The very best luxury hotels in Tokyo

Tokyo is Japan's biggest city, and indeed, by population, the largest in the world. A uniquely energising atmosphere pervades this modern metropolis, with countless places and sub-cultures to discover, exciting events to attend, new foods to eat and interesting people to meet. But with so much going on—and all the time—visiting Tokyo can be a rather overwhelming experience, even for the most seasoned traveller.

That's why booking somewhere utterly spoiling and fabulous to rest one's head after a hard day's exploring is a veritable essential in Tokyo. Luckily, being the fastidiously detail-orientated, beauty-obsessed and hospitality-focused culture that it is, luxury is in abundance in the Japanese capital, and high-end hotels are dotted all around.

But not all luxury hotels are created equal. Some offer spectacular top-of-skyscraper views, super-central locations and renowned restaurants, while others house sprawling spas, infinity pools and buzzy rooftop bars. There really is something to suit everyone.

We've narrowed down the city's vast offering to bring you the best of the best. Scroll on for our edit of the finest luxury hotels in Tokyo...

Aman, Tokyo

Perched high up among Tokyo’s spectacular skyline is the Aman Tokyo, spread across the top three levels of the city’s Otemachi tower. With a location like this, naturally the panoramic views over the city are astonishing—be it from the hotel’s lobby, restaurant, spa or bedrooms.

The property boasts the largest hotel spa in the city, covering 2,500 metres squared over two floors. Each visit is started with the Misogi experience of a traditional Japanese onsen hot bath, Japanese showers and steam room, before heading for a luxurious treatment, rounded off by a sorbet refreshment and tea in the relaxation area. The 30-metre swimming pool also has a floor-to-ceiling window looking out over the Imperial Palace Gardens, making your swim feel extra special.

There are several eateries on site, from cafés and patisseries to the lounge. Arva, the traditional Italian restaurant, is not to be missed for its delicious pasta and wine pairings. As for the spacious rooms (which can be hard to come by in Tokyo), the decor draws on Japanese influences such as Washi paper lining the walls. Japan’s penchant for minimalist interior design is also on show throughout, courtesy of simple-yet-stunning wood furniture and marble stone bathrooms.

Bulgari Hotel Tokyo

High-octane Italian glamour meets Japanese rigour in the recently unveiled Bulgari Hotel, that occupies the top five floors of the Tokyo Midtown Yaesu skyscraper. It's one of the tallest in town, and takes full advantage of its situation with floor-to-ceiling windows in each of the 98 rooms and suites. There's also a sprawling rooftop bar with two, plant-filled open-air terraces for epic views over the glittering Tokyo skyline.

The interiors are every bit as impressive: think gleaming Carrara marble, Venetian glass, intricate mosaics and the brand's signature black granite interspersed with elements of Japanese design, from soothing swathes of elm to sumptuous silks handcrafted in Kyoto. Dining options also reflect this meeting of cultures; Il Ristorante serves acclaimed chef Niko Romito's minimalist, hyper-elegant take on Italian classics, while Sushi Hōseki is an eight-seater ode to traditional omakase.

All this, plus a striking spa, 25-metre swimming pool, spoiling Augustinus Bader treatments and cutting-edge fitness courtesy of superstar trainer Lee Mullins' Workshop Gymnasium... If you're looking for pure, unadulterated luxury in central Tokyo, this is decidedly it.

Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi

Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi soars above the city on the top six floors of a skyscraper in the heart of the financial district. The hotel group’s second outpost in the city, it opened in 2020, but every surface and service gleams as if this were yesterday.

Cocktails flow at the glitzy mirrored bar, Virtù, while the fastidious team at Est cooks contemporary French cuisine with ingredients sourced from independent farmers and foragers across Japan. Meanwhile, the immaculate rooms capture the serenity of the Imperial Palace Gardens visible far below, with vast, cloud-like beds and bath tubs positioned next to panoramic windows.

Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo

It's one of the most luxurious hotels in Tokyo, and almost 20 years on, still one of the finest. Rising high above the historic Nihonbashi financial district, Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo is one of those rare hotels with the ability to occupy a place in your soul long after you've left. You can tell it's special from the moment you draw near the premises, when a veritable army of staff emerges to greet you and take you up to the 38th-floor lobby (pictured) for your first experience of those perfectly framed eastern and western views.

Smooth woods and trickling water feature throughout the property, providing all-encompassing serenity as well as a real sense of place. The rooms follow suit, with distinctively Japanese interiors that feel relatively low-key but in fact come with every luxury imaginable, including stationery drawers, traditional jinbei pyjamas, Bottega Veneta toiletries and 'room fairies' who leave you multiple daily treats.

As for the rest... Well, let's just say that with everything from an Italian pizzeria and gourmet cake shop to a tea corner, sushi counter and Michelin-starred Tapas Molecular Bar on site, we'd understand the temptation to never leave.

Trunk(Hotel) Yoyogi Park

The only luxury greater than an outdoor pool in Tokyo is one which looks directly onto a tranquil expanse of trees. Located in the busy Shibuya district, with the iconic crossing, buzzy Harajuku and Meiji Jingu shrine all within walking distance, the design-led Trunk(Hotel) is the hottest new opening in town—and the picturesque rooftop pool that juts out onto Yoyogi Park is its crowning glory. Expect to find stylish guests lounging here on cream-coloured sun beds whenever the weather allows, with the deck turning into a cool, Soho House-style hangout after dark.

There are just 25 rooms spread across five floors—all of which have their own balcony (a real rarity here)—lending the hotel a more intimate feel compared with the city's soaring skyscrapers. The interiors, meanwhile, are a soothing, smart mix of Japanese minimalism and Scandi chic: a visual embodiment of the concept of "urban recharge" that lies at the property's heart.

Palace Hotel Tokyo

In the case of Palace Hotel Tokyo, the name reflects the reality. Not only is it genuinely palatial in size—290 rooms, no less— but it also has its own moat and the actual Imperial Palace as a next-door neighbour. For the ultimate on-the-palace-doorstep experience, ask for one of the south-facing suites with a balcony that looks out over the glorious gardens.

The beauty of nature is a constant theme here, with grand flower arrangements around every corner, plants hanging in the restaurants, botanical Bamford amenities and Japan's first Alpine-inspired Evian Spa. And for when it's a little more buzz you're after, head upstairs for cocktails in the Lounge Bar Privé and Michelin-star fare at Alain Ducasse's Esterre.

The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon

The Tokyo Edition might be situated in the super-smart Kamiyacho business district, but it couldn't be less of a corporate hotel if it tried. Instead, it's widely regarded as 'Tokyo's sexiest hotel', with its party vibes, cool crowd and laid-back atmosphere. It is the brainchild of Studio 54 legend, Ian Schrager, after all...

The 31st floor lobby sets the tone from the outset, inspired by a Buddhist temple (but with lounge music) and filled from floor to ceiling with lush green plants and staff dressed in chic all-black. If you couldn't already tell, this is nothing like Tokyo's more traditional luxury concepts, but a decidedly more modern (though no less spoiling) affair. Think hyper-aesthetic minimalist rooms, freestanding deep bath tubs, Le Labo toiletries and handmade gold-leaf artworks, as well as fabulous views and a scene-y roof terrace.

Park Hyatt Tokyo

For film lovers and fans of Sofia Coppola's Lost In Translation, the Park Hyatt Tokyo needs no introduction. It's the iconic hotel that provided much of the backdrop to the cult classic, from the protagonists' first meeting in the New York Bar on the 52nd floor and that memorable swimming pool scene, to the bedroom that features on the famous film poster.

Twenty years on, the hotel is as spectacular —and buzzing—as ever, and still a place of pilgrimage for luxury-loving travellers and smart Tokyoites alike. Its location slap-bang in the middle of Shibuya certainly helps, as do the sweeping 360 views of the bustling city, elegant restaurant options and plush rooms. Next year will see the hotel undergo an extensive refresh, so for the most authentic real-life Hollywood film experience, we recommend going sooner rather than later.

The Peninsula Tokyo

While most of Tokyo's luxury hotels occupy the uppermost floors of skyscrapers, the Peninsula has the rare luxury of having a full, 24-floor building to itself—and in a prime position directly opposite the Imperial Palace, too. It follows, then, that the hotel is known for its large guest-rooms, with even the most 'basic' entry-level options boasting separate dressing areas, tradition onsen-inspired bathrooms and all the impressive tech imaginable. We'll leave the wonders of what lies in the top-level suites as a surprise...

The dining options are a food-lover's idea of heaven, from Cantonese cuisine at Hei Fung Terrace and exquisite sushi at Wakon, to tempura at Ten-ichi and teppanyaki at the vibey Mon Cher Ton Ton HIBIYA. The jewel in the Peninsula's crown, however, is the futuristic Peter: a restaurant and bar with great views, Instagram-worthy digital installations and excellent food to boot.

The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo

The grande dame of Tokyo's luxury hotel scene, the Ritz-Carlton occupies the top eight floors of the Midtown skyscraper in residential Roppongi. When it opened back in 2007, it was in fact the tallest in the city, and while it's since been pipped to the post a few times over, the Ritz-Carlton's views remain unbeatable—and can be enjoyed everywhere including the bath, pool and treatment rooms.

As is the norm for Ritz-Carlton properties, the dedication to excellent service is unwavering, making a stay here a total breeze. The full floor's-worth of health and wellbeing facilities helps, too. On the food and drink front, you're just as spoilt for choice with seven outlets on the premises—the most in-demand being Azure 45, that serves fine French cuisine with a Japanese twist.

Shangri-La Tokyo

Anyone who has stayed at a Shangri-La property before will be well-acquainted with the brand's legendary service. Here, it begins the second a guest steps off the bullet train in Tokyo Station, where liveried staff eagerly await to escort them to their smart new digs just across the road. From then on, it's non-stop, all-encompassing care that verges on the clairvoyant.

The hotel itself is the epitome of classic grandeur, with cascading crystal chandeliers, moody dark woods, rich textiles, live music on the grand piano and an impressive selection of artworks displayed throughout. It also boasts some of the most spacious rooms in town—a real treat in such a densely populated city, and particularly impressive given its super-central location. The Chi Spa, that offers Chinese medicine-inspired treatments, is also a must after a hard day's exploring the nearby Ginza, Imperial Gardens and Nihonbashi.

This article first appeared in harpersbazaar.com/uk in August 2024. 

Feature Image: Pexels

Also read: The luxury guide to Oslo
Also read: A nostalgic road trip along the Amalfi Coast