If you’re heading to Tokyo, check out these three hotels if you want a little five star treatment. We chose these based on write-ups, research, trip advisor reviews, looking at the amenities, photographs and location. We do not have any affiliation with any of the above hotels and frankly, would be thrilled to hang out for a week or more in any of them. They all have their own strengths and unique selling points.
Above is a shot of the chacuzzi at the Ritz Carlton.
Hotel Okura Tokyo: Style, splendor and enduring elegance characterize the Hotel Okura Tokyo. They tout 858 rooms, 85 Suite, 45 Deluxe and eight restaurants and four bars. In those restaurants, they offer Cantonese, haute French, authentic Japanese and the finest Continental.
There are views of the traditional Japanese garden and actually have a flower shop on-site. Additionally, they have the other luxury amenities you may want: Gymnasium, Sauna/Massage, Business Center, Video Rental, Shopping Arcade, Wedding Chapel, Secretarial and Translation Services, Business Card Printing, Laundry/Dry-Cleaning, Chiropractic and Acupuncture Clinic, Post Office, Babysitting, Medical/Dental Clinic, Travel Desk, and Beauty/Barber shop.
There’s only 57 spacious guest rooms and suites, making it feel more intimate than most and every bit of the hotel is about modern slick designs, so if traditional and old fashioned is what you’re after, keep looking. Think: polished minimalist decor, plasma TVs, egg-shaped bathtubs, an elite spa and gourmet dining. Their restaurant offers French cuisine in a setting overlooking historic Tokyo Station and the Rafael Vinoly-designed Tokyo International Forum.
Their spa offers Japanese shiatsu massage, steam sauna, Japanese scrub showers, a traditional Onsen bath, aromatherapy and reflexology. If shopping is what grabs you, you’re only a five minute walk to the Ginza shopping district where the most popular department stores are Matsuzaka-ya, Mitsukoshi and Matsuya.
The Ritz Carlton Tokyo: So whenever we hear the name The Ritz, we associate luxury with it right? Tokyo doesn’t disappoint with luxury on the inside with great views from any of the top floors. It sits above the 53 story Midtown Tower (the top 9 floors and the first three levels), so high that it is known as the tallest building in Tokyo (248m). Ahhh yes, views, mixed with luxury and convenient to nearby sightings and activities.
There’s a gorgeous sky lobby on the 45th floor, and six (yes six) restaurants, a lounge and bar and a cafe. There’s also a 21,528 square foot spa and fitness by ESPA on the 46th Floor. And hey, if you want to get married here, there’s a wedding chapel on site.
You can reserve the Chef’s Tower table at the classic, American Towers Grill and marvel at the double view of Tokyo Tower and Sky Tree Tower.
Or just lounge around soaking in water and watching the view instead:
Did we mention the food?
Note that these are not meant to be reviews but to alert you to what’s possible in the luxury category in Tokyo. As you come up with some great ‘finds’ of your own, let us know and share your experiences with us.
Photo credits: Ritz Carlton from their site. Four Seasons: Brandman PR and Agoda. Hotel Okura from their website.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.