As a frequent business traveller, I rely quite heavily on reviews from other travellers when selecting a hotel. I just came back from a two week stay here and I can't say that I was that enthralled with the Yokohama Royal Park.

There was the novelty the first night of being on such a high floor (56) and (58) but a leaflet in the lobby suggested that they are in the midst of renovations on some floors. Upgrade your room where possible.

The Good:
- Location, location: Sakuragicho and Minatomirai train stations within walking distance.
- Helpful staff
- Connected to Landmark Tower, an upscale shopping mall
- Plenty of restaurants in Landmark Tower and adjacent Queens Tower complex means you'll never have to eat in the same place twice.
- Amazing views of Yokohama, Mount Fuji, the harbour.

The Not-so-Good:
- Hotel guests also have to pay the cover to enter the lounge on 70th floor in the evenings. To see the view, eat the so-so breakfast there instead.
- Wallpaper peeling at the seams on the walls
- Carpets and rugs looking dirty and worn
- Remember to ask for non-smoking rooms. Smoking room smelled stale.
- Smoking, smoking everywhere.
- Deluxe rooms are small and quite ordinary. I would recommend nothing less than superior room.

Excellence all the way. Elegant. Great views. First class service
Close to train. Pricey food.

We stayed 3 nights in mid March; a disclaimer, I lived in Yokohama in the 60's, the city obviously has changed a great deal. But, its proximity to the Bluff and Chinatown lend the area a very distinct flavor. The Royal Park is sited adjacent to a modern luxury shopping complex --- that made it extremely convenient for access to an endless variety of foods and restaurants, something we took advantage of in spades. Our room a king deluxe, though a bit on the small side, had a fabulous view of Fuji, and a very large bathroom. We stayed over the weekend, and the sky breakfast lounge was extremely crowded with local families, ladies, social gatherings. Furnishings, while high quality and attractive, are beginning to be a bit frayed at the edges, but by no means detracted from an extremely pleasant and memorable stay.

If only our non-smoking room on the 57th floor didn't smell like cigarette smoke every time we entered it. That was our biggest problem at the Yokohama Royal Park. And it's not like you can open a window in this high-rise hotel. They need to work on the ventilation system. Like everything in Japan, this hotel is smoker friendly. So you also have to go through a smoke filled lobby every time you enter the hotel.

Otherwise the staff, service and room accommodations were excellent. The lobby is beautiful. Of course, don't expect anything for free in Japan. Like most Japanese hotels this one charged for almost everything. For example, don't drink that "complimentary" coffee in the room. You'll get charged for it. You have to read the fine print on everything before you use it.

If you have sinus or ear problems you probably don't want to stay at the Yokohama Royal Park. Every time we went up and down in the elevator my ears popped. That's what you get staying on the 57th floor.