The Best Luxury Five-Star Hotels in Tokyo (Part 1)

Tokyo's Most Exceptional Luxury Five-Star Hotels: Where Tradition Meets Modern Opulence

Tokyo is home to some of the world’s most exceptional luxury five-star hotels, blending traditional Japanese culture and aesthetics with exceptional hospitality and amenities. Whether you’re travelling for business or leisure, staying in one of these luxury five-star hotels in Tokyo promises comfort, flexibility and a variety of food journeys and activities to indulge in. This guide explores three of the city's top hotels; the Aman, the Mandarin Oriental and The Palace Hotel as defined by the team here at The Conte Club. The second part of this series will focus on The Four Seasons Otemachi, HOSHINOYA Tokyo, and The Capitol Hotel, Tokyu, with each of these hotels being picked and highlighted for specific reasons by our in-house travel designers for a luxury holiday to Japan.

Getting There

From New York (JFK), direct flights to Tokyo's Narita or Haneda airports typically take around 14 hours. From Boston or Washington DC, expect a journey of approximately 14-16 hours, often with a connection.

From London Heathrow, direct flights to Tokyo take approximately 11.5 to 12 hours, with British Airways and Japan Airlines offering daily non-stop services.

Many of the luxury hotels choose to base themselves in the Otemachi district, with stunning views of the Imperial Palace Gardens. (Tatsumi-Yagura, Imperial Palace Tokyo).

1. Aman Tokyo

Occupying the top six floors of the Otemachi Tower, Aman Tokyo has redefined luxury five-star hotels in Tokyo. Known for its peaceful ambience, the hotel combines its signature Asian influences with a minimalist starting point; contrasting the understated nature of the interiors with views of the Imperial Palace Gardens and Mount Fuji.

Design & Accommodation

Though accompanied by other luxury hotels such as The Four Seasons Tokyo at Otemachi, the financial district remains a luxurious and sought-after location. The architect behind the space at the Aman, Kerry Hill, understands better than any other the understated elegance of the Aman brand. Having designed not only the Aman Tokyo but also Aman Kyoto and Amanemu, (in Shima, 300km west of Tokyo), Hill was perhaps the best to bring the first of the Brand's urban ventures to completion in 2014.

Throughout the property, the homage to Japanese craft and culture is visibly present, with dramatic ikebana installations and ceiling-to-floor washi paper screens throughout the communal spaces and private ryokan-style rooms creating an atmosphere of tranquillity. The 84-room property features what might be the city's most impressive lobby: a majestic 30-meter-high reception area designed to evoke the inside of a giant shoji lantern.

Wellness & Spa

The hotel's 2,500-square-meter spa features traditional onsen baths, volcanic rock pools, and a dedicated yoga and pilates studio alongside the 30-meter black basalt pool, which is one of the more notable features of the hotel. With two of the six floors taken up by the spa, it is one of the largest, if not the largest in Tokyo and contains eight treatment rooms, a spacious fitness centre, traditional Japanese bath, shower and steam rooms accompanied by a variety of dressing rooms, wellness spaces and relaxation areas. Choose from specifically designed experiences such as The Misogi Experience (based on a Shinto purification ritual) and the Wellness Assessment, or perhaps simply settle into the familiarity of the Signature Spa Journey.

Culinary Excellence

All in all, the property offers four dining establishments, showcasing the property's ability to cater to a variety of guests' needs and preferences. Constantly innovating, the hotel also hosts a variety of seasonal specials and collaborations - from Halloween Afternoon Tea menus to the invitation of guest chefs to their signature restaurant Musashi for a collaborative evening - a series aptly named "One Dinner Two Journeys".

Within the hotel, it is worth noting the four establishments: the previously mentioned Musashi is the eight-seater omakase restaurant that celebrates the prestigious edomae style of sushi (translated literally as "in front of Edo") led by Master Chef Musashi. Contrastingly Arva is a restaurant grounded in Italian cuisine, led by a love for the seasonality and excellence of local produce by Chef Masakasu Hiraki, who spent 17 years training at some of the most prestigious restaurants in Venice. Finally, La Pâtisserie, the project of Aman pastry chef Yoshihisa Miyagawa brings the baking traditions and pastries of France to Otemachi, whilst The Café's grounding location in the Otemachi Forest below the hotel makes it the perfect spot for a light snack or afternoon tea.

2. Mandarin Oriental Tokyo

Perched atop the Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo exemplifies the perfect fusion of modern luxury and Japanese aesthetics, drawing the concept from the blended nature of its location. Nihonbashi, which draws its name from the famed 17th-century canal bridge (literally translating as "Japan bridge") is North of Ginza and within walking distance of Tokyo station.

Aesthetics & Architecture

The hotel's design concept, "Woods and Water," is evident throughout its 157 rooms and 22 suites, with natural materials and textures creating a sophisticated urban forest atmosphere, drawing from the Hotel's observation that Japan is "a land of forests". With 6 floors dedicated to guest rooms, and another two for communal spaces like the receptions, dining establishments and the spa, the hotel is well equipped to host the most luxurious of stays and is committed to an exceptional level of detail within their aesthetics and service. One of the more notable elements of the property is the Presidential Suite - with panoramic views, this offers guests the ultimate in space and luxury, with a spacious bedroom, adjoining living room, dining room for eight, walk-in wardrobe and master spa bathroom across 250m² of space.

Spa Treatments & Wellness Opportunities

Located on the 37th floor of the tower, the award-winning Spa of The Mandarin Oriental is not one to be missed. With four treatment rooms and four suites offering uninterrupted views of Tokyo, it truly is a premier experience and one of the best spa offerings of the luxury five-star hotels in Tokyo. Up one level higher, you will find the Fitness centre, home to state-of-the-art facilities where you are invited to take part in wellness as you prefer - perhaps in a private personal training session or as part of one of the workout classes offered.

Entering its tenth year as a recipient of a five-star rating in the Forbes Travel Guide 2024, it is no wonder that the Spa is constantly innovating. To look through their treatment menu now would indulge a viewer in the likes of a series of curated experiences such as "The Essence of Tokyo", alongside "Signature Treatments" and "Spa Programmes"; confirming its status as one of the premier locations for relaxation, invigoration and cultural immersion through wellness.

Dining Excellence

The culinary program at The Mandarin Oriental Tokyo features 12 distinctive restaurants and bars, crowned by the hidden omakase oasis, and Sushi Shin by Miyakawa. The first Tokyo branch of the Hokkaido Michelin three-starred Sushi Miyakawa led by sushi master Masaaki Miyakawa, the restaurant focuses on Edomae sushi.

Alongside Sushi Shin, there are multiple other noteworthy restaurants including international spots Ventaglio (hosted by Chef Vincent Wang) and Signature, focused on French fine dining; as well as the Cantonese restaurant, Sense, and The Tapas Molecular Bar, each showcasing innovation and variety. As a property, Mandarin Oriental Tokyo undoubtedly takes the prize for its variety and vast array of dining options, making it a suitable choice for travelling with family or young children.

3. The Palace Hotel Tokyo

Adjacent to the Imperial Palace, The Palace Hotel Tokyo stands out among luxury five-star hotels in Tokyo. Among countless other awards, earlier this year, it reached a pinnacle—being one of only six hotels in Japan to be awarded the Three Keys status by the Michelin Guide for its excellent service and hospitality. With its Michelin-starred restaurant Esterre, curated 'Best of Japan' experiences, and historical location, it's no wonder that the hotel calls itself a tribute to omotenashi—Japanese hospitality.

The Palace Hotel Tokyo's "Palatial Pursuits" program should be explored by any of those looking to become deeply immersed in Japanese culture and the art scene.

Heritage & Design

Built on the foundations of the original 1961 Palace Hotel, this iconic property reopened in 2012 after a complete three-year reconstruction. The new building, in an ode to its predecessor, reused iconic materials and elements such as the 1.6 million shigaraki tiles (a type of stoneware made in shigaraki and one of the six ancient kilns of Japan) and the original bar counter, which was earnestly restored for the re-opening.

One of the more important concepts for the aesthetics of the hotel was taken from its location opposite the ancient Otemon Gate of Edo Castle and adjacent to the Imperial Palace moat; the rare view of the Imperial Palace Gardens embeds a connection to nature within visitors, and this theme of nature can be found throughout the hotel - in the hand-tufted moss green carpets and thousands of artworks commissioned for the property.

With 266 rooms and 18 suites, each space is designed to embrace both the natural beauty of the surrounding gardens and the sophisticated urbanity of Tokyo. All of the rooms feature views of the Imperial Palace Gardens and the surrounding skyline and are each artistically decorated with an imbued sense of Japanese influence. Some rooms feature balconies and terraces, while others, perhaps more in mind for those seeking relaxation, play host to open-plan private bathing rooms, all catered to with amenities and toiletries provided by the luxurious Bamford.

Culinary Distinction

The hotel houses 10 restaurants and bars, including the acclaimed Esterre in collaboration with DUCASSE Paris, which is a Michelin-starred French Haute-dining restaurant. The signature Japanese restaurant Wadakura offers four dedicated areas within its premises: a kaiseki fine dining experience in the main dining room; Tatsumi, the six-seater Tempura counter; GO serving teppanyaki, and last but not least Sushi Kanesaka, serving fresh sushi. The hotel also has the Grand Kitchen, which serves American, French, Spanish and Italian with a touch of Japanese, as well as The Amber Palace, whose menu draws from the finest of Shanghainese and Cantonese cuisines.

Wellness & Cultural Experiences

The Evian SPA at the Palace Hotel Tokyo offers Japan's only Evian-certified spa experience, featuring treatment rooms over 1200 square meters with views of the Imperial Palace and Mount Fuji on a clear day. Reaching into the philosophy of 'wellness through water', the Spa offers thematic treatments, including those taking inspiration from the natural route of Evian water; the Celestial, Mineral, Precious and Vitalising. Within these categories, choose from pre-designed treatments catering to the face and body, as well as 'Authentic Treatments' drawing on traditional Japanese methods and botanicals.

Alongside the spa, the cultural offerings of the hotel are impressive and certainly worth looking into for those interested in a deeper dive into the culture, history and traditions of Japan. The hotel's "Palatial Pursuits" program provides insight into the arts and culture of the country with a variety of workshops and experiences designed to educate and inspire. From 'Unmasking Tokyo' to 'Grappling Tokyo', explore exclusive access to traditional artisans and tutors, including private sessions with Living National Treasure craftsmen and special access to usually closed sections of the Imperial Palace gardens.

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