Caption By Hyatt Kabutocho Tokyo Review: Everything You Need to Know

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Planning a trip to Japan? Trying to decide where to stay in Tokyo? Read this review of Caption by Hyatt Kabutocho Tokyo before you book your hotel. Here’s everything you want and need to know about this brand new 195-room hotel.

Thanks to Typhoon Halong, our transpacific cruise on the Ovation of the Seas from Los Angeles to Tokyo was extended two days. Instead of disembarking in Yokohoma on October 9th, we enjoyed two extra days at sea and got off the ship on October 11th.

We were supposed to spend several days in Kyoto and Osaka after the cruise. The hotels were booked before the recent World of Hyatt hotel devaluation.

Instead of relaxing during the extra sea days, I had to scramble and rebook hotels at increased prices, shorten our Japan trip, and find new award flights home.

But with the bad comes the good.

We had to skip Kyoto and Osaka because hotel rooms were either sold out or very expensive because of The World Expo. Thankfully, there are several Hyatt hotels in Tokyo.

And that’s how we ended up staying at the non-smoking Caption by Hyatt Kabutocho Toyko.

How to Get to Caption by Hyatt Kabutocho Tokyo

Located in Nihonbashi Kabutocho, the Caption Kabutocho was so new, it had only opened four days before our stay it wasn’t on Google Maps. I had to type in the address. But no worries, it’s now listed and much easier to find.

The Caption is a short walk from Nihombashi Station, Kayabacho Station, and Tokyo Station. The hotel is a 1 to 2 minute walk from Nihombashi and Kayabacho Stations. And a 15-minute walk from Tokyo Station.

The walk is mostly flat and very accessible. However, I only saw and experienced stairs up and down from the Nihombashi and Kayabacho Stations.

If you’re coming by bus, there’s a bus stop directly in front of the hotel.

Pro-tip: If arriving by taxi, they will drop you off at the end of the block behind the bus stop. When getting out, walk to the end of the street towards the freeway overpass. The Caption is on the corner.

Check-In

The check-in desk is tucked into a corner, literally.

When you walk into the hotel, you’ll take a quick right, see a wall that hides the elevators, and the desk will be on your left about a step forward.

Pro-tip: When you check in, leave your luggage in the sitting area. Don’t drag it behind you or roll it with you to the desk. There’s not a lot of room for you to stand with your luggage if someone needs to squeeze past you to the other desk.

The single desk/table houses two computers on each end to register guests. In between is a giant “drawer organizer” of amenities.

You can get the following items for free:

• Body towel
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Face serum
• Facial cream
• Razor
• Shaving cream
• Cotton Pads
• Comb

Pro-tip: Grab a body towel or two. You’ll want one to dry your hands. Not in your room but, for when you’re visiting the tourist sites or wandering Japan. Japanese public restrooms often don’t have paper towels.

We arrived at 11:11 am and were told our room wasn’t ready. But when the other desk agent saw that I was a World of Hyatt Globalist, our room was suddenly ready. Globalist for the win!

Rooms

There are four categories of rooms at the Caption by Hyatt Kabutocho Tokyo: Standard, High Floor, Deluxe, and Suite. All 195 rooms have high ceilings and feature Apotheke toiletries.

Standard rooms are 236 to 301 square feet and are located on the lower floors. A High Floor room is 269 to 301 square feet and located on one of the higher floors. The Deluxe rooms are 301 to 365 square feet. Suites are 581 square feet and include a washer/dryer.

The furnishings and general style of all rooms are the same. But the wall designs vary between one of four themes: Bridge, Community, Old & New, and Future.

Our room’s theme was Old & New. You can see photos and read my detailed room review soon. Rather watch instead of read? Stay tuned for my video review on my YouTube channel.

Umbrellas weren’t provided in the room, but are available at the front desk.

Pro-tip: If you’re traveling with family and/or children, you may have to book two rooms. None of the rooms at the Caption by Hyatt Kabutocho Tokyo allow for rollaway beds.

Globalist Benefits at Caption by Hyatt Kabutocho Tokyo

Globalists staying at the Caption Kabutocho Tokyo get free breakfast and if desired, 4 pm late checkout.

For breakfast, Globalists can choose one of the two entrees from the Morning Set and a coffee, tea, or juice.

There aren’t any free bottles of water because all rooms include a refillable water pitcher. There are filtered water stations on each floor.

Pro-tip: If you’re moving to another hotel and using public transportation, I’d recommend checking out at 2 pm vs waiting until 4 pm. We went from the Caption to the Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo.

By leaving after 2 pm, we avoided rush hour on the trains and arrived just in time to check in at the Hyatt Centric.

You can forward your bags to your next hotel via Tebura-Kun’s partnership with The Caption by Hyatt Kabutocho Tokyo. Your luggage has to be at the front desk by 11 am.

We didn’t use this service as we travel with just carry-on bags. But after schlepping our bags up and down stairs and having to rush to catch connecting trains, it sounds like a brilliant idea.

Upgrades

Globalists get free upgrades when staying at Hyatt hotels. This includes an upgrade to a standard suite. Unfortunately for us, all the suites were sold out during our stay.

Because I booked the hotel at the last minute on the day before it opened, I didn’t expect a suite to be available. I was happy to find a hotel room at a reasonable price.

I had booked the lowest-priced room, a standard room with a King bed. We were upgraded for free to a High Floor Deluxe King because of my Globalist status.

Pro-tip:  If you don’t have Globalist status or aren’t using a Guest of Honor Award (GHA/GOH), here’s how to get VIP treatment at hotels. 

Talk Shop Restaurant

Talk Shop is the only restaurant at The Caption Tokyo. It is open daily from 7 am to 10 pm. Talk Shop is used by guests and locals for dining and meetings, both professional and social.

If you don’t want a full meal, you can grab ready-to-eat items and drinks from the 24 hour Market. The market is located in the left rear corner of Talk Shop when viewing the market from the entrance.

You can charge items to your room or pay by credit card. Cash is not accepted.

Talk Shop is also used for workshops and live music. But we were only here for one night. There weren’t any events on the day we stayed.

We had dinner and breakfast at Talk Shop and would eat here again even if breakfast weren’t free for Globalists. You can read my review of Talk Shop in an upcoming blog post.

There are multiple restaurants, bars, and other eateries in the area. You can also go to grocery store and a 7-11 a block away. The 7-11s in Japan are unlike any convenience store in the US. Food is plentiful, fresh, and tasty.

Pro-tip: If eating lunch or dinner at the hotel, plan your timing wisely so you can find a seat. Lots of locals eat and order drinks at Talk Shop.

You’ll have plenty of room and open tables during breakfast. Because currently, non-hotel guests aren’t allowed to eat or gather at Talk Shop during breakfast.

Fitness Center

The fitness center is on the second floor and open 24 hours. I love that the gym is open 24/7. Perfect if you’re suffering from jet lag and need to burn off some energy or tired yourself out.

Community Area

You can also relax and socialize in the Community Area. There’s plenty of seating, a bar area, and an outside terrace.

No one was using this space during our stay. I think the intention is a gathering spot for groups in between meetings because it’s on the same floor as the three meeting rooms.

Use Points or Pay Cash

As a Category 5 hotel, free nights are 20,000 Hyatt points a night. If you travel during off-peak times, you can find 17,000 point night. But if traveling during a peak time, as I did, only 4 days after the hotel opened, you’ll pay 23,000 points a night.

Hyatt points are easy to earn with cards like the World of Hyatt Credit Card, and The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card.

You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points from cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This is the complete list of all the cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points.

Like you, I like to get the best value from my points. So I try to get at least 2 cents per point.

The cash rate using my Hyatt Leverage discount was $323 a night and included taxes. This would mean I would only get 1.4 cents per point if I used 23,000 points. So I paid cash instead.

Pro-tip: Here’s how to decide if you should pay cash or use points.

Caption by Hyatt Kabutocho Tokyo
12-1 Nihonbashikabutocho
Chuo City, Tokyo 103-0026
+81 3-4588-1234

Conclusion

With easy access and a short walk from three train stations, the location of the Caption by Hyatt Kabutocho Tokyo is perfect for first-time and frequent visitors to Japan.

Rooms are comfortable, clean, and spacious, especially by Japanese standards. The onsite restaurant, Talk Shop, offers tasty food from 7 am to 10 pm.

If you prefer not to eat at the hotel, there are many restaurants and bars in the area. As well as several grocery and convenience stores.

You can use Hyatt points or pay cash.

I enjoyed my short stay at the Caption Kabutocho Tokyo and would stay here again.