Air India’s flight from Delhi touched down at Haneda early in the morning, at around 7:45. By the time I passed through immigration and customs, the clock was nearing nine. For this trip, I had booked my favourite hotel in Yokohama, the Far East Village. I was fully aware that check-in would not begin until 15:00, and had already resigned myself to spending several hours in the lobby, quietly working until the room became available.

As it happened, fortune intervened. I arrived at the hotel premises around 10:00, settled into an armchair in the lobby lounge, opened my laptop, and began charging my devices. Just as I was getting ready to work, a senior front-desk clerk approached me with an unexpected message:
“Your room is ready, ma’am. You may move in right away.”
The surprise was so pleasant that it instantly set the tone for the rest of my stay.

The room rate was remarkably reasonable—about 5,600 rupees for two nights. For that price, I enjoyed a clean, spacious twin room overlooking Minato Mirai 21, entirely to myself. It was a special campaign rate offered through the Far East Village membership newsletter, so it is certainly worth keeping an eye on future offers.

The same clerk, aside from being wonderfully hospitable, had a charming sense of humour. He mentioned that the hotel breakfast was “a little pricey” (around 1,800 yen) and recommended a café two blocks away that, according to him, served “the best toast in town.”

Although I was travelling alone, he handed me two key cards so that I could keep the AC running even while I stepped out. He also generously offered a set of cosmetic samples—another small kindness that made the stay memorable.

The hotel is conveniently located near both Sakuragichō and Kannai stations, though I personally find Kannai more accessible. From the property, all the major sights—MM21, the Red Brick Warehouses, Ōsanbashi Pier, Yamashita Park, and Chinatown—are comfortably within walking distance.