Welcome to my review of the Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo! As a wheelchair user, I was eager to explore this grand hotel, and I’m happy to share my experiences.
Lobby and Accessibility Features
The Keio Plaza Hotel is nestled in the bustling Shinjuku district, conveniently close to the train station. The lobby is imposing with its marble floors and grand chandelier, but sadly lacked a lowered check-in counter. While English wasn’t widely spoken, I found the staff helpful enough for a smooth check-in process. Just around the corner from the check-in desk, you’ll find the elevators and a wheelchair-accessible restroom.
Dining Options and Lounge
The lobby level offers a diverse range of dining options – from Italian and traditional Japanese cuisine to an American café, a coffee shop, and a bakery. For those seeking a panoramic view, the hotel boasts a lounge on the 45th floor. The lounge boasts breathtaking views but unfortunately, it’s not wheelchair accessible due to a large step. Thankfully, the staff were quick to offer assistance.
Hotel Entrances and Accessibility
The hotel provides two entrances: a front entrance with automatic sliding doors and a back entrance featuring a revolving door with a button for disabled access. Navigating from the lobby to the back entrance requires maneuvering a long carpeted ramp, which can be a bit of a challenge for wheelchair users. Luckily, a lift right next to the back revolving door provides easy access to the café on the lobby floor.
The back entrance leads to a ramp connecting to the sidewalk and a tunnel, offering a direct and accessible route to the train station. While the tunnel is quite long, it’s a straightforward and convenient option. The front entrance, however, necessitates crossing several intersections to reach the station.
Universal Accessible Rooms
The Keio Plaza Hotel boasts over a dozen universally accessible rooms, though it’s important to note that “universal” doesn’t necessarily mean wheelchair accessible for all types and sizes. I stayed in room #3015, which had a set of twin beds. The room’s décor was slightly underwhelming for its price, but it did feature some helpful accessibility features.
Room Features and Accessibility
One of the most noteworthy features was the large door handle instead of a traditional knob, making it easier for those with limited hand strength. The door also had a digital peephole with a large screen, accessible by pressing a large orange button. Inside the room, the door lock and unlock buttons were easy to use. The temperature controls were lowered and readily reachable.
Upon entering, a closet with a lowered bar and a safe on the ground was on the right side, followed by an elongated mirror. The room was spacious with a long desk, a TV, a teapot, and a small refrigerator. The desk was high enough for me to roll underneath comfortably. All the lamps had convenient knobs for easy switching, and the curtains featured a long rod for effortless opening and closing.
A motorized chair positioned near one of the beds allowed for a smooth and gradual rising assistance. The space between the twin beds was just wide enough for my wheelchair to pass through, and the beds were slightly lower than I’m accustomed to. One of the beds was electric, offering adjustable head and foot positions.
Bathroom Accessibility
The bathroom, located across from the closet, featured a small ramp leading to a sliding door with a long handle for easier access. The door had a lowered lock, but unfortunately, a one-inch gap at the bottom allowed bathroom activities to be heard by others. While the bathroom itself was just big enough for my chair to fit in, it provided minimal maneuvering space.
The fully digital toilet boasted a variety of cleansing features and lowerable grab bars for added support. The sink was semi-roll-up, but the bowl and the limited bathroom space hindered accessibility. There was no roll-in shower, but a bathtub with grab bars and a height of 21.5 inches was provided. The hotel offered a shower bench with a grab bar and a footstool for added support. A soft foam pad was also available for sitting in the bathtub.
The handheld showerhead lacked an accessible holder, forcing me to reach far forward to hold it and balance it while showering.
Dimensions:
From the bathtub to the door: 5 feet
From the sink to the opposite wall: 3 feet 8 inches
From the toilet to the opposite wall: 33 inches (29 inches with the handrail)
Conclusion
While the Keio Plaza Hotel offers a range of amenities and features, some aspects of accessibility could be improved. The lack of a lowered check-in counter and the step at the lounge are notable shortcomings. The room itself, however, provided many helpful features, including a large door handle, accessible temperature controls, a lowered closet bar, and a motorized chair. The bathroom, although spacious enough for a wheelchair, could benefit from a roll-in shower and a more private design.
Despite these challenges, the hotel’s staff were helpful and accommodating, making my stay enjoyable. I encourage all wheelchair users considering a stay at the Keio Plaza Hotel to contact the hotel directly to discuss their specific accessibility needs.
