[Sangetsu]

The best hotel I've stayed at is the Intercontinental Hotel at Tokyo Bay. It is a beautiful hotel located next to Takehiba station, on the Yurikamome line. It is walking distance from Hamarikyu garden, (formerly known as the Detached Palace), Ginza, and the fish market at Tsukiji. It is also near Odaiba, which is a must-see if you are visiting Tokyo.

My favorite thing about the hotel is it's spectacular view of Tokyo Bay and the rainbow bridge. The rooms are large, and include a sofa. Some include bathtubs with picture windows so you can have your bath while enjoying the view. The hotel is just outside the busier parts of the metro area, so it is quieter and less crowded than the hotels in Ikebukuro or Shinagawa.

The Yurikamome line ends at Shinbashi station, where you can catch the Yamanote train, which will take you to places like Ikebukuro, Ueno, Akihabara, Tokyo station, Shibuya, and Harajuku. You can also get the Hibiya subway line at Shinbashi, and this will take you to Roppongi.

The last time I booked a room at the Intercontinental was through Hotels.com. I got a bay-view room with a king size bed for $180 per night. That may sound high, but I've spent as much as $700 a night for a hotel room in Tokyo. For what you get, the room rate is a bargain.

My next favorite is the Nikko Hotel, which is also at Tokyo Bay. The rate for a bay view room was $255 per night. I also stayed a week at the Mira Costa Hotel, which is located at Tokyo's Disney sea resort. In all the world, this is the most beautiful hotel I've stayed at, but my room was $630 per night.

The nastiest hotel I've been to is the Prince Hotel at Shinagawa. The rate was only $80 per night, but the rooms were small, stank of cigarettes, and were less than clean. It's a shame the rooms were so bad, because the location is very good. It is located across the street from Shinagawa station, and there are a great many good shops, restaurants and stores nearby. There is also an aquarium, a bowling alley, and tennis courts located in the hotel complex.