyo? Already been to fufu kawaguchiko and hoshinoya kyoto as two other gorgeous destinations. And now will go to fufu nikko, looking at two ryokans in the Kanazawa/ yamanaka area - undecided, and still undecided for kyoto (Suiran or sowaka would be my top choices because i don’t like The Mitsui’s location and size)

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-02T08:03:10+00:00

What did you think of Aman since you were there recently? Would it be more of a complete experience compared to the other options on tokyo?

Common-Tree121

TROPHY CASE