Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, Nihonbashi
Editor's Pick
Chuo-ku
Tokyo
Japan
Tel: 866 526 6567 (toll-free)
Tel: 81 3 3270 8800
motyo-reservations@mohg.com
Metro: Shin-Nihonbashi
www.mandarinoriental.com/tokyo
Concierge.com's insider take:
Despite its location in a jutting skyscraper near Tokyo Station and the original Mitsukoshi department store, Mandarin Oriental's first Japanese outpost (opened in December 2005) aspires to be a modern Zen paradise. Each of the 157 guest rooms and 22 suites is equipped with 450-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, a huge LCD television, and a surround-sound entertainment system that syncs with iPods and video cameras. Hallways are dramatically lit, and the interior design makes smart use of gorgeous custom fabrics. The spa offers relaxing treatments such as shiatsu and Ayurvedic massage, plus a steam room, sauna, and a series of pools. The overall effect is one of sophisticated calm, but the panoramic views of Tokyo and all its thrilling commotion—visible from every guest room, bath, and even treatment rooms—are guaranteed to keep your pulse up.
From the editors of Condé Nast Traveler:
From the vantage point of the Mandarin Oriental's thirty-eighth-floor lobby—all floor-to-ceiling plate-glass windows and brisk efficiency—the city looks scrubbed, a collection of Tinkertoys seen through a scrim of clouds, and the effect is dazzling. The 179 rooms, though tasteful to the point of dullness, are full of smart utilitarian details, such as the hallway-accessible "service closet," into which staff deposit your newspaper or polished shoes, and a waterfall-style shower tucked into a marble alcove. The Mandarin Oriental is in the quiet Nihonbashi area, which, although destroyed during World War II, still evokes something of what Tokyo must have been like in the Edo period. It's also close to the busy Ginza district, home to some of the city's most upscale stores. —2006 Hot ListWhen to go: Early spring (cherry blossom season) and late fall (for the foliage).
Which room to book: Mandarin Corner rooms offer spectacular views of either Tokyo Bay or Mount Fuji in the distance (doubles, $534–$550).
Amenities: 24-hour Room Service, Bar/lounge, Gym, Spa
