Since reopening to foreign visitors after the pandemic, Tokyo has been buzzing with activity and tourists. As new hotels and restaurants have opened, there is no better time to visit the Land of the Rising Sun than now. Our curated list introduces the best places in the city, from intimate suites providing a quiet retreat away from the hustle and bustle, to palatial penthouses located at the height of the metropolis’s constant excitement.
No matter where you choose to stay, you will definitely be won over by the iconic concept of omotenashi, which refers to Japan’s unmatched hospitality and services.
Bulgari Hotel Tokyo
Bulgari Suite
The Bulgari Hotel Tokyo opened in April last year to much fanfare, with the likes of Anne Hathaway attending the ribbon cutting ceremony. The hotel occupies floors 40 to 45 of an ultra skyscraper right in the middle of the world’s largest metropolis.
Epitomizing the values and sense of luxury at the center of the Bulgari group, this hotel is home to 98 stunning rooms and suites. Our recommendation has to be the eponymous Bulgari Suite, one of the largest suites in Tokyo at over 1,300 sq. ft. The interior design blends Italian luxury with Japanese style, featuring special touches like hanging scrolls with traditional calligraphy and marble bathrooms.
When it comes to dining, guests can choose between Italian and Japanese cuisine. Il Ristorante by Niko Romito is catching up to its two-Michelin-starred sibling in Dubai, having been rewarded with one star in this year’s Michelin guide. Sushi Hōseki proposes an intimate omakase sushi experience, with just eight seats available inside, making for a truly special meal.
Japanese journeys
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The hotel is located right by Tokyo station, making travel hassle-free. It is also just steps away from the Imperial Palace and its surrounding gardens, which are a must-see when the cherry blossoms bloom in spring, or when the leaves turn red and golden in the autumn. The National Museum of Modern Art is also close by for fans of modern Japanese art.
Rate: Rooms start from $1600 per night, Bulgari Suite POA
Contact: Reservations, +81 3-6262-3333, tokyo.h@bulgarihotels.com
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Janu Tokyo
Janu Suite
The latest addition to the Tokyo luxury hotel scene, Janu opened this spring as the first of Aman’s new spin-off brand. Its ethos is based around creating unique experiences that connect people in dynamic locations, and what better place to do this than Tokyo’s exciting new district, Azabudai Hills? As part of its mission, the hotel is home to eight dining and social spaces, including a grill and Cantonese restaurant. Be sure to book an afternoon tea crafted each season at the lounge or Garden Terrace as you enjoy unmatched views of the Tokyo Tower.
Another tenet of the Janu brand is wellness, and the hotel boasts a 43,000-sq-ft wellness center equipped with a training area, pool and recovery center. Guests are encouraged to take part in group activities led by specialists, which will benefit both the mind and body.
In terms of accommodation, the Janu Suite is our most obvious choice. The sprawling suite’s floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning views of the neighborhood and plenty of natural light. East meets West with the suite’s decor, which features calming, neutral tones and natural textiles for a relaxing stay.
Japanese journeys
Azabudai Hills is a complex of three skyscrapers in Minato, a famous business district, which is characterized by the concept of a “modern urban village”. The area is a one-stop shop for all your dining, shopping and entertainment needs, including a teamLab Borderless digital museum. It is also the perfect place to stay for business people, with plenty of meeting and working spaces.
Rate: Available upon request
Contact: reservations@janu.com
Aman Tokyo
Aman Suite
For a traditional Japanese experience with five-star amenities and service, head straight to Aman Tokyo. From the moment the elevators open into the soaring lobby at the top of Otemachi Tower in the financial district, a sense of calm washes over you. Experience the height of luxury urban living at the Aman Suite in a soothing environment that invites relaxation and contemplation. The interiors are outfitted in light wood, from the floors to the sliding screens and furniture, punctuated with gray stone and white washi paper.
The metropolis feels almost small from the suite, which positively towers over the skyscrapers that dominate the city skyline. On a clear day, you might even be able to catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji in the distance.
Despite the hotel’s relatively small size (it has 84 suites over three floors), it has the city’s largest and most comprehensive spa, which spans nearly 27,000 sq ft and offers dedicated yoga and Pilates studios, traditional Japanese hot baths, a 98-ft pool, well-equipped fitness center and eight treatment rooms offering a wide array of therapies, including traditional Japanese treatments. The wellness theme continues in the suite: there’s an enormous stone furo tub in the bathroom in which you can soak while enjoying sensational city views.
Japanese journeys
Japan is home to many art forms renowned for their techniques, aesthetics and rituals. From practicing mindfulness during a tea ceremony to meditation through floral arrangement, Aman Tokyo offers a range of art experiences for a broad yet impactful exploration of the traditional arts which have shaped Japanese culture.
Rate: Available upon request
Contact: Tomoko Yagi, managing director, tyagi@aman.com, +81 352 243 333, aman.com
Palace Hotel Tokyo
Palace Suite
Situated in the bustling Marunouchi business district, Palace Hotel envelops you in glamorous Japanese flair from the moment you walk in. Mirrored walls and floor-to-ceiling windows paired with double-height artwork of Japanese flora and sleek, modern decor create a calming atmosphere in the heart of Japan.
The 290-room hotel first opened in 1947 and underwent a top-to-bottom rebuild in 2012. Today, it houses an award-winning spa and no less than three bars and seven restaurants, two of which have been awarded a Michelin star. Esterre opened in 2019 as a partnership with Ducasse Paris, offering French haute cuisine. Amber Palace serves the finest Cantonese and Shanghainese dishes, from crispy Beijing duck to steamed abalone.
To experience the ultimate luxury stay, book the Palace Suite, a 2,260-sq-ft, one-bedroom accommodation awash in earthy tones with hints of aubergine and gold, and exquisite artwork from Yui Higashibata. The suite has a private terrace where you can enjoy an early morning green tea overlooking Imperial Palace Plaza and the Wadakura Fountain.
For Japanese food enthusiasts (so, virtually anyone), Palace Hotel Tokyo has recently debuted a gastronomic stay experience, a curated selection of dining and drinking experiences designed to showcase the best of Japan’s extensive culinary landscape.
Japanese journeys
Dating back to the 700s, the Imperial family watched sumo wrestling, and today, the national sport of Japan still reigns supreme. Guests can tour the Ajigawa sumo stable for a firsthand introduction to the sacred sport, and even have the chance to try it out for themselves.
Rate: From $9,000 per night
Contact: Yoko Ueda, director of global sales and marketing, ueday@palacehotel.jp +81 332 115 211, palacehoteltokyo.com
Four Seasons Marunouchi
Chairman’s Suite
Four Seasons Marunouchi is a luxury boutique hotel in downtown Tokyo with an understated yet sleek atmosphere with cozy-chic decor (sumptuous fabrics and warm lighting set the ambience) and jaw-droppingly beautiful floral arrangements from Danish floral artist Nicolai Bergmann.
The hotel is unexpectedly quiet for its urban location — of course, you’ll find consistent Four Seasons hospitality — but its intimacy lends itself to a relaxed, far-from-the-crowds kind of stay, so you can decompress after exploring the high-energy streets of Tokyo. Occupying the third to seventh floors of the building, the hotel offers quaint views of Tokyo Station and is just a short walk from Ginza, Japan’s most famous upmarket shopping area.
A stay at the Four Seasons Marunouchi would not be complete without dining at SÉZANNE, which earned its second Michelin star last year, and won first place in Asia and Japan in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants this year. Chef Daniel Calvert and his team’s dishes are a marriage of the finest French ingredients and Japanese influences.
As perfect for families as it is for couples, the Chairman Suite is the ideal place to rest. It offers views through windows that fill its expansive living and dining room with natural light each day. There’s a home theater system in the living room, so you can sink into the plush chairs and couches as you watch a movie after a long day of exploring Tokyo’s hidden gems.
Japanese journeys
An expert guide will take you to Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market, a storied fish market mere minutes from the hotel, that has sold seafood for more than 400 years. At 5am, follow your guide as he navigates the market (it can be overwhelming, as there are more than 2,000 types of seafood), sourcing the best cuts on offer. Learn the local customs and have a chef at the hotel prepare your daily find in traditional Japanese style.
Rate: From $8,300 per night
Contact: Narunee Aungkum, cluster director of reservations, res.marunouchi@fourseasons.com, +81 369 100 631, fourseasons.com
[See also: Four Seasons Hotel Marunouchi, Review: Understated Tokyo Luxury]
The Tokyo Station Hotel
Imperial Suite
Aptly named because of its proximity to Tokyo Station, the hotel was first opened in 1915 (a year after the train station was built), and forms part of the capital’s history. The hotel is hard to miss — a vintage red-brick, period-style building evoking Golden Age glamor — andwas registered as one of Japan’s Important Cultural Properties in 2003.
It’s one of the few remaining luxury hotels in the city with a traditional feel, contrasting with the city’s omnipresent sleek glass skyscrapers. The interiors reflect its history, with twentieth-century, Western-style touches and preserved period architecture. However, updated 21st-century amenities and semi-modern furnishings seamlessly tie the old to the new.
Book the Imperial Suite to experience the height of luxury and omotenashi, as guests are treated like royalty from the moment they step inside. Situated on the third floor of the hotel, this one-bedroom sanctuary has a living area with gorgeous canary yellow chairs and curtains, as well as a den and bathroom.
Beneath the opulence of The Tokyo Station Hotel lies an exquisite Japanese-style spa, AN SPA, offering a variety of treatments using carefully selected high-quality products such as AN SPA’s original cosmetics. End your evening at one of the bars onsite, sipping crafted cocktails or fine Japanese whisky.
Japanese journeys
No trip to Japan is complete without tasting some authentic ramen. Luckily, the Yaesu neighborhood where The Tokyo Station Hotel is located is home to Tokyo Ramen Street. Here you can pop into one of eight renowned restaurants, each serving a distinct style of ramen, from thin noodles in a classic miso broth to chewy dipping noodles.
Rate: From $8,035 per night
Contact: Room reservation tsh.info@tokyostationhotel.jp, +81 352 201 112, thetokyostationhotel.jp
Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo
Presidential Suite
With a serene residential feel and prime location near Tokyo Station, the Presidential Suite at Shangri-La is the height of luxury. The suite’s open-plan living room has soaring double-height windows overlooking the sprawling Imperial Palace Gardens from your 36th-floor vantage point, and there’s even a set of binoculars for you to admire the view; on a clear day, you can watch the sun set behind Mount Fuji.
A refined and neutral color palette with hues of bronze and beige is accentuated by rich fabrics, dazzling crystal chandeliers, Chinese antiques, original folded-paper artwork from Yuko Nishimura and mirrored ceilings.
Have the dedicated concierge book you a personal trainer for a session in the private gym, which has weights and a treadmill, then enjoy a sports massage in your treatment room. The one-bedroom suite has other trappings of home, including a 65-inch 4K television with a soundbar, and a fully equipped kitchen. If you are traveling with your family, there’s an option to connect to an adjoining deluxe room.
Japanese journeys
Take advantage of the jaw-dropping views and host a decadent dinner in the privacy of your suite. What’s more, guests staying in a suite have exclusive access to the Horizon Club Lounge located on level 37. Sit back and relax in the Lounge, where time is slow, and enjoy an afternoon tea or evening canape with your favorite drink.
Rate: From $16,500 per night (excluding tax and service charge)
Contact: Reservation, reservations.slty@shangri-la.com, +81 367 397 878, shangri-la.com
[See also: The Best Luxury Ryokan Across Japan]
The Peninsula Tokyo
The Peninsula Suite
Located in Tokyo’s ultra-chic shopping district, Ginza, it doesn’t get much more high-end than the Peninsula Tokyo. The hotel’s eponymous Peninsula Suite feels more like an incredible residence than a hotel room, and its grand foyer sets the tone for the public spaces. The 12-person dining room has a balcony where you can soak up beautiful views of Hibiya Park and the Imperial Palace Gardens.
While the suite is perfect for entertaining, its private quarters are equally as impressive. You can admire the views of the gardens from bed, there’s a large master bathroom with marble whirlpool tub (and more windows), a gym with weights and a bicycle, and a separate study.
As you might expect in Japan, the suite’s state-of-the-art technology includes everything from mood lighting to a nail dryer and a detailed weather panel. The decor throughout is a study in Japanese minimalism; we love the cherry blossom-patterned washi-paper ceiling panels, and there’s even a room for holding a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
The Peninsula Tokyo houses an array of restaurants and tasteful cafes, so there’s no need to look far to enjoy some fine dining after a long day of shopping. For the most memorable dinner, book The Nest at Peter, a private dining room with breathtaking views of Tokyo’s skyline at night.
Japanese journeys
The Peninsula Academy is a learning and activity program created to provide a personalized introduction to key aspects of cultural, lifestyle, and culinary experiences during guests’ stays. Step behind the scenes in Tokyo’s art world with curator Natane Takeda, who works as a VIP relations coordinator for Art Basel in the city. Her connections will take you into the city’s best galleries and studios, help navigate the purchase process and introduce you to tea houses that artists frequent, all from the comfort of a chauffeured Rolls-Royce.
Rate: From $22,300 per night
Contact: reservationptk@peninsula.com, +81 362 702 288, peninsula.com
Mandarin Oriental Tokyo
Presidential Suite
The juxtaposition of commanding city views and garden-inspired decor makes this suite an urban nature-lover’s dream. Despite its location high above the city in the midst of the Nihonbashi district, the outdoors weaves its way through the suite’s locally produced fabrics and unique photographic murals of blue skies and treescapes from Tokyo’s parks.
One wall in the dining room is entirely covered by an image of the sun streaming through trees, and natural elements and decor — such as motifs of birds, butterflies and plants — appear throughout the suite. The bedroom has an origami-inspired carpet, and the ceiling was designed to appear as if you were looking up at the sky, lying beneath trees.
You’ll be tempted to leave the luxury of your suite and dine in one of Mandarin Oriental’s fine dining restaurants: Tapas Molecular Bar, an eight-seat restaurant where chefs create inspired dishes before your eyes; Signature, a contemporary French fine-dining restaurant; and Sense, which specializes in traditional Cantonese cuisine.
Japanese journeys
Nihonbashi is one of the city’s oldest commercial districts and is perfect for exploring the local culture and history on foot. Arrange a private tour that focuses on Japanese tradition. Learn about the history of the kimono and how to wear one; go on a gourmet tour tasting local specialties, including mochi (sticky seaweed rice cakes), kintsuba (sweet bean paste) and nori (dried seaweed); or make washi paper with an expert.
Contact: motyo-reservations@mohg.com, +81 332 708 800, mandarinoriental.com
