Hotel Review: Ritz-Carlton Tokyo
Set atop the tallest building in the city, with commanding views stretching from the pulsating Roppongi district out to Mount Fuji, the 247-room Ritz-Carlton Tokyo raises luxury hotel stays to new heights.
Checking-in
The hotel occupies nine floors from the 45th level in Tokyo Midtown Tower, a multi-use commercial and residential skyscraper built in 2007 on the former site of the country’s Defence Agency.
The tower was part of an urban revitalisation project launched by the Japanese government decades earlier authorising the large-scale relocation of national agencies to commercialise prime government land.
Internationally acclaimed interior architect Frank Nicholson, who has collaborated with Ritz-Carlton on over thirty other properties, was responsible for designing the hotel’s public spaces.
Nicholson’s forward-looking yet timeless design ethos was well suited for the hotel’s desire for cosmopolitan sophistication, based on classic European decor fused with contemporary Japanese accents. The hotel underwent a multi-phase renovation in 2016 led by the Asia-based interior firm, Design Studio Spin.
Location
The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo is located in the Roppongi Hills neighbourhood flanked by the green space of Hinokicho Park and bordering Akasaka, an affluent commercial and residential district of Minato populated by foreign embassies and high-end shopping.
A short hop away are the museums in Roppongi’s Art Triangle — Mori Art Museum, Suntory Museum of Art and the National Art Centre — all within walking distance from the hotel.
Excellent nightlife and restaurants are close to the hotel, and it is highly recommended that guests embrace Tokyo’s best bars on their doorstep.
One of the finest places nearby to pull up a seat and loosen up pre-dinner is at Gen Yamamoto’s eponymous eight-seater bar carved from a single 500-year old slab of Japanese oak.
The Room
The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo has four room categories from a 52sqm deluxe room to a deluxe tower room with club lounge access. The 11 suite categories range from 80sqm executive suites to the 307sqm Ritz-Carlton suite.
The room reviewed was a large 52sqm club tower deluxe on the 53rd floor, with a seating area by the expansive window with views over Tokyo Tower and beyond.
The room’s décor is fashioned on a modernised interpretation of Japanese teahouse architecture in dark shades of greys, purple and mahogany.
Furnished with the finest, the room features a plush king-sized Sealy bed lined with Frette sheets, a generous work desk, a television with international channels, and a Nespresso coffee machine. Bathrobes, pyjamas and slippers were provided.
The marble bathroom came replete with separate bathtub and shower, double sink vanity, a 17-inch LCD television, and a full set of toiletries by Asprey.
The room was serviced twice daily with complimentary bottled water replenished during the nightly downturn service. Free Wi-Fi, daily morning newspaper, around-the-clock shoeshine service and access to the club lounge were standard room inclusions.
The Club Lounge
Guests staying in the clubrooms will have access to the luxuriously fitted out lounge on the 53rd level. Based on a “residence” concept, the lounge is divided into four areas — a reception, garden terrace, dining room and library lounge.
Open from 7 am to 10 pm daily, the club lounge features personalised check-in and check-out services, a sommelier’s selection of wines and champagnes, complimentary pressing service upon arrival, packing and unpacking assistance, a dedicated multilingual club concierge, and an ESPA gift certificate.
The clubs also offers breakfast, light lunch, traditional afternoon tea, hors-d’oeuvres, and a cordials and desserts presentation daily.
The breakfast spread is outstanding for a club lounge with a cook-to-order egg and waffle station, an abundant selection of Asian and Western options at the continental breakfast station, and lobster omelettes every Saturday.
Also impressive — and a welcome change of pace — is the traditional three-tier English afternoon tea presentation, served from 3 pm daily.
Drinking & Dining
Guests have five restaurants and beverage options on site, including the Michelin-starred Azure 45 French fine dining room on the 45th floor, an upmarket contemporary grill restaurant Towers, where the food menu complemented by an impeccable wine selection and a signature dessert trolley, and Hinokizaka that serves Japanese cuisine in four styles, Kaiseki, Sushi, Tempura and Teppanyaki.
For more casual bites, the Lobby Lounge offers traditional afternoon tea, light fare, cocktails and live entertainment daily. Similarly, The Bar located on the same level features shareable plates and speciality cocktails.
Hotel Features
Located forty-six floors above the city, is the 2000sqm Ritz-Carlton Tokyo’s spa and fitness centre. The fitness studio is open 24 hours daily kitted out with strength training and cardio equipment, a 20-metre pool indoor lap pool, jacuzzi, heated bath, steam sauna, dry sauna, and activewear is available for guests to rent.
The Hotel’s spa offers treatments that draw inspiration from Japan and Europe, incorporating the best of east-west techniques, using products from the renowned ESPA line.
The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, also has extensive meeting space and facilities totalling 560sqm — including a wedding chapel — to accommodate groups from boardroom gatherings to large social events.
Verdict
The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo is a superbly located hotel with panoramic views of the city and Mount Fuji that delivers the best east-meets-west style hospitality in the city. The Club Lounge offers guests five excellent food and beverage presentations daily that serves tremendous value to travellers who book rooms that have access to this facility.
The hotel recently welcomed a new general manager, Yuji Tanaka, in November last year. Tanaka brings 30 years of luxury hotelier experience to the Tokyo Ritz, which will no doubt strengthen the hotel’s status as a leader among luxury properties in the city especially ahead of this year’s Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Olympic games, for both of which Tokyo is the host city.
Details
Ritz-Carlton Tokyo
Tokyo Midtown 9-7-1 Akasaka Minato-ku
Tokyo, Japan
Latest News
Holland America Line gives agents the chance to visit Alaska on 11-day Famil
If you've ever wanted to see a Polar Bear (and who doesn't?), now is your time.
More than 65 luxury agents gather in Sydney for Best of the Best dinner
This looks like a fabulous do. We imagine there may be a few (or maybe 65) sore heads this morning!
Globally-renowned chefs gather for Vivid Food 2024
As a human, we agree that food is a fundamental part of the human experience. Some might say the most fundamental.
Air New Zealand returns to Hobart and Seoul
If you notice an uptick in Kiwis making their way through the Mona, you know why.
European Waterways targets multi-generational families with ‘floating villa’ deal
The jury is still out on whether spending a week on a 'floating villa' with family is a hell or a paradise.
Luxury Escapes launches ‘sail away’ sale
Rest assured, you'll be getting your 'sails' and 'sales' mixed up for the rest of the day.
Rex-owned National Jet Express adds weekly charter between Brisbane and Orange
This is for mining and civil contractors, so please, put your holiday attire away.
Let the games begin. Viking introduces eye-watering benefits for the industry’s top 10 advisors
Did someone say 'trip to Venice'? Hold my coat, this one is far too good to miss!
Best friends or frenemies? What is the REAL relationship between sales and marketing?
We can all stop fighting over the corner office because our mothers were right - we are all important in our own way.
The Walshe Group Announces Two Key Appointments
What we really want to know is whether they got joint or separate welcome parties.
FAMIL: Agents explore the delights of Mauritius on 7-day tour
Go green with envy as you read this fabulous itinerary! Time to book that second honeymoon.
Hamad International recognised as world’s best airport at 2024 Skytrax World Airport Awards
Hamad airport is so good it is almost considered a destination in itself. Ballina, up your game.
Saudi Arabia highlights tourism investment opportunities at global investment event
Now is the time to start looking at Saudi Arabia if you are not already. There's big things to come.
“Rampant” – Aussies warned as dengue fever cases spike in Bali
Worried about Bali belly? Now you have something else to worry about.
TTC Tour Brand reveals slew of deals across operators including Trafalgar and Contiki
Everybody loves a bargain and you could do lot a lot worse than check out these deals from TTC!
Fiji Airways partners with Porter Airlines in US growth bid
Any initiative that gets more people visiting the delights of Fiji is a good initiative.
Flight Centre launches CruiseHQ – a marketplace exclusively for agents
The cruise industry has surpassed pre-Covid levels so this isn't one to miss!
Feeling festive? Wendy Wu tours unwraps Christmas collection
Get the Christmas hols booked now and avoid spending it with that elderly relative with dubious political views.
OPINION: In a world of screens, we crave experience
If you get feelings of deep shame and regret when you see your screen time, don't worry - you're not alone.
Sun Princess: High-end dining and world class entertainment awaits
If you are a foodie and you are not currently on the Sun Princess, we really have to ask - what are you doing?
YouGov: 2 in 5 Aussies would pay more for a sustainable hotel
If you want to be REALLY sustainable you can go camping. You just might lose the will to live.
“Can planes swim?” – Planes become boats as Dubai Airport is savaged by severe storm
Unfortunately, "can planes swim?" is a real life question and not an opener to a really bad joke...
Explora journeys reveals bespoke outdoor furniture designed by Matteo Nunziati
This is making your plastic table and chairs look really bad now, isn't it?
Bangkok Airways targets growth with renewed Sabre deal
Two stories abut Sabre's growth in one week and its only Wednesday! Watchout world.
PR agency Example wins pitch for InterContinental Sydney
We also went in for the contract but they said that a 'Be Our Guest'- themed TikTok was unoriginal! The cheek.
Norwegian Cruise Line reveals culinary experience aboard Norwegian Aqua
Once again, this TW journalist REALLY regrets writing this before getting lunch.
Signature Queensland hosts luxury tourism event
Known for its tropical beaches and unique wildlife, Queensland also offers luxury.
Capella Sydney recognised in prestigious Travel + Leisure’s 2024 ‘it list’ of best new hotels
You know that 'it girl' at school who everyone wanted to hang out with? Capella is the hotel version of that.
Rex launches 72-hour fare sale with NO school holiday blackout so you can take your kids (if you want to)
Sadly, leaving your children at home whilst you go on holiday is generally frowned upon.
Adventure World offers chance to connect with “heart and soul” of the US
I mean who hasn't dreamed of a road trip around the US?! Go with Adventure World and you're less likely to get lost.
Fiji’s family-owned luxury resort Likuliku Lagoon launches its own app
We were relieved to find out that having a "concierge in your pocket" referred to an app on your phone.
Hawaii: The US’ laid-back front door for Australians
If you needed another sign that you should definitely head to Hawaii - this is it!
Sabre targets Asia Pacific growth with latest hire
Call the Avengers! Sabre continues its bid for world domination with latest hire.
Air New Zealand signs its largest EVER deal for sustainable aviation fuel
Air New Zealand makes huge step towards sustainable travel. We bet it recycles its rubbish properly too.
IHG Hotels & Resorts continues regional growth with Sunshine Coast Holiday Inn
This Holiday Inn looks considerably flashier than some of the ones we have stayed at in our time.
Budget carrier Scoot welcomes first of 9 E190-E2 aircrafts
Here at TW we would like to offer Embraer E190-E2 a warm welcome! It's not easy being the first of the fleet.