Visiting Japan is like seeing the Northern Lights - it’s rare to meet a person without it placed firmly at the top of their bucket list. But after booking your tickets, you need to know where to stay to make it the once in a lifetime trip you expect it to be. Imagine landing in London without a clue of where to go to find the hottest hotels around. Well in Japan’s capital, we’ve got that covered for you: here’s our roundup of the best places to stay on your dream holiday in Tokyo.
Park Hyatt
If it’s the wow factor you’re after, you won’t be disappointed. Go the extra mile (literally, it towers at a dizzying 52 storeys) and book a night at the Park Hyatt if you’ve got something to celebrate. And if you don’t, well, find something - we guarantee it will be worth your while. Get lost in the iconic library and pretend you’re on set in Lost in Translation - Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray filmed in this very space for the 2003 movie. With rooms that will make you gasp as you’re given a guided tour and food so delicious it’s hard to discuss anything else over dinner, this is a night’s stay you won’t forget in a hurry.
Rooms
Think Egyptian cotton, original artwork and pinch-me views of Mount Fuji on the horizon (on a clear day). Each of the 177 rooms, including 23 suites, boast a state-of-the-art bathroom, walk-in closets and high-tech amenities. Despite the city twinkling right beneath you, the blissful peace and quiet is testament to how high up you are. Cocooned in the sky, we sleep as deeply as if we we’re in a deserted country retreat.
Food and drink
Take your pick out of the New York Grill & Bar with its failsafe classics, the Kozue restaurant, serving up authentic, Japanese fare, the Girandole, a French Brasserie and The Peak Lounge & Bar, for a sophisticated afternoon tea. We choose the New York Grill on the 52nd floor and enjoyed one of the most exquisite meals of our lives: mouth-meltingly good wagyu beef, seaside fresh lobster, an impressive wine list and second to none atmosphere. As we finish, a live jazz band takes to the stage in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass windows with the twinkling city down below as the backdrop. Toto, are we in heaven?
Standout facilities
Park Hyatt boasts banquet rooms, ballrooms, drawing rooms, a library and a wedding chapel. Unwavering staff are on every corner offering a service so efficient you’ll leave with absolutely no question unanswered. Enjoy the spa, complete with whirlpools, steam and dry saunas, cold plunge pools and seven treatment rooms. There’s also a fully-equipped gym and indoor swimming pool. You’ll leave this city break feeling like you’ve spent the weekend at a luxury wellness retreat.
The Low Down
It’s located amongst the skyscrapers of the west Shinjuku district, a free shuttle ride from Shinjuku station – one of the major commercial hubs.
Shinjuku-ku, Nishishinjuku 3-7-1-2, Tokyo, 163-1055, Japan.
00 81 3 5322 1234
Hotel Chinzanso
If it’s authenticity you’re after, you’ve come to the right place. The Chinzanso hotel is set in a stunning Japanese garden which attracts tourists from all over the world with its flora and beautiful swarms of fireflies. Stroll through the garden at night, or observe from the comfort of your hotel room, and you’ll see picturesque trees lit up with the majestic creatures. It’s hard to believe there’s a bustling city nearby once you’re inside this oasis of calm. But if you do want to venture out, shrines, temples, parks and museums are within a 20-minute radius of the hotel. Warning: it will be hard to leave this rural grandeur in the city once you’re settled in though.
Rooms
The rooms combine relaxed luxury, classical decadence, cosy charm with a hint of faded glamour. Each one is decorated with Japanese touches such as fine Aritayaki porcelain lamps and rich Japanese textiles. They are such a generous size, a family could fit comfortably in one room. Think marble bathrooms filled with L'occitane goodies, high-tech, self-flushing toilets, pillows plumped to perfection and sweeping views across the city on one side or the serene gardens from the other. We curl up on the sofa and enjoy afternoon tea in our private suite; a treat especially favoured in Japan.
Food and drink
The food at Chinzanso is something of a masterpiece. In keeping with the hotel’s authentic approach to hosting, a meal at the Mokushundo restaurant is not to be missed if you want the full Japanese experience. Wind down through the garden until you reach a quiet grove and there you’ll find Mokushundo hidden away. Come here for traditional dishes cooked on hot lava rocks from Mount Fuji, as well as original iron-kettle kaiseki cuisine. Our food is prepared and cooked in front of us by women in kimono dress who know every detail about each ingredient they’re serving. We marvel as tempura and wagyu beef sizzles on the hot plate in front of us and join in as they freshly roll our sushi and sashimi. Each course is delectable and bursting with even more delicate favour than the last. There’s also a choice of eight other restaurants on the grounds, including the Kinsui, which serves traditional kaiseki meals consisting of a set course of small plates.
Standout facilities
At Yu the spa you’ll find an open-air heated pool, jet bath, natural hot spring, and an extensive list of treatments. I enjoy a soothing aroma oil massage and emerge a calmer version of myself. Elegant banqueting rooms with views of the pagoda are to dine for. Other amenities include conference halls of every size and wedding venue facilities. The hotel plays host to many quirky events: when we’re there it’s hosting a Miss Japan competition. But the centerpiece has to be the 700-year-old Japanese garden, complete with a shrine, a tea room and rows of cherry blossom trees.
The Lowdown
Summer is the season that the Serenity Garden terrace comes to life and the fireflies are at their finest. The hotel is located about 15 minutes from Tokyo’s central business district in the Bunkyo neighbourhood.
Prices start from 57,024 Japanese Yen (£373)
10-8, Sekiguchi 2-chome, Bunkyo-ku 112-8680 Tokyo, Japan.
[ www.hotel-chinzanso-tokyo.com ](www.hotel-chinzanso-tokyo.comokyo.com )
The Mandarin Oriental
This sleek, stylish, sexy hotel is as luxurious as it is traditional. It sits above the clouds, sprawled across the 30th-36th floors of the Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, with breath-taking views of the city and Mount Fuji on a clear day. It stays opulent while simultaneously tapping into Nihonbashi’s heritage of old Tokyo culture and craftsmanship and offers a selection of trips and visits to craft studios as well as cultural activities. The hotel’s serenity is down to its holistic design – inspired by a living tree and rooted around the concept of woods and water, to reflect the abundance of nature in Japan. It ticks every box with flying colours: impressive rooms, 12 restaurants, three of which have Michelin Stars, and a remarkable spa.
Rooms
Even at 179 rooms, I’d happily while away the day exploring every single one to admire the beauty and decadence. Each has incredible views, unforgettable beds and an impressive selection of bathing options - there’s a rain-shower, a hand shower and a body shower, as well as a marble bathtub to soak the hours away in the middle of the sky. But it’s the little touches at the Mandarin that take it from extravagant to unforgettable: think little chocolates appearing by your bedside after you return from dinner; treasure boxes of Bottega Veneta toiletries hidden here and there and a pillow menu, so you can pick which specially selected essential oil to inhale each night.
Food and drink
Where do you start when spoilt for choice with 12 restaurants? We opt for the Michelin Star Sense restaurant which specialises in Dim Sum and Cantonese dining in a dramatic setting on the 37th floor. We tuck in to an exquisite tasting menu: a meal like this is as much about the flavour as it is the once-in-a-lifetime experience. Safe in the knowledge that we’re in the hands of the finest chefs in the world, we try jellyfish, eel, swallow’s nest and soft turtle broth. Every mouthful is moreish and prompts deep discussion about the food. We leave well-acquainted with the impressively expert waiters, sommeliers and chefs.
Standout facilities
The Mandarin has a spa to write home about, although you may find it hard to hold a pen after transcending to such deep levels of relaxation. It includes five VIP spa suites with private facilities, separate male and female heat and water experiences including amethyst crystal steam room, a sky view sauna and rain showers. My appointment begins with a foot ritual, ‘symbolically washing away the material world’, then a consultation with a personal therapist who advises treatments devised from both Asian and Western-inspired traditions, especially suited to my needs. A bell rings at the beginning and end of each treatment, to get me into the right headspace. My healthy glow lasted long after I landed home in the UK.
The Lowdown
Located in an area which is home to historical buildings and is also the epicentre for sushi, it’s hard to think of a better spot. Next door is the oldest department store in the city and Ginza, the luxury shopping district, is not far away. Rates for Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, start from JPY 55,000 per room per night (approx. GBP 390). mandarinoriental.com/tokyo
The Peninsula
With stunning views of the Imperial palace and a stone’s throw from its magnificent gardens, this is a grand hotel where royalty wouldn’t seem out of place. A 24-storey tower inspired by a Japanese lantern, this is where to come to feel like you’re at the beating heart of the country: native architecture, artwork and sculptures adorn the magnificent halls and walkways; workers wear traditional dress and the restaurants serve everything from tempura to Sakura afternoon tea. Impeccable staff rush to help make our stay as perfect as can be, arranging our day of sight-seeing and setting us up with tricycles – free of charge - to explore the upmarket district in lavish and languid style.
Rooms
The rooms are squeal-worthy: with king-size beds; views of the palace and bath tubs fit for Mariah Carey, you won’t want to leave and explore the exciting city below. This is timeless luxury at its finest, with deep soft sofas, dining room tables decorated with fruit, cake, chocolates and more. Each of the 314 rooms scream ‘five-star’. They’re among the city’s most spacious, with huge windows overlooking the park below. Waking up in this place, on our first day in the city, we almost wish for rain for an excuse to stay inside.
Food and drink
If famous, 40-day aged, dried, wagyu, melt in the mouth beef enjoyed overlooking a 360-degree view of the city’s twinkling lights isn’t heaven, then I really don’t know what is. The Peninsula offers a worldly selection of dining options, including the Peter restaurant – which changes its menu every two months to keep in with seasonal food and fresh produce, the legendary Afternoon Tea in The Lobby -which attracts queues so long they snake around corners, Cantonese cuisine at Hei Fung Terrace and the centuries-old art of Kaiseki at Kyoto Tsuruya. But for the crème de la creme, Peter: The Bar is a magical spot to enjoy a celebratory cocktail or two. Surrounded by a forest of cherry blossom trees made of glass, the decor blends seamlessly with the panoramic views. A perfect place to cheers our first night.
Standout facilities
You name it, they’ve got it: a wedding chapel? Tick! A ballroom? They’ve got two. Pampering sessions for pets? Of course, there’s even a special pet menu and dog-walking services that come complete with little doggy outfits. We go swimming, visit the spa and get pampered to within an inch of our life. Don’t be surprised if you walk away from this hotel feeling like someone has pressed the reset button on life.
The lowdown
Prices starts from JPY 63,000 (£406) for a Deluxe Room
Chiyoda-ku Yurakucho 1-8-1, Tokyo, 100-0006, Japan
00 81 3 6270 2888