A Night at Hilton Nagoya
Night view of Nagoya city from Suite 1111 at Hilton Nagoya
Taxi etiquette in Japan: Don’t rush to open the taxi door, it will open automatically when the driver is ready. 🚖✨ #JapanTaxi
In January, we embarked on our winter adventure in Japan, flying from Taipei to Nagoya.
From the airport, we took an express train to Meitetsu Nagoya Station and then a taxi to Hilton Nagoya. A quick cultural tip about Japanese etiquette: it’s customary to let the taxi doors open and close automatically, as the driver operates them for you. Avoid manually opening or closing the door—it won’t break the automatic mechanism, but it might be perceived as impolite and impatient. Next time you take a taxi in Japan, be a little patient and let the driver take control. The safe side of the door for you to get in or out will open or close automatically when the driver deems it safe and clear to do so.
Inside the Japanese Traditional Suite at Hilton Nagoya
Interior: A Truly Authentic Experience
Staying in the Japanese Traditional Suite at Hilton Nagoya was an immersion into authentic Japanese culture, blending traditional design with modern luxury. The suite was carefully designed to give guests a genuine Japanese experience, and here are a few highlights that made it feel so special.
Although this suite isn’t part of the complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond upgrades (with upgrades capped at the King Premium Executive Room), it’s definitely a fun experience to try once if you want to stay in Japanese-style living, pampered by Hilton concierge services with delicious food and thoughtful amenities.
Upon entering, we were greeted by a low table, a typical piece found in Japanese households. It added an intimate, cozy vibe to the room and perfectly complemented the tatami flooring. The tatami mat flooring itself was raised on a platform, as is customary in traditional Japanese rooms, creating a distinct division between the living area and the rest of the suite. Near the entrance, a designated shoe area was provided, where guests can leave their shoes, another key aspect of Japanese culture.
In the bathroom, the experience continued with a wooden bucket for the shower, adding to the authenticity of the space. This traditional item is often seen in Japanese bathhouses (onsen) and sento, giving guests the feel of bathing in a genuine Japanese style. There was also a small, low chair in the bathroom, where you can sit while washing, which further evoked the feel of a sento (public bathhouse), adding to the immersive cultural experience. After a relaxing bath, we could slip into the yukata, a traditional cotton robe often worn after a bath or during leisure time at home. The yukata provided a sense of relaxation and calm, completing the cultural experience within the suite.
Room Tour of Hilton Nagoya Japanese Suite
Downside
While it was a unique experience, I found the traditional futon mattress a bit too firm compared to what I’m used to, and the traditional Japanese bean pillows, filled with small beads instead of memory foam, took some getting used to. As much as I appreciated the authenticity, I didn’t sleep very well that night…so be prepared for a different level of comfort😅.
The toilet flush was constantly leaking... I was quite surprised that such a thing could happen in such a luxurious hotel, especially in a premium suite. We initially planned to let it continue dripping, but the noise was so loud that we had to trouble the staff to come and fix it. It took the gentleman half an hour to repair it. I think this toilet might not have been used for a long time. Regardless, we are very grateful for the staff's help.
Hospitality
We received a small box of in-house cookies in the room. They taste delicious as well.
We received a daily water supply for free and could request more without extra charges. When we arrived, we even found a small box of in-house cookies sitting in the room waiting for us. They tasted delicious, especially after a long flight when we were hungry and thirsty! 🤤
Hilton Nagoya Executive Lounge
Later, we explored the Executive Lounge, which offers an amazing dinner for Diamond members from 5:30pm-8pm, including pita bread, soup dumplings, salads, fruits, desserts, and a variety of drinks like sparkling beverages and wine—all complimentary.
We have stayed at Hilton Nagoya several times. Based on our experience, the lounge is usually busy at 5:30 PM, but after 7 PM, it's not so crowded.
Breakfast
As a Diamond member, we have the option to enjoy breakfast at the Executive Lounge or at the lobby restaurant. We chose the latter because it's bigger and offers more choices. I really enjoy their breakfast selection, which includes both Western and Asian cuisines. Even for Asian cuisines, they offer more than just Japanese options; I saw warm soymilk, Korean kimchi, and Chinese porridge. Everything tastes amazing.
I drink matcha almost every day, so I was very happy when I found out that their coffee machine can make matcha latte! Although it was a bit too sweet for my taste, it’s still good to have an option for matcha. It would be nice if they provided matcha powder separately, and a chasen (matcha bamboo whisk) for me to whisk it myself and add soymilk. Even nicer if I can enjoy a small matcha ceremonial at the Executive Lounge with the view of the city.
I was also very impressed by the restaurant manager, Ms. Kiyomi. Not only that she speaks perfect English but she also remembered us! We have come back to this hotel three times in different seasons, and we were greeted by her every time we came here. We exchanged some small talk, and I understood her background even more. She was very generous at sharing travel tips.
Concierge at its best
The next morning, we needed to postpone the pick-up time of our rental car. Since we don’t speak Japanese, using Google Translate over the phone didn’t work well, as it couldn’t pick up what the person on the other end was saying. Instead of struggling with our paid phone service, we asked the concierge at Hilton Nagoya for help.
Not only did the concierge team speak perfect English, but they also communicated with the rental car company in Japanese on our behalf. Their service was free of charge, and they even helped us to request winter tires since they knew we were planning to drive to snowy areas—something Google Translate wouldn’t have suggested (at least not yet, until AI improves further!).
A helpful note I received from the Executive Lounge team
One time, I was having afternoon tea at the Executive Lounge, scrolling through the GU app (a sister company of UNIQLO), looking for a coat in my size. I had been in Tokyo a few days earlier, but many stores had already run out of my size! Since inventory was low, I wanted to make sure the Nagoya GU store had it before heading out. I asked the team at the Executive Lounge if they could call the store and check for me. The staff member was incredibly helpful—she immediately looked up the phone number and called. Not only did she confirm the stock, but she also asked the store to reserve it for me. On top of that, she even wrote me a note to hand to the staff, ensuring they knew the coat was set aside for me.
Quick tip: Visit a smaller GU or UNIQLO store—it’s much easier to find what you’re looking for and discover new items. Based on my experience, I’d recommend avoiding the UNIQLO and GU stores in Tokyo Ginza. They’re extremely crowded and hectic. While they display a wide range of items in large sizes for a visually pleasing effect, actually finding a specific item can be frustrating. At UNIQLO, I even had to go up and down multiple floors just to find a pair of pants!
From handling our rental car request to securing a shopping reservation, the concierge and lounge staff at Hilton Nagoya truly went above and beyond. It’s service like this that makes a stay feel effortless and special.
Conclusion
The hotel's central location, amazing concierge service, and additional amenities like a swimming pool made our first night in Nagoya a memorable one. If you're a Hilton Diamond member, this is a great place to stay!
Will I stay in this expensive suite again? Maybe. I’d love to check out their other suites too. Dear Hilton Nagoya, if you see this, please contact me. I'm happy to collaborate! 😘