Luxury Hotels in Tokyo

"[HOSHINOYA Tokyo: A Vertical Ryokan Experience] HOSHINOYA Tokyo offers a truly unique concept. It is a traditional Japanese ryokan built vertically within a modern skyscraper, located in the prestigious Otemachi district. It provides a serene, luxurious escape right in the middle of the bustling city, perfectly blending classic ryokan hospitality with world-class modern design. We enjoyed a wonderful three-day, two-night stay at the property from 29 May to 31 May. We chose not to make any meal reservations, which gave us the flexibility to simply relax and explore the surrounding city. [Getting There] We travelled from Fufu Hakone via a day trip to Enoshima and Kamakura. We took a direct train from Kamakura to Tokyo Station, followed by a short walk to the hotel, and arrived at around 8:00 PM. To make the transit completely effortless, our luggage was picked up and delivered directly to the hotel by LuggAgent on the same day. [Arrival and Check-In] The hotel is situated in the central business district and distinctly stands out from the surrounding buildings. The discreet entrance completely shields you from the busy streets. Upon entering, staff immediately store your shoes, as the entire tatami-matted building operates on a barefoot or socks-only policy. We were incredibly lucky to catch a traditional jap instrument performance, which is usually reserved for weekends. A designated staff member managed our check-in with welcome snack & tea and escorted us to level 15. A major highlight is the exclusive lounge on each floor, shared by only 6 suites. It functions as a private living room, fully stocked with complimentary seasonal teas, coffees, and traditional snacks. [The Suite] We stayed in the Sakura suite. Rather than trying to describe the beautiful layout in words, I will let my photos speak for themselves. The beds are low to the floor with a mid-level hardness that we found quite comfortable, and each bed comes with two soft pillows. There is also a television cleverly hidden behind a mirror, though it is worth noting that it only broadcasts Japanese channels. We kept it switched off to maintain the consistent traditional ryokan feel. The provided yukata is absolutely superb. It comes as a full set complete with an inner layer, an outer layer, socks, and a small handbag. The material is soft, stretchy, and incredibly comfortable for lounging and walking around the property. [The Top-Floor Onsen] Having a natural hot spring in central Tokyo is a rare luxury. The onsen is located on the 17th floor and features a stunning design where the roof is open to the sky. As cameras are strictly prohibited, you will have to visualise it or check the hotel website for gallery photos. I understand that the bath is a salty hot spring containing a high concentration of seawater and seaweed minerals trapped deep in the ground. Soaking in this soothing water gently embraces the skin and helps alleviate fatigue in both body and mind. The onsen is open daily from 3:00 PM to 11:30 AM. It was the absolute perfect way to warm up and recharge before we headed out for a busy day. [Areas for Improvement] Toothbrush Set: The provided toothbrush is far too small and takes ages to use. I strongly recommend bringing your own."

"The service here is exceptionally good. The rooms are spacious and clean, and even the bathroom area has heated floors. Personally, I prefer the large living room suite over the one with the scenic bathtub. This was my second stay. Because it was Japan's Golden Week holiday, the breakfast buffet had a queue in the morning, but the food was delicious. This time, I also tried the French breakfast, which was just okay and not as good as the buffet. I also experienced the pool, which was great. It's located on the 27th floor of another building and also has a spa. The lane is narrow, so only one person can swim at a time, and there's a 40-minute limit. However, there's a lane specifically for walking in the water, which seems popular with elderly Japanese people. I tried it too; it was difficult at first, but after learning the movements from the Japanese seniors, you need to coordinate your hands and feet to walk steadily and quickly. The changing rooms are very clean and have spin dryers (Japanese spin dryers are excellent; they remove most of the water in about 5 seconds, much better than those in high-end hotels back home, and they're spotless). It's quiet and conducive to sleep; I slept 10 hours every night. There's a layer of blackout curtains, so no issues with light. I love it and it's my top choice for hotels in Tokyo. I'll be checking in again at the end of the month. The only drawbacks are that it's a bit far from the subway and it's on a hill, so you have to walk up a slope. I'm not sure why the road near the US Consulate was closed on May 1st. Within a 10-minute walk, there are many restaurants, and it's very close to Suntory Hall (I went there for a concert). Guests can visit the Okura Museum for free, which houses exquisite Chinese artifacts. Japanese people enjoy visiting it; this time it was lacquerware, last time it was ceramics."