Imperial Hotel, Uchisaiwaicho
Editor's Pick
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo
Japan
Tel: 81 3 3504 1111
Fax: 81 3 3581 9146
Metro: Uchisaiwaicho
www.imperialhotel.co.jp
Concierge.com's insider take:
Opened in 1890, the Imperial is a Tokyo classic and a firm favorite with Japanese visitors. At one time it was housed in a Frank Lloyd Wright building, but that was demolished and replaced by a modern block in 1970. The Imperial prides itself on its high standard of service, and is responding to the influx of foreign chains with a complete overhaul that will be finished by 2008. Book a room on one of the newly renovated Imperial Floors (the 14th, 15th, and 16th in the main building) for modern features like flat-screen TVs, free broadband, and mist-saunas (in some rooms). These floors also have their own kimono-clad guest attendants. The Old Imperial Bar retains elements of the original Wright building, while the freshly spruced up French restaurant, Les Saisons, is the lunch spot of choice for Japanese ladies. The new Frank Lloyd Wright Suite has staggering views of Hibiya Park and the Imperial Palace Gardens and rents for a tidy $3,500 per night.