Sleeping (almost) inside Haneda Airport: review Villa Fontaine Hotel (with a CRAZY Onsen)

Hotels near the airport serve a specific purpose, Allow the passenger arriving late or taking off early to get as much rest as possible. Since they are often cheap, they are also a perfect solution for not wasting money on the first night when arriving late at a destination, or last if leaving at a low-cost type schedule.

In my case, I landed in Haneda at 00:30 and was leaving 12 hours later from Narita, so I opted for this new hotel connected directly with T3, the one for international flights, then took the bus early in the morning and moved to the other stopover from Japan's capital, so it was the ideal solution to minimize travel, cost and increase the time to sleep.

Location

There is no need to leave the airport, and this is a huge advantage. It means not having to drag suitcases, not having to look for where to take the shuttle (and wait for it), it is really very easy to get to.

Upon exiting the sterile area, one must continue straight ahead. Go past the information desk, leave the subway and monorail entrances behind and continue toward Haneda Garden.

Impossible not to notice the big screen that takes up an entire wall.

Here you follow the obligatory walkway, a covered pedestrian bridge, that leads toward the commercial area of the airport.

At the end of the long corridor on one side are the stores and on the other are the escalators leading to the hotel.

Check-in

Zero downtime, zero human interaction (or almost). Everything is done autonomously, you scan your passport, check your reservation details (in case you pay).

A serious endless number of tickets are printed: the receipt, the room indication, possibly the breakfast voucher and the SPA voucher.

Here then the key is dispensed, in short, the future is here.

The room

I had opted for a premium room, with a view of the runway. And that's what I got.

Basic but functional room with that touch that only Japan can give. Bed, mega screen, mini-bar, kettle. There is much more than what is needed, because these hotels are not made for long dreams, but for a few hours of sleep.

The bathroom has the ever-present smart toilet seat and what you need to leave the room fresh.

Multiple power outlets, cords to charge all devices, and buttons to turn off all lights without going crazy.

Also on the bed is the bathrobe for use in the hotel spa.

Laundry area, vending machines and a sports bar open until late at night are available to guests.

The most SPEctacular spa there is

On the 12th floor is the hotel's SPA, accessible to everyone, even non-guests. Here, too, everything is high-tech, in the name of tradition.

The hours are almost h24, the restaurant also serves as the only night place to eat something at indecent hours, but you know everyone here is on a different time zone.

It is an onsen in the true sense of the word, males on one side women on the other. I could not take pictures for the simple reason that it is a traditional place, past the curtain you are all in adamitic costume.

But the rooftop pool is with a runway view, really unique stuff.

Breakfast

On the ground floor, which would be 4 levels below the reception, is the restaurant where breakfast is served, which is also open to all.

Average offering, but we are in an unpretentious hotel, so more than valid and with lots of local flavors.

In conclusion

Let's say. It's up against the TWA hotel at JFK., views, amenities, and the SPA really a one-of-a-kind thing, and being open to all, like the TWA pool, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

• hotels near airport