Interview with Shinichi Koshikawa, General Manager of Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo

Lifestyle - Interview

by Melisa Kaya

Whether you are a business person who would like to spend comfortable time after a hard working day, or a tourist who would like to start a day with the Imperial Palace view and go to famous shopping and gastronomic district Marunouchi Nakadori, Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo provides you these privileges with its location and exclusive services. Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo combines Japanese hospitality culture with its modern design, the variety of rooms, the pool, the rooftop, and the restaurant, and promises an unforgettable Tokyo experience. I talked with Shinichi Koshikawa, General Manager of Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo, to learn more about the services of Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo and features of its location.

Shinichi, before talking about Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo, could you tell us about your background and your career in The Ascott?

I have been working in the hospitality industry both in Japan and overseas for more than 20 years. I started my career at The Westin Tokyo as a Service Express Attendant stepping up to Front Office Manager, Director of Rooms. My career strode oversea to work at The Westin Resort Guam as Executive Assistant Manager. Assignment as General Manager at Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo started January 2018 when I came back to Japan.

Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo

Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo is located in the Marunouchi-Otemachi area. Could you tell us about your location and advantages of being there?

Otemachi-Marunouchi area is the business district, but walking distance to Tokyo station, Nihombashi area, and close to shopping district too. From our property facing the east garden of the Imperial Palace. There is beautiful nature.

You are welcoming your guests with Japanese hospitality culture. What does guest mean for you?

As working in the international hospitality industry, we have various type of guests. My motto is to provide safe and comfortable accommodation and dining experience to the guests of all class. I also highly evaluate to treasure each and every meeting with the guests.

Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo

Could you tell us about the Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo and the overall concept?

Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo's concept is "A floating urban oasis in the heart of the capital" and "four seasons". Each floor has a different concept which inspired by four seasons - Spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Each guest room has different artworks.

Please tell us about The Serviced Residence concept.

For The Ascott Limited, we define "service residence" as follows.

- Serviced residences combine the space, comfort, and privacy of a private apartment with the services and convenience of a quality hotel.

- Serviced residences also offer travellers the option of sharing an apartment with their family or friends and yet have the privacy of individual bedrooms.

- At Ascott, our serviced residences come with separate living and dining areas, a fully-equipped kitchen, ensuite bathrooms, modern amenities and facilities. Together with the personalised attention given by our staff, guests can truly enjoy a home-away-home experience.

Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo

What type of different apartments and suits do you offer to your guests? What are their features?

We have nine type of guestroom. From Studio to 3 Bedroom. Most of the room has a kitchen and a washing machine. Many of our guests enjoying the cooking with local foods.

I would like to highlight that some of the room facing the east garden of the imperial palace, so the guest can enjoy the beautiful view from the rooms. Sometimes on a sunny day, we can see Mount Fuji.

Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo

What kind of services and authentic experiences do you offer to your guest for making their stay comfortable and unforgettable?

We welcome many guest with group or family. So when they check-in accompanied with small children, we present small slipper, set of tooth-brush and hand towel to our small guest as welcome amenity. The small guests give big smile back to us when they see the gift from us.

Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo

Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo host to Triple One Restaurant. Could you tell us about the Triple One Restaurant and the concept?

Ascott`s brand is targeting "top business executives", so this restaurant is designed for same tone and image with Ascott. The brown and gold colour used and has an outdoor garden. Triple One offers Singaporean and Chinese cuisine. One of their signature food is Chicken rice. We are very happy to introduce the food from our company`s origin (Singapore) to our guest. And, hope the guest feels the wind of Singapore in Triple One.

Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo

Please tell us about your services and amenities. How could your guests spend time at Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo?

On the 22nd floor, there is the area called "reading lounge" and "rooftop terrace". Both areas are open to everyone and the guest can enjoy free coffee or tea, newspaper, and magazine. The spacious atmosphere has 8M high ceiling. Some of the guests have a meeting with their client there, some are playing with their children under the sun. In the rooftop terrace, there are many greenery and has taken the same concept to the property itself which is "four seasons". In the springtime, cherry blossom will bloom, that is beautiful.

Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo

We also have 24hours opening gymnasium and infinity styled pool (open 7 am to 10 pm daily). Many guests are enjoying the exercise at the gym as our gym are spacious and well equipped.

Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo

Business life is full of meetings. Could you tell us about your Meeting Rooms and their features?

Our three types of private meeting rooms are ideal for private or corporate small meetings and available for rent by both in-house guests and the public. Meeting rooms equipped with basic equipment such as projectors and telephone conference systems can also be adjusted in size through movable partitions. Our guest service staff will support their needs whether the guest is looking for. Many of our corporate client organizing the party and conference, so we do our best to become the guest`s event will be successful. Sometimes we order Sushi chief for live cooking! We have a wide network for the guest`s needs come true.

Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo

What can your guests do when they step out of the Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo and step into the Marunouchi-Otemachi?

In Marunouchi-Otemachi area, the guest can enjoy the contrast of nature and city. Nearby Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo, there is the east garden of the Imperial Palace, but also there are skyscrapers! In the daytime, the guest may feel the lively mood, but very calm and relax in the night. So these contrast may give the unique impression to the guest. As we mentioned, there are many office building, we recommend to go to the basement, there are many restaurants from Japanese local to international food. These restaurants are loved by Japanese local who working around the Marunouchi-Otemachi area, so the guest can enjoy local experience through of it.

Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo

What kind of additional services do you offer for business travelers?

Yes, we have free wi-fi access to all staying guest in both, the guestroom and public area. We have a smoking room, nursery room, and business center. In the basement of the building, there is a carpark. For feeling secure and comfortable all the guest from all over the world, our guest service staff are completely bilingual, they speak at least both, English and Japanese.

Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo

How can travelers make their individual or business/group reservations? Do you have any advantage packs that you offer to your regular and long-term guests?

Yes, we have advance purchase 28 and 75. This is the discount rate for the guest who book our property 28 days and 75 days in advance. Of course, we offering the basic package with breakfast. We also have a seasonal promotion or package too, we currently offering "group and family package" which includes the following benefit for free. This package is available only for 1 bedroom executive or above, but we believe it is the ideal package for travelling as a group!

- Complimentary breakfasts * Original price is JPY 3,564 per person

- Small toy for children up to 6 years old

- Complimentary extra bed * Original Price is JPY 7,560 per item *Subject to availability as number is limited

For more information about Group and Family Packages, click here

Which is the top season for travelers who want to visit Tokyo? What is the reason?

We have several peak season. For leisure guest, it definitely Cherry Blossom season. Especially our property is close to the Imperial Palace where is very famous for cherry blossom viewing. For the business traveller, the autumn season is popular.

What are the most famous attractions near you?

Marunouchi Nakadori is famous for shopping and eating. There are Japanese local fashion brand, Kyoto`s famous Japanese tea shop or international high brand shop. In the winter time, it decorated by fully illumination. We recommend the guest who has small children as this street is easy walk with stroller.

Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo

If you have only one weekend in Tokyo as a first-time visitor, in this limited time, what are the best things to do?

One of my favorite things is riding a bicycle. I will take a bicycle and explore the heart of Tokyo. On the weekend, there are less people around the business district than a weekday, it means it much easy and fun ride! For the guest who is not travelling with bicycle, I recommend to walk to Nihombashi area where is one of the popular shopping districts where just five minutes on foot from Tokyo Station and there is Sushi restaurant, Japanese and Western food in the town that has been the capital of Japan for four hundred years; still carrying on the tradition of Edo.

I also recommend the guest to go to museums such as the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo or Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum.

How would you describe Tokyo in one sentence?

Most exciting city in the world, you can get whatever you want.

Thank you Shinichi for this enjoyable and informative interview.

For more information, please visit the website of Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo

This interview was conducted in a Question-and-Answer format. The answers were checked for grammar and punctuation and published without any additional editing. Thursday, October 25, 2018. All photos are the property of their respective owners.