The Keio Plaza Hotel, a luxurious establishment nestled in the heart of Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, offers an impressive lobby with marble floors and a grand chandelier. While the hotel boasts a welcoming atmosphere, it unfortunately lacks a lowered check-in counter, making it challenging for individuals with mobility limitations. However, a touch of English is spoken by the staff, making the check-in process smoother. The elevators and a wheelchair-accessible restroom are conveniently located just around the corner from the reception area.
Dining and Lounge with a View
The hotel’s lobby floor is a haven for foodies, with a diverse selection of restaurants catering to every palate. Italian and traditional Japanese cuisine are available, along with an American café, coffee shop, and a bakery for morning treats. A lounge on the hotel’s 45th floor offers breathtaking views of the surrounding city. While the lounge boasts a limited bar menu, it is not wheelchair-accessible due to a large step. The hotel staff, however, is quick to provide assistance for those who need it.
Navigating the Hotel
The Keio Plaza Hotel has two entrances, a front entrance with automatic sliding doors and a back entrance with a revolving door. A button on the revolving door allows for a slower rotation, ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities. A long, carpeted ramp connects the lobby to the back entrance, requiring some effort to ascend. However, a convenient lift located next to the revolving door provides an alternative route to the lobby’s main floor, making it easier for those who find the ramp challenging.
Outside the back entrance, a ramp leads to the sidewalk and a tunnel connecting directly to the train station. Although the tunnel is quite long, it provides an easy and direct path. Guests exiting the hotel’s front entrance will need to navigate a few intersections to reach the station.
Universal Access in Room #3015
The Keio Plaza Hotel boasts over a dozen universally accessible rooms, although “universal” does not necessarily translate to full wheelchair accessibility. Room #3015, featuring twin beds, offers several accessibility features despite its less-than-impressive décor.
The door, equipped with card access, is fitted with a large handle instead of a knob, making it easier for those with limited hand strength to open. A digital peephole with a large viewing screen is activated by a large orange button, enhancing accessibility. Inside the room, large buttons control the door’s locking and unlocking mechanisms. The temperature controls are lowered and within easy reach. A closet with a lowered bar and a safe located on the ground is conveniently positioned to the right upon entering the room. An elongated mirror is also located nearby.
The room’s spacious layout provides ample space for maneuvering a wheelchair. A long desk is high enough to roll underneath, and the TV, teapot, and small refrigerator are all readily accessible. The lamps are easily turned on with a simple knob, and the curtains feature a long rod for effortless opening and closing. A motorized chair near one of the beds assists individuals in getting up and out of bed with the push of a button. The space between the twin beds is just wide enough for a wheelchair to pass through, and the bed height is slightly lower than average. One of the beds boasts an electric mechanism for raising the head and feet.
Bathroom Accessibility: A Mixed Bag
The bathroom, located directly across from the closet, is accessible via a small ramp leading up to the sliding door. The door features a long handle for easier access and a lowered lock for convenience. However, a one-inch gap at the bottom of the door compromises privacy during bathroom activities. The bathroom itself is quite compact, offering limited maneuvering space for a wheelchair.
A fully digital toilet with a range of cleansing functions and lowerable grab bars adds to the bathroom’s accessibility. The sink is partially roll-up, but the bowl itself and the overall bathroom space can be challenging for wheelchair users. The hotel does not offer a roll-in shower, but a bathtub with grab bars and a height of 21.5 inches is available. A shower bench with a grab bar on one side and a footstool are provided for added support. A soft foam pad is available for sitting in the bathtub.
The handheld showerhead lacks a holder within easy reach, requiring users to carefully reach forward and balance it while showering.
Overall: A Mixed Bag of Accessibility
The Keio Plaza Hotel provides a mix of accessibility features. While the hotel offers several amenities for individuals with disabilities, such as universally accessible rooms, a wheelchair-accessible restroom, and a convenient tunnel leading to the train station, some areas require improvement.
The lack of a lowered check-in counter, the absence of wheelchair accessibility in the lounge, the challenging carpeted ramp, and the limited bathroom space highlight the need for further accessibility enhancements. The hotel’s commitment to providing assistance and the inclusion of various accessibility features demonstrates a willingness to cater to diverse needs. However, continued efforts toward complete accessibility will ensure a truly inclusive experience for all guests.
