Tokyo
Japan


The Experience

Opened in October 2002, this hotel’s concept is “business boutique” -- with just 57 rooms, it’s an intimate alternative to Tokyo’s other Four Seasons -- and the design of both the public spaces and rooms is distinctly contemporary. Step into the cozy lobby lounge, and you’ll find luxurious deep-pile carpet, soft sofas and gas-flame fireplaces lending warmth. Step outside, and you’ll find it’s supremely well located: a stone’s throw from Tokyo Central Station, in the heart of Marunouchi business district and just a short walk both from Ginza and the Imperial Palace.

The Rooms

A hardwood corridor entrance to the Premier Twin opens into a roomy bedroom with views over Tokyo station -- and the Shinkansen bullet trains pulling in at journey’s end. Floor-to-ceiling windows accentuate the airy decor in the standard rooms, which feel large at just under 500 square feet and feature blonde wood, light gray and cream fabrics and a modern canopy bed. A frosted-glass-encased shower and a deep-soaking tub are the standouts in the simple bathrooms. High-speed Internet access is available for a charge, and each room has a 42-inch plasma-screen television.

The Service

Faultless service is enhanced by the intimacy of the hotel -- and the regularity with which you encounter each staff member. The bartenders mix a decent martini, and the reception and concierge staff speak fluent English.

The Highlights

The Ekki Bar & Grill serves “New York Contemporary” cuisine. Ekki means “station” in Japanese, though it is used here to mean ”people coming together,” which is appropriate as the restaurant shares the seventh floor with the lobby, bar and spa -- all somehow fitting perfectly through an adept use of space that is typically Japanese. Relax in the spa, whose walnut-colored wood paneling and bamboo-colored hemp walls lend a hint of traditional Japan.

--Gary Bowerman

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