The sleek Tokyo hotel that's full of thoughtful touches

Times

a day ago

The Cesar Pelli-designed Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower could simply be another skyscraper in Tokyo's financial district, albeit a particularly sleek one. But secreted away in its top few floors is one of the city's best international luxury hotels — Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo. The property adds a Japanese twist to the Hong Kong-based brand's signature luxurious style, with a dramatic seasonal ikebana (flower arrangement) display in the centre of the lobby. The ikebana is just one way the brand's 'Woods and Water' concept is incorporated into the design. Others include shimmering blue stones embedded in the steps down to some of the gourmet restaurants, a large water feature by the bar and subtle botanical prints everywhere from the lifts to the bedroom textiles. Spacious rooms have a clean, modern Japanese vibe, while 11 excellent bars, cafés and restaurants provide an impressive amount of choice. Expect attentive and generous service from the moment you enter, down to thoughtful little touches like branded velcro ties used to tidy up your cables when you're out.
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Score 9/10Rooms and suites have a contemporary Japanese aesthetic, blending clean lines and unfussy patterns with warm natural tones and materials. As the hotel is in Nihonbashi, once a key area for buying kimono, every room features a framed length of kimono silk with its own beautiful pattern. Each of those 179 rooms (including 22 suites) also includes a valet cupboard, bedside control panel and a chaise longue beside the wide, floor-to-ceiling windows, where you can recline and watch the city below.
Even the smallest (Deluxe) rooms are an impressive 50 sq m, and some offer you a glimpse of Tokyo Skytree or even Mount Fuji on the horizon. To guarantee a Skytree view — and with binoculars provided, it can be quite a close-up one — upgrade to a Deluxe Premium Room.
Expect luxurious bathrooms in every room type, with walk-in showers, separate bathtubs, Natura Bissé amenities and wood-and-marble vanity units with glossy black accents. Connecting rooms are available, as are children's extras such as bathrobes, toys and even a play tent. Rooms can be childproofed on request.
Score 9/10With 11 restaurants, cafés and bars (plus the ground-floor Gourmet Shop), it's tempting to dine in for every meal here. You can order customisable breakfasts to your room or head down to K'shiki restaurant for the buffet, which includes fresh fruit and salad, egg dishes, ramen, a tempting daily-changing baked goods section and Fuji views on clear days.
Several spots are open for lunch, including the international buffet restaurant Ventaglio on the second floor. Up on the 38th, the glitzy Oriental Lounge also serves a classic afternoon tea with savoury bites, scones and petits fours — try it with the signature citrussy Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo Blend tea. The Pizza Bar on 38th is ranked among the best pizza bars not just in the Asia-Pacific region but the world.
The other dining options are equally notable. Sushi Shin by Miyakawa lives up to the Michelin-starred level of its original Hokkaido location; Sense serves fragrant, flavourful Cantonese dishes, and has the Tea Corner where you can appreciate a perfectly brewed cup with a Skytree view; and Signature features exquisite French cuisine with a contemporary edge (four, five or six-course menus and à la carte evening menus).
The Mandarin Bar is a cosy, stylish spot — try the refreshing Mandarin Mojito, the tangy Nihonbashi cocktail, or a single malt whisky from an extensive list. There's live music every evening.
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Score 8/10The hotel's spa is on the 37th floor; the fitness centre on the 38th. Though there's no swimming pool, there is a heated hydrotherapy pool. There are four treatment rooms in the spa and an impressive array of facial and body treatments. Book ahead if possible — the invigorating Red Eye Recovery is ideal if this is your first stop after a long international flight. You're generally asked to cover tattoos in the wellness facilities, as some in Japan find them intimidating or distracting,
For fitness, there's a large, well-equipped room with wall-to-wall windows that mean great city views. As well as personal training, you can book classes such as yoga, Pilates or circuits (all for additional fee). Tattoos are acceptable in the gym.
You can also book a range of cultural activities in the area surrounding the hotel – try the Edo kiriko (saké glass engraving) or Ozu washi (Japanese paper) workshops to get a truly unique souvenir.
Score 9/10The hotel is located in the historic financial district of Nihonbashi, within easy walking distance of the neighbourhood's fine-dining restaurants, cosy izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) and big-name department stores, and under 20 minutes from the vast Tokyo station on foot. The hotel has direct access to Shin-Nihonbashi subway station, on the JR Sobu line.
Staff, especially the helpful concierge, are extremely knowledgeable about the area and can give you tips and assist you with bookings. They can also provide a small map of the jogging routes around the nearby Imperial Palace grounds, and a handy little card showing the hotel on a map and its address in Japanese — invaluable if you get lost.
You can pick up a more detailed area map (showing Nihonbashi, Ningyocho, Tokyo station, Yurakucho and Ginza) from the concierge desk, plus lovely small illustrated guides to the area — a general one and a season-specific one. Flash your room key at the listed spots, and you may get a discount or perk.
Price room-only doubles from £535Restaurant mains from £16Family-friendly YAccessible N
Rebecca Hallett was a guest of Mandarin Oriental Tokyo (mandarinoriental.com)
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