It is how to navigate the hotel scene in Tokyo.
In Tokyo, not much remains the same, except for the assurance that you'll have fun. With 28 million residents, Greater Tokyo is the biggest metropolitan region in the world and includes the cities of Kawasaki and Yokohama. In essence, this implies that whatever you are into and anything you want to see or do, you'll find it someplace here — along with many things you didn't even realize you wanted. There is a Goldilocks stay that is "just right" for you amid the immensity of Tokyo, whether you want to go glam or go local, boutique or bling, sleep in a tower, or sprawl out on the finest futon.
The Best Tokyo Hotels: 10 Unique Lodging Options in Japan's Capital City https://t.co/84rtqnBiEc pic.twitter.com/drkv7dfjhs
— Hassan Ahmad (@_hassanahmad_) March 31, 2023
What area in Tokyo is the greatest for lodging?
That depends on your requirements, interests, and future steps. Shibuya is a wonderful starting point for several walking, must-see sights, including Scramble Crossing, Harajuku, Yoyogi Park, and the Meiji Shrine, and is close to some of Tokyo's other famous areas. (Nakameguro, Shimokitazawa). The Otemachi financial area, which offers access to the Imperial Palace and its vast green lung, and high-end shops on the ground floor, is home to many of the big-brand, skyscraper Tokyo hotels. (expect to see your fellow guests on the Palace running loop in the morning). The Toranomon neighborhood is the best location for seeing Tokyo Tower and the city skyline at night. Stay near the bullet train hub on the Yaesu side of Tokyo Station if you're traveling farther within Japan or need quick access to the airport.
How long do you need to spend in Tokyo?
Three nights in Tokyo will give you enough time to acquire a good sense of the city and, if you've traveled far, reset your body clock. Choose just one base because the entire city may be reached from there via the extensive, effective, and clean train and underground network (get a map as it is also highly complex). Just two 'things' every day are what you should aim for. Shibuya, home to the Scramble Crossing, the storied "hints" shop Tokyu Hands, and the brand-new Shibuya SKY open-air observation deck, should not be missed if it's your first time visiting Tokyo. From the tallest skyscraper, Tokyo Skytree on the east side, you can also get a feeling of how big the city is. Visit TeamLab Futures in Toyosu, the Mori Art Museum, or the districts of Omotesando and Ginza for art and architecture. (also the location of the new fish market). For the Yayoi Kusama Museum, make reservations two months in advance. For Kengo Kuma's Nezu Museum, with its serene valley garden and prime location in the center of chic Aoyama, simply show up. Try Koenji or Shimokita for used clothing. You may find peace in Meiji Jingu, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, or Hamarikyu Gardens on Tokyo Bay. Senso-ji Temple and Asakusa, in the old city, offer a laid-back, nostalgic air.
Tokyo's Bulgari Hotel
Best for: A taste of la dolce vita studded with jewels and built with a Japanese touch in a modern skyscraper
Across from Tokyo Station, on the top of the brand-new 45-story Tokyo Midtown Yaesu tower, is the opulent Bulgari Hotel Tokyo. This location, which was envisioned by Milan's ACPV Architects Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, seamlessly combines modern Italian architecture and Japanese craftsmanship with a glittering sprinkle of Bulgari legacy. It is set against a backdrop of sensuous black granite with flashes of jewel tones. Imagine hand-blown Murano lights draped from wooden ceilings like temples, traditional Japanese textile themes reinterpreted in Venetian mosaic tile, and images of famous people visiting the Roman flagship in the 1950s gracing the walls, along with historical advertisements and jewelry drawings. The 98 guest rooms blend Japanese accents (such as woven bamboo wall vases, contemporary sliding screens, and gold-flecked bed blankets by Kyoto kimono textile experts Hosoo) with cozy saffron headboards, natural elm wood, Flexform armchairs, Maxalto workstations, and seductive black granite baths. Il Ristorante - Niko Romito, a light-filled 40th-floor space decorated in layered shades of light orange textiles, copper net curtains, and caramel leathers, serves up Italian cuisine that taps into the minimalist essence of natural flavors on Ginori plates. Meanwhile, the sushi is expertly prepared at the hinoki wood counter of the tranquil eight-seat Hoseki restaurant, which looks out onto a small Zen garden. The 45th-floor Bulgari Bar is a buzzy after-dark retreat with Venetian terrazzo, a curving bar, punchy drinks, and vast outside terraces filled with lemon trees and sweet-smelling jasmine. A pool sparkling with gold and emerald green mosaic tiles raises the elegance quotient in the Spa. Ingrid Demetriou
Address: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan, 104-0028, 2-2-1 Yaesu
Aman Tokyo
Best for: A minimalist's paradise overlooking the financial district
Aman is known for its innovative designs and subtle elegance. Its first property in an urban environment, Tokyo, is no exception. It provides a contemporary take on conventional Japanese homes, spread across the top six stories of a dazzling tower in the Temachi business district. (courtesy of the late architect Kerry Hill). Basalt stone covers the atrium-like foyer, which has a 30-meter-high roof that resembles the interior of a washi paper lantern. The atmosphere is completed with zen-like rock gardens and a water feature with seasonal ikebana flower displays. Arva, an Italian restaurant, and a lounge area that is all black provide dining with stunning views of the lobby. The exquisite two-story spa is the pride and joy of Aman, but the rooms are little havens all on their own. They are a celebration of Japanese minimalism, with blond-wood walls and granite ofuro bathtubs placed window-side to take in the breathtaking city views.
Address: 1-5-6 Otemachi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan, Aman Tokyo, The Otemachi Tower
Mandarin Oriental Tokyo
Best for: Michelin-starred cuisine and impeccable service in fashionable Nihonbashi
The Mandarin Oriental, perched atop an office building in Tokyo's famed Nihonbashi neighborhood, offers luxurious indulgence with a strong dose of Japanese refinement. Large baths, a beige color scheme with orange and teal accents, and an unprecedented level of personalization are all features of the rooms at Mandarin Oriental. Even the bonsai tree in the bedroom comes with a message addressing visitors by name. The hotel's upper floors have not less than 10 bars and restaurants, ranging from Michelin-starred molecular bits at Tapas to authentic Italian pizza, in addition to breathtaking vistas and an outstanding spa. Be on the lookout for the regular kitchen takeovers that bring some of the most well-known chefs to Tokyo (René Redzepi, the Sühring brothers, etc.). During your stay, it might seem hard to leave this haven of luxury, but make an effort to do so because the concierge's recommendations for nearby attractions, including specialty stores founded in the early 1800s, are excellent.
Mandarin Oriental is located at 2 Chome-1-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi in Chuo City, Tokyo, Japan, 103-8328.
Toranomon's The Tokyo EDITION
Outstanding for: Glittering views inside and out, including the Tokyo Tower's outstanding nighttime views.
The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon doesn't disguise its brightness, from the highly polished black marble at the entryway to the strikingly up-lit jungle of bamboo and butterfly palms that fill the 31st-floor Lobby Lounge. This unique hotel, which was created by hotelier Ian Schrager and built by architect Kengo Kuma, is located in the Toranomon business neighborhood and has 206 rooms, 15 of which have uncommon tower terraces. The hotel's Tower View rooms have some of the greatest views of the titular Tokyo landmark in the whole city. The Blue Room all-day dining restaurant is covered in sapphire velvet, while the marble and glass Lobby Bar is an island in a sea of green. The Jade Room, a British-Japanese culinary love-in by chef-partner Tom Aikens, will be launched in October 2022. Expats enjoy Golden Age drinks at the destination's Gold Bar at EDITION. When it opens in the spring of 2023, its striking private dining room—designed by Kuma—promises to be one of Tokyo's trendiest social destinations.
The Tokyo EDITION is located at 4-1-1 Toranomon in Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001.
Marunouchi's Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo
Best for: Fine dining in a unique setting with clubby elegance.
This well-situated hotel next to Tokyo Station offers just 48 rooms and nine suites, giving it the ambiance of an exclusive club. Four Seasons at Marunouchi, which was created by Yabu Pushelberg and first opened in 2002, is an older hotel by Tokyo standards but has a devoted following of affluent travelers who value its quaint setting, attentive service, and convenient location. (right beside the bullet train tracks, for travel almost anywhere in Japan). Its French fine-dining restaurant, Sézanne, which was expertly decorated by André Fu and is run by head chef Daniel Calvert, is another compelling reason to go back. Only 18 months after opening, Sézanne received two stars in the Tokyo Michelin 2023 book. It boasts 42 highly sought-after (and often difficult to bag) covers, but fortunately for hotel visitors, Calvert is in charge of all hotel meals, including the superb Parisian cafe Maison Marunouchi - and the complementary, warm madeleines sent to your room upon arrival.
Address: Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-6277, 1-11-1 Pacific Century Place, Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi
Yuen Bettei Daita
Best for: A traditional city onsen-ryokan experience
Since there aren't many hot springs baths and ryokan in Tokyo, Yuen Bettei Daita has created a boutique inn right in the middle of the city that flawlessly replicates that iconic Japanese countryside hideaway. Its 33 small, Japanese-style wood and tatami rooms, are decorated in a modern, low-rise building in the trendy area of Shimokita, with elevated futon beds and conventional sliding shoji screens. The main draw is the hot spring spa, which features indoor and outdoor pools, the latter of which is stocked with genuine hot spring water from Hakone near Mount Fuji. The all-day restaurant Tsukikage serves seasonal Japanese fare, and you can observe the cooks at work from the counter seats. It includes a classic Japanese ryokan breakfast. The neighboring tea salon pays homage to the area's ancient tea-growing roots by being built around salvaged wood doors from a nearby historic home. In the evening, it shifts to punchy matcha cocktails after serving green tea and sweets during the day.
Address: 2-31-36 Daita, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 155-0033, Yuen Bettei Daita
At Otemachi, the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo
Best for: The next-generation wow factor of Tokyo
The top six floors of the brand-new, 39-story Otematchi One complex are home to this stunning, Jean-Michel Gathy-designed hotel, which provides 170 rooms and 20 suites, amplifying the classic Tokyo skyscraper hotel experience. The striking arriving view is of the vast metropolis far below, the west side of the city, and clouds and mountains mirrored in a mirror moat that runs the length of the crowded Lobby Lounge (Tokyo's newest Afternoon Tea obsession). It is accessed by an ear-poppingly rapid elevator. Beyond that, you can enjoy flawless Neapolitan pizzas at the Italian all-day dining establishment Pigneto and micro-seasonal cocktails in the opulent yet classic Bar Virtù. (glimpse jars of their homemade umeshu in the extensive liquor store behind the library). Chef de cuisine Guillaume Bracaval and pastry chef Michele Abbatemarco, a longtime professional team, created the one-Michelin-star French fine-dining establishment est. They offer up fresh, inventive interpretations of the Japanese terroir using 95% Japanese products. (see the handy origin map on the menu). The 20-meter indoor pool tempts swimmers with its highly polished metal interior and huge picture windows. This stylish haven in the sky is completed with a spa with five treatment rooms and a large ofuro soaking tub (of course with views).
Address: 1-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004 Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi
Trunk Inn
Ideal for: Eco-aware tourists who don't want to sacrifice comfort or style
Trunk Hotel is a hotspot for Tokyo's creative community and savvy city tourists, making it the ideal choice given its position next to trend-setting Cat Street. Trunk Bar, a lively lounge where local business owners and digital nomads use their laptops during the day and switch to drinks in the evening, is located in the center of the area. Each bedroom varies in size, with options for a small family suite with bunk beds to a two-story party pad with a plunge pool. The very high ceilings, metro-tiled bathrooms, and minibars loaded with gourmet soda pops and dried fruits are commonalities, though. Sustainability is key in this situation. Reclaimed wood is used to decorate the interiors, and the workforce wears uniforms made of repurposed denim. The same philosophy is applied to the amenities, which include recovered laundry bags and recycled rubber bathroom slippers. Many are offered for purchase at the on-site convenience shop along with organic munchies and artisan beers from Tokyo.
The Trunk Hotel is located at 5 Chome-31 Jingumae in Shibuya City, Tokyo, Japan, 150-0001.
Muji Hotel Ginza
Best for: A comfortable, no-frills stay
The brand's first hotel in Japan, located on the upper floors of Muji's flagship store in Ginza, embodies the company's "anti-cheap, anti-gorgeous" concept with a minimalist design that gives careful thought to and flawless execution of the fundamentals. The rooms, which resemble apartments, are long yet narrow, which complements their straightforward layouts effectively. Some feature spacious bookshelves, while others have futons and tatami mats. Unsurprisingly, they are all outfitted with Muji goods, from the air diffuser in the bathroom to the brand's distinctive minimalist alarm clock, all of which can be purchased from the store down the hall. The hotel restaurant WA, located next to the lobby, rotates its menu every three months to highlight a different region of Japan, getting nearly all of its products from that area during that period.
Address: Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo, Japan, Muji Hotel Ginza, 6F, 3-3-5
Palace Hotel Tokyo
Best for: magnificent views fit for a president and bright, large rooms
After undergoing a comprehensive renovation in 2012, the Palace Hotel, a participant in the Tokyo hotel scene since 1961, is now the preferred lodging for dignitaries visiting the Japanese capital, including politicians, celebrities, and other VIPs. For good reason: hardly many hotels can rival the Imperial Palace's excellent location or the light, expansive rooms that the renovation delivered. Many of these rooms open to sizable balconies that overlook the Imperial Palace's enormous garden. The hotel maintains its traditional appeal despite its modern makeover; guests can anticipate superb white-glove service (head concierge Ms. Sumiyoshi chairs the Tokyo chapter of the worldwide concierge association), fresh flowers around the establishment, and silver spoons at the breakfast table. For the greatest views, claim a space on the terrace along the moat. Look for Wadakura, a cluster of Japanese restaurants with a village-like atmosphere on the sixth floor, for supper. Wadakura specialises in tempura, sushi, teppanyaki, and kaiseki. For its tenth anniversary in 2022, six more suites were built.
The Palace Hotel is located at 1 Chome-1-1 Marunouchi in Chiyoda City, Tokyo, Japan, 100-0005.
Park Hyatt Tokyo
Best for: Checking off your bucket list at one of Tokyo's most famous hotels
This iconic hotel has been welcoming visitors since 1994, and it has matured beautifully over time. The decor in the rooms and public spaces is still classic, and the service is just as attentive now as it was when the Park Hyatt first debuted as one of the city's premier hotels. Although the hotel is famous because of its part in the film Lost in Translation, the magnificent rooftop pool and first-rate spa are also well-known. The 177 rooms, which are all beige and dark lacquered woods, are of substantial size and come with Aesop amenities and bathrooms with marble finishes. There are breathtaking views as well, and on clear days you might even be able to see Mount Fuji in the distance, as is the case with all the sky-high accommodations in the city. Even if you're not staying the night, enjoying a Suntory Whisky in the famous New York Bar is a must-do in Tokyo.
Address: Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 163-1055, Japan, 3-7-1-2 Park Hyatt Tokyo
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Hoshinoya Tokyo
Best for: A modernized version of the classic ryokan experience
In Tokyo, ryokans are a rare species, yet Hoshinoya manages to bring the design back in its ultra-swanky way. It has all the amenities of a traditional ryokan, including tatami mats throughout the building (even in the elevators, thus there is a strict shoes-off requirement upon entry), soft futon beds, and rooms enclosed by sliding paper screens. It is housed in a 17-story structure in the central business district. When the sun shines through the latticed façade, which is intended to imitate a whirling komon pattern, it produces lovely shadows. Six guest rooms are arranged around a common lounge on each floor. While breakfast (freshly made onigiri rice balls) is available here, tea and seasonal snacks are offered here throughout the day. However, the in-room alternative, delivered in a lovely wooden bento box, is worth the additional cost. Few locations are nicer to spend the evening after a day of exploring the city than a rooftop onsen with spring water piped up from approximately 5,000 feet below.
Hoshinoya Tokyo is located at 1 Chome-9-1 Otemachi in Chiyoda City, Tokyo, Japan, 100-0004.