Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel: Our honest review

by Best-Japanese Team
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Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel

For those looking to venture beyond Japan’s Golden Route between Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, Nagoya is fast becoming a regular addition to tourists’ itineraries. There are loads of to-dos and things to explore, both within the city itself and in the surrounding region. And for the easiest comings and goings, you’ll want to plant yourself at the Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel, which sits directly atop the Nagoya Station complex.

Photo Credit: Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel

Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel, the 37-floor property opened in 2000, with extensive renovations wrapped up in September 2023. It’s owned, surprisingly, by Central Japan Railway Company (JR-Central). Maybe even more surprisingly, it’s not even their only hotel: The company currently owns six hotels in different cities, and three more are in the works for Nara and Kyoto.

This means that your access to transportation and level of convenience is unrivaled. The Shinkansen from Tokyo can have you in Nagoya in just under two hours. Easy-to-follow signs and yellow Tenji blocks (braille blocks) lead you to the automatic sliding doors of the hotel’s in-station entrance. And when the doors shut behind you, blocking out the harsh lighting and general cacophony, you find yourself in another place entirely.

Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel: Spacious Lobby

Elevators Nagoya Marriott Associa

Ornate elevator banks will zip you up to the 15th floor of Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel, where it even smells different. A refreshing fragrance, slightly minty, hangs lightly in the air. You’ll encounter low lighting, fountains, greenery, even a colonnaded hall, on your way to the expansive lobby to check in from 3 p.m.

Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel: Rooms and Bathrooms

We stayed in a Deluxe Twin room, decorated in peaceful grays and blues, and with a surprising amount of space. Thoughtful details felt different from the typical hotel room – a separate vanity table with an expanding mirror; a dedicated, window-facing workspace; a large, upholstered bench by the entryway. There were loads of goodies in the mini fridge as well as ample closet, counter and floor space. We loved the large windows that stretched almost from wall to wall, making our 29th-floor view of the sprawling city and bowl of distant mountains pretty spectacular.

Photo Credit: Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel

The bathroom décor, with its glassed-in shower and gold-trimmed, heavily mirrored style felt especially luxurious. Soaps and lotions, shower gel and hair care were available in abundance, but the formulas themselves were pretty standard issue. If you’re as particular with your toiletries as this writer, you may want to pack your own.

Photo Credit: Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel

Overall, Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel boasts 765 rooms in a number of configurations to work for just about any party. There are standard and deluxe versions of double and twin rooms, of course, but also family rooms with arrangements of multiple beds and connecting rooms for larger groups.

Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel: Concierge Level

If you’re looking to level up your stay, book one of the 18 suites on the concierge floors 48 or 49. The design and amenities tip the scales into a luxury experience. Beautifully appointed apartments follow themes, with the newest being European, Japanese, Chinoiserie, and New York-inspired aesthetics.

If preferred, on their concierge level of floors above the 44th floor, there are standard and deluxe types of double, or deluxe twin rooms available as well as Japanese and Japanese-western style rooms on the 20th floor. Concierge guests have access to a dedicated check-in desk in the concierge lounge; complimentary access to the pool and fitness club (available to all other guests for a fee); and Japanese breakfast, teatime refreshments, cocktails, and meals in an exclusive lounge.

Photo Credit: Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel

If access to the concierge lounge isn’t in the plan, know there are more eating and dining and snacking options in the hotel than you can probably hit up in a typical stay. Eight incredibly designed restaurants offer a general all-day buffet; Chinese, French and Japanese cuisine; and a cake and coffee spot in the lobby you shouldn’t skip.

Photo Credit: Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel

We toasted the sunset on the 52nd floor Sky Lounge before heading to Kyoto Tsuruya on the 18th floor for a leisurely multi-course dinner of traditional Japanese fare. On the way, we stopped to take a peek into a dark cigar bar with a warm wood decor that’s modeled after a ship’s interior where you can also have light meals. While not typically our advice to post up in a hotel when all of Japan awaits, be sure to take some time to explore and enjoy the property.

Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel: Overall Review

Final thoughts: For Nagoya first-timers looking to take in as much as possible, you can’t beat the location, which is as central as central could be. But newbies and returning guests alike will appreciate the variety of hotel experiences as well as the sweeping city vistas that are available.

Set your alarm early to watch the city wake up in pastels and then head down to the breakfast buffet to find what might be the hotel’s best-kept secret: a complimentary fresh-squeezed orange juice machine.

Visiting Nagoya for sightseeing or going to Ghibli Park?

If you’re thinking of staying in Nagoya for visiting ever-popular Ghibli Park or walking through the beautiful Nakasendo Way, or just going around the main sightseeing spots in the city, Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel will be the ideal place for you to stay, whether you’re looking for the best facilities, services, location or even omotenashi – Japanese style hospitality.


For those looking for more info on Nagoya sightseeing and what to eat, please check our guide of the 35 best things to do in Nagoya. If you’re interested in Japanese culture, do explore our culture section. Or you can head to our Instagram account for posts of fantastic restaurants, festivals, and travel experiences.

Note: All the information and details are correct at the time of publishing. We would recommend checking the Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel website for the latest information.

Disclosure: Our stay at the Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel was part of a trip covering Nagoya and the Nakasendo path created by JR Central, which had the aim of introducing the central Japan region to the Best Japanese reader base. We did not receive compensation for this stay and the opinions given are entirely our own.

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The Best Japanese Team is a community of friends and family living in the UK and Japan. Our main goal is to share accurate knowledge on Japanese food, culture, lifestyle, and travel. We also wish to support Japanese inspired creators and businesses across the world. As we grow we welcome contributions from like-minded invididuals so if this sounds like you please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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