Palace Hotel Tokyo is a serene green haven in Japan’s vibrant capital with an elegant mix of tradition and modernity, and garden views
A guest staying in the bustling centre of Tokyo might not expect views of greenery and the relaxing sound of water, but that is what they find at Palace Hotel Tokyo. “We are located in front of the Imperial Palace, overlooking the Imperial Palace Gardens and the surrounding moat. It makes our hotel unique,” explains Fumi Yanagihara, Director of Brand Management at the hotel.
The gardens inspire the hotel’s interior design with its cool greens, slate greys, whites, woods and leaf-shaped motifs – a mark of the understated approach to luxury. All rooms offer stunning views and many include spacious balconies. Among numerous accolades, the hotel has won the Forbes Travel Guide’s coveted five-star rating for seven consecutive years. It has also been voted one of the top ten hotels in Japan in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2022 and received an Eco Mark Awards certification in 2021 for its commitment to sustainability.
Palace Hotel Tokyo first appeared in a mid-rise iteration in 1961, and it was the most contemporary Tokyo building of its time. Now a high-rise, complete with pool, spa and restaurants, its 2012 rebuild incorporated the traditional shigaraki-yaki tiles of the previous building, along with a lovingly restored bar counter in its Royal Bar – all sophisticated dark wood and velvet. Indeed, royalty features among the hotel’s roll call of guests over the years, as well as heads of state, celebrities and VIPs from around the world.
As befits a hotel committed to omotenashi (Japanese hospitality), guests can choose from ten destinations to eat and drink. The Michelin-starred Esterre serves up French haute cuisine using locally sourced ingredients; tempura bar Tatsumi features fish from Tokyo’s famed market, and Sushi Kanesaka is a top sushi destination. Martinis are among the countless options served after dark in the plush Royal Bar, while afternoon tea in The Palace Lounge offers sweets and savouries coloured in traditional hues, presented on lacquer vessels made by world-renowned lacquer painter Akito Akagi.
Guests can also experience the evian SPA TOKYO, with its five treatment rooms, suite, reclining baths, cold plunge pools, cedar- scented marble sauna and LED light therapy that mimics the light cycle in the French Alps. Treatments include the popular, signature Vitalizing, featuring traditional Japanese seitai (acupressure-style triggerpoint work) and deep tissue massage. To add to the feeling of wellbeing, the fitness centre and pool look out to the palace gardens, while a collection of more than 700 artworks, including pieces by contemporary Japanese artists, are displayed around the building.
The hotel is in the heart of the business area, with highlights nearby including the Ginza shopping district, famous for its high-end boutiques; but sampling life further afield is easy. Chief Concierge Mayako Sumiyoshi is President of Les Clefs d’Or Japan, a professional association representing the world’s most skilled concierges. “Instead of just proposing a huge list of activities, our concierge does a great job of supporting guests who want to eat outside of the hotel or visit attractions,” says Yoko Ueda, Director of Global Sales. “There are many options, ranging from fine dining to more casual dining – you just have to know them – and our concierge is a perfect place to start.”
At Palace Hotel Tokyo, “we welcome travellers to come to see what we have to offer”.
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