Hilton Tokyo Bay: Best or Meh? Spoiler alert: It’s the best hotel for family award travel to Tokyo Disney Parks, and I’ll happily keep coming back!
Disney magic is alive and well, whether you’re at Disneyland in Los Angeles and Tokyo, or Disney World in Orlando. Even with my kids, who are now 18 and 13, their wish for our 7-week graduation trip this year was simple: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Who could resist? While my usual hotel strategy centers around Hyatt, Marriott, and the hotels booked through AAHotels.com, that approach doesn’t exactly hit the mark when the focus is Disney.
So, I decided to go with one of the official Tokyo Disney Resort hotels and chose Hilton Tokyo Bay. I stayed there solo last December because of the Hilton resort credit from my co-branded credit card. While it wasn’t too shabby (even with daily trips into downtown Tokyo), it’s perfect for a family Disney getaway.
This post is to tell you three best things you must know about Hilton Tokyo Bay to make stay a magical one.
#1 Guest Laundry
If you’ve ever traveled with family, you know how quickly those piles of dirty clothes can build up. I’ve tried hand washing on other trips, but this time, that was out of the question. So, having access to laundry facilities became a must for us. In Japan, laundromats are pretty common in local hotels (like the ones we stayed at in Sapporo and Aomori), but you rarely see them in the big international chains like the Grand Hyatt, Andaz, or Conrad in Tokyo.
That’s why Hilton Tokyo Bay was such a pleasant surprise. Their “Guest Laundry” is more than just a basic service – it’s a full-blown laundromat, tucked away on the hotel’s lowest floor (B2), next to the fitness center. As a family of four who came back hot and sweaty every day, we were thrilled to find the laundry room was massive! It had:
- 6 heavy-duty, top-loading washers
- 8 dryers
- Tables to sit and wait
- Vending machines for drinks
- And even a TV to pass the time
But the best part? It was cashless! If you’ve used laundromats in Japan before, you’ll know cash is usually king. But at Hilton Tokyo Bay, we just scanned QR code, followed the instructions, and paid with our credit card. Plus, they got an app that let us know when our laundry was done. Super convenient!
#2 The Room – Where We Cashed In On The Hilton Resort Credit
The standard room in Hilton Tokyo Bay was spacious – especially for Tokyo! Last December, I stayed in a Celerio Ocean room by using a $250 resort credit (which has since expired) from my Hilton Honors American Express (Amex) Aspire credit card and waking up to a clear view of Mount Fuji on sunny days. This time, traveling with my family of four, I booked two Twin Deluxe rooms. But here’s the fun part – he hotel surprised us by upgrading one of our rooms to the park-facing Family Happy Magic Room! This room was perfect for multi-generational stays, fitting five people (or up to 12 if preschoolers share a bed with adults). The design was great for everyone, with accessible features that make it super safe and comfy, whether you’re traveling with little ones or seniors.
What I love most about Hilton Tokyo Bay for families are the big rooms, as well as the fact that I can use my Hilton resort credits from my Amex co-branded credit card here. These credits cover room fees, but I can only use them at Hilton-approved resorts. Hilton Tokyo Bay is one of the few in Japan that qualifies. The annual fee for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire credit card is a bit steep at $550, but the benefits are pretty awesome: $400 in resort credits, free night certificates when first get the card and every year after, a $200 airline fee credit, plus Hilton Diamond status that has got us to the Executive Lounge for free breakfast and evening cocktail hours and more.
- How I Booked:
Both my partner and I have the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire credit card, and I planned ahead to make the most of this perk. This credit card lets us use up to $200 in resort credits every six months, for a total of $400 per year. Since our stay was in early July – just after the June 30 deadline for the first half of the year – I contacted the reservations team and asked them to process a payment before June 30, so the $200 credit would go toward our room fee.
🔥🔥Pro-tip: Avoid using “Advance Payment” when booking – this won’t trigger the resort credit. If you’re unsure, just reach out to the hotel’s reservations team. They’re super helpful and will make sure you get your credit!
#3 Location
Why did we pick Hilton Tokyo Bay? Because it was perfect for hitting up Tokyo Disney Parks! Nestled on the eastern shore of Tokyo Bay, it’s super easy to get to Tokyo Disney Sea – just a short walk or a quick ride on the free shuttle bus. Plus, the hotel had a free shuttle to Maihama JR station, which connected us straight to Tokyo Disneyland.
Even though it’s by the bay, getting around to central Tokyo is an unexpected breeze. From JR Maihama station, it’s just a 20-minute direct train ride to Tokyo Station in central tokyo, where you can catch any of Tokyo’s major transport links. I was on a self-care trip last winter and went to Tokyo Station daily where all kinds of transportation connected to this prime location. It was so straightforward and convenient! What really won us over was the direct airport limousine service from Hilton Tokyo Bay to both Narita and Haneda airports. For families with kids, this was a game-changer!
Final Thoughts
Hilton Tokyo Bay would be a stellar choice for your magical stay if:
- You’re traveling with kids and elderly and need extra safe space to spread out.
- You appreciate top-notch laundry facilities ideal for busy families.
- You want to make the most of Hilton resort credits from your Amex co-branded credit card.
- You need convenient access to both airports and Tokyo Disney Parks.
- What’s more, you’re enjoying elite status perks, from complimentary breakfasts for Hilton Gold status to free buffet breakfast and extra executive lounge access for Diamond status.
If these aren’t quite what you’re looking for, you might want to explore other options that could offer more points, miles, and upgrades! To me, Hilton Tokyo Bay checks all the boxes for the best family-friendly hotel when visiting Tokyo Disney Parks. I’m confident we’ll keep coming back with happy hearts!
