This is my third review of the Villa Fontaine Hotel complex at Tokyo Haneda Terminal 3. I have already reviewed the Hotel Villa Fontaine Premier and the Onsen and Spa at Tokyo Haneda. The entire complex is part of the Tokyo Haneda “Airport Garden” hybrid shopping concourse that connects directly to Terminal 3, which is the International Terminal at Tokyo Haneda International Airport.
Aside from the hotels and spa, the complex features many great restaurants and shops within a ten-minute walk from Terminal 3. The complex with the hotels is very new, having only opened in January 2023, and I have already visited repeatedly.
The hotel complex is split into two different properties the Villa Fontaine Premier and the Villa Fontaine Grande. The premier is the more high-end of the two, with bigger rooms and more amenities. At the same time, the Grande is more budget-oriented, with smaller rooms and fewer amenities.
Hotel Villa Fontaine Grande Location and Access
Getting to the hotel is relatively easy from Terminal 3 or the Terminal train station. Follow the signs to the Hotel (it’s clearly marked), and you are no more than 10 minutes away. Once there you will find the hotel property with is an expansive V shape.
Once you arrive at the hotel, you head up to the second floor to check-in at both properties. Or head up to the 12th floor if you are skipping the hotels and heading straight to the spa.
Hotel Villa Fontaine Grande Booking and check-in and Check-out
Booking was tricky since it seems all the Villa Fontaine websites have the same issue. The English version of the Villa Fontaine website does not work; I found it impossible to book. Ultimately, I booked this hotel at the last minute on arrival.
Similar to my stay in the Villa Fontaine Premier, I booked a Superior Queen Room. However, the Villa Fontaine Grande is substantially less expensive than the Villa Fontaine Premier. The cost for a room for one night, booked the same day, was 24,240 Yen/~$161.
Check-In Process
Frustrating is the first thing that comes to mind when considering checking in. The Hotel Villa Fontaine Premier has a “Basic” machine-automated check-in system that leaves a lot to be desired. I found it very confusing, and although there was one agent available to assist, this really wasn’t helpful.
Check-Out Process
The check-out process was equally infuriating since the same machines did it. Unlike the Premier, the Grand charges extra for some supplemental items; for example, the hot stones sauna in the Onsen Spa is an additional charge of 880 yen.
These are tied to your reservation using RFID keys given out while checking into the Onsen. At the very end, when Checking Out of the hotel, all charges are tallied and displayed for approval and payment. It is important to note that the machine did not accept my international credit card, only a debit card, for payment.
At the end of the experience, we received some QR code receipts, and to “check out,” we went back to the kiosk, scanned these, and processed payment by card.
Hotel Villa Fontaine Grande Hotel Style & Character
The Hotel Villa Fontaine Grande has leather and tan themes throughout. And while it and the Premier have rooms with the same name, that is where the similarity ends. The Villa Fontain premier rooms come with amenities in the room, whereas the Grande does not. Also, The Premier rooms are also substantially larger than those of the Grande.
Hotel Villa Fontaine Grande Rooms
Like the Premier rooms are similarly equipped with one queen bed, there is also a sofa bench with a movable table.
Aside from toothbrushes that are already in the bathroom, you have to pick up everything from the concierge. At the hotel concierge, they have an array of tea, Japanese green tea, cotton sets, cumin powder, coffee stirrers, combs, shavers, and towels. The bed also has a nightgown that you can wear to the spa.
In the main hotel room, you have a coat hanger rack with coat hooks and a large TV on the wall.
You can also find a panel display with several amenities, including slippers.
However, Unlike the VF Premier, there is no working desk in the room—only a small moveable side table for the sofa.
The side of the bed has some excellent features built into the room – a night light, a wall, room, and entrance light button series, a USB port, and a dual set of AC power ports.
Bathroom
The bathroom is small but fully functional. It has a large sink and counter and a deep whirlpool tub.
No Japanese bathroom would be complete without the usual automatic toilet.
Hotel Villa Fontaine Grande Amenities
Since it is the budget option, the Grande does not have as many amenities as the Hotel Villa Fontaine Premier. That said, it still has its own restaurant, which was brilliant.
Breakfast at Grande Aile Restaurant
Although part of the hotel, this restaurant operates independently and is also accessible from the shopping center concourse at the airport.
Below are the food offerings we saw.
Sizzling Kitchen:
- Galette
- Monte Cristo
- Salt Grilled Silver Salmon
- Fluffy fried crab meat with tofu
- Simmered crow flounder
- Beef ramen
- Udon with summer vegetables and seafood salad
- Tanuki udon
- Toppings associated (sesame, red pepper, green onions, sprouts)
Intermediary:
- Summer vegetables and kelp
- Simmered hijiki
- Boiled spinach
- Egg rolls
- Okra
- Broccoli and cauliflower
- Macaroni salad
- Potato salad
- Fried eggplant
- Picked vegetables (plum, eggplant, Miura, okra)
- Various dressings and garnish
Breads:
- Croissant
- Anko bread
- Apple lattice
Hot dishes:
- Scrambled egg
- Bacon
- Sausage
- Fried mix
- Beef and boiled root veg
- Steamed vegetables
- Chicken cutlets
- Caponata pasta
- Breads and fillings
Desserts and sweets
- Bananas
The Throne Bar & Lounge
The Throne Bar & Lounge is covered in detail in our Villa Fontaine Premier review. Although on the Premier side of the property, I visited the Throne Bar & Lounge during both of my visits to the Grande.
This is an excellent bar with a view that looks west towards the bridge over part of Tokyo Bay. Unfortunately, the west side view does not have views of the runways at Tokyo Haneda. The bar is open to hotel guests and members of the public alike.
I especially loved the whiskey selection, which I got to try on the first of two visits. I sampled the delights of Ichiros MWR Chichibu and Takayama 17 years.
Gym
Interestingly, there are two different triangular-shaped gyms located across from one another, located on the sixth floor. The first has treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, a yoga mat, and a grass workout area.
The other contains some weight machines. However, if you are a fan of free weights, you are out of luck since no heavy free weights are available; the heaviest was 5 lbs.
The gym is also stocked with towels and water bottles, which is excellent if you want to get a good workout in.
Hotel Villa Fontaine Grande Onsen
Both hotels can access the Onsen from the sixth-floor connecting hallway using the dedicated elevator bank.
The rooftop Onsen is one of the hotel’s main draws and features both interior and outdoor open-air natural hot springs baths, some with good views of the runways and planes landing at the airport.
Interestingly, the spa is open from 1 PM through 10 AM the next morning every single day; an overnight spa is a very rare thing in Japan. My favorite time is going early in the morning, between 3:30 am and 6 am, ideally timed with the sunrise!
In the winter, when the air is clear, you have an excellent view of Mount Fuji and beyond Yokohama. However, the Onsen primarily looks out onto the industrial area to the west. This is a very typically fascinating Japanese landscape.
The Spa features a host of individual cleaning stations, massage baths, a cold bath, two hot indoor mineral baths, and three outdoor mineral baths at different temperatures. There’s also a fantastic lavender herbs-filled sauna that was refreshing to inhale and experience.
Final Thoughts
I love both these hotels, and more often than not, I stay here on my frequent trips to Japan. The hotels make a perfect stop before and after long flights from North America and across the world. I find them best for early-morning departures or mid-afternoon arrivals.
Although the hotels are newly opened, I have already stayed here several times. The direct connection to Terminal 3 makes access very easy for arrival or departure at Haneda.
Although the Grande rooms are much smaller than the Villa Fontaine Premier and are “basic” in nature, they still provide a comfortable lodging and sleeping experience. Also, the bathrooms are much smaller and more like what you would expect from a typical hotel bathroom. However, although the bedding is more basic than the Premier, it is still very comfortable.
Ultimately, whether I choose the Grand or the Premier comes down to finances. If I’m feeling budget-minded, I prefer the Grande over the Premier, as it is far less expensive. Also, the hotel can be booked ultra-last minute. I’ve booked it on arrival at Haneda with no problems, and you can even decide between which type based on the price.
One of my biggest gripes with the Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand is the check-in, check-out, and payment process. These can be frustrating at the Villa Fontaine Grande. I find the automated machines reject foreign debit and credit cards with impunity!
All that aside, this is an excellent hotel I’ll be visiting again often – I love it!
Pros
- Although I prefer the VF Premier rooms, the VF Grande offers a similarly comfortable bed and sleeping arrangement.
- The rooms are significantly smaller but still ideal for a very short stay at this hotel before or after a long flight.
- Beautiful rooms that were immaculately clean.
- Love the color schemes inside these rooms and luxurious finishes.
- Wi-Fi was stable and great for working.
- Amazing spa and lounge experience is included.
- Excellent bar with an excellent selection of Japanese whiskey. I loved The Throne Lounge and Bar and trying some whiskies here. This is a unique hotel bar!
- Three different restaurants to choose from
- Solid offerings, including Gym access.
Cons
- The check-in and check-out process via Automated Machine is extremely confusing.
- Debit-only payment for US Credit Card holders using the automated check-in and check-out machines is a little annoying. Applies only to the Villa Fontaine Grande.
- The hotel’s English reservation website wasn’t working during my bookings in early 2023.
- There is no proper desk in the room I stayed in, a big difference from the VF Premier.
Verdict: 9/10
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