The Best Boutique Hotels in Tokyo
Konnichiwa from Tokyo! We are lucky enough to be spending a few days here before embarking on a whistle stop tour of various properties throughout Japan in preparation for the upcoming winter ski season.
A recent article in Condẻ Nast Traveler called out their 11 favourite boutique hotels in Tokyo. We’re in agreement with them that the hotels listed are excellent options for those who prefer a more personalised experience. Below is our take on the list and our 11 favourite boutique hotels in Tokyo.
Hotels on the list
Trunk Hotel – Shinjuku. One of our all-time favourites. This hotel sets the standard for Tokyo cool. Located in the uber-trendy, hipster neighbourhood of Shibuya and bordering on the best shopping precinct in Tokyo – Aoyama, it can’t be beaten for location. The hotel is small and intimate but does not lack for facilities or services. It has arguably the best courtyard in Tokyo for sundowners and for chilling in the sun. Rooms are beautiful and the epitome of Japan-scandi design - understated and very cool. The hotel is perfect for anyone who loves design and wants to immerse themselves in the cooler side of things in Tokyo.
K5 – Nihonbashi. Nihonbashi is not known for its hotels, which is why this little gem is such a great option for those who want to see a different side of Tokyo. Nihonbashi is the epicentre of Tokyo, in fact it is officially the geographic middle of Tokyo, so it has great access to anywhere in this bustling metropolis. The hotel is housed in a 1920’s bank building and has maintained much of its original charm while adding more contemporary detail. There are no TVs in the rooms but you can kick back in your bath listening to your favourite LP, borrowed from the hotel’s extensive vinyl collection. And to further reinforce its hipster credentials there is a craft beer tavern on site which is operated by Brooklyn Brewery.
Hotel Gajoen Tokyo – Daikanyama. As far as Tokyo neighbourhoods go, you don’t get cooler than Daikanyama, Ebisu’s cooler more sophisticated sister neighbourhood. It is fitting that a hotel of Gajoen’s calibre is located here. This is the perfect property if you get excited about art and history. Situated in an original 1920’s building, with seven restaurants, as well as koi ponds and waterfalls, this is an absolute oasis in the bustling hear of Meguro. The rooms are incredible too, all are suited and have their own steam saunas. This hidden jewel is perfect for anyone who loves Tokyo but also needs a bit of tranquillity.
The Tokyo Edition – Toranomon Hills. The first Edition hotel in Tokyo, this stunner is located in the emerging Toranomon Hills precinct – an absolute favourite of ours. Walk out of the lift in one of the coolest lobbies in Tokyo, where you would be forgiven for thinking you had travelled through a portal to a tropical jungle, there are more than 500 trees and plants throughout the space which immediately make you relax. The terrace continues to impress with views of Tokyo Tower and beyond, making this the perfect place for a sundowner as you watch Tokyo put on her nightlights and start to sparkle.
Muji Hotel – Ginza. Everyone loves Muji for their subtle but sophisticated designs. No surprise this approach continues in their first hotel. Located above their flagship store in the shopping mecca of Ginza, you are perfectly located to shop until you drop, including everything that Muji offers. Rooms are on the slightly smaller size but are all perfectly formed with the minimalist ethos that you would expect from Muji.
Aman Tokyo – Nihonbashi. The winner of all and any accolades that relate to hotels, Aman is considered to one of the best hotels in a very extensive list of amazing properties in Tokyo. A firm favourite with moneyed international visitors, this hotel has it all – a perfect location, views and incredible fit out. If you can afford it, you owe it to yourself to stay here, a true bucket list hotel.
Bvlgari Hotel – Ginza. One of the new kids on the block, vying for a top spot in the Tokyo hotel rankings. As you would expect this property is gorgeous and as mesmerising as the namesake jewellery offering. A highly considered approach to design results in a prefect hybrid of Italian elegance and Japanese sensitivity. This balanced approach leaves you wanting more and at the same time makes you feel right at home – if your home is an amazing Italian Palazzo set 45 floors above downtown Tokyo with views to die for, that is! This property is best suited to those who shop at Bvlgari for their diamonds than your average traveller. That shouldn’t stop you from popping in for an aperitivo at the Bvlgari bar and enjoying la dolce vita for a time.
Some options Condẻ Nast missed
Hoshinoya Tokyo – Otemachi. This property is the definition of a Tokyo boutique hotel - small understated, uniquely Japanese and very, very cool. This ryokan inspired hotel is the perfect blend of traditional Japan and modern design. No stone has been left unturned to offer guests a respite from the quite mayhem of Tokyo. The onsen is worth the room rate alone, a truly one of kind experience. Soaking in the outdoor onsen 17 stories above Tokyo somehow feels like you are transported to another place and time. The rooms are beautiful, with tatami mats and shoji screens, they ooze traditional Japan, all the while housed in amazing modern setting in the middle of modern Tokyo.
Andaz Tokyo – Toranomon Hills. We have a real soft spot for this amazing property. Now 10 years old, she hasn’t aged a day. With an amazing location in Toranomon Hills, 52 floors above the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, you’ll feel like you are in some kind of airship looking across the expanse of this (almost) infinite city. Everything about this hotel is relaxed and inviting. The spa and pool are incredible, the complimentary evening cocktails (sake, wine & beer) are the ideal time to reflect on your days’ activities, and the rooms are beautifully appointed with baths and plenty of space to stretch out and relax. Then there is the bar on the 52nd floor, arguably one of the best rooftop bars in Tokyo.
The Edition Ginza – Ginza. The latest hotel opening in a city that seems to have more luxury hotels than weeks in the year. The sister hotel to The Editon Tokyo, this younger sibling, is cooler and much more understated than the Toranomon branch. Perfectly at home in Ginza (the Rodeo Drive of Tokyo) and the plethora of international luxury brands, this hotel just what you would expect of a property with this location - intimate, a little mysterious and very sexy. This is the hotel where the bright young things of Tokyo congregate and kick back after a hard day’s shopping. Perfect if you want to be part of the scene, or just want to people watch in beautiful surrounds.
The Park Hyatt – Shinjuku. The OG of luxury boutique hotels in Tokyo, Park Hyatt Tokyo is currently undergoing a 17-month restoration project and is slated to re-open in less than a year’s time, in October 2025. Which makes now the ideal time to start talking about visiting her once she reopens. Globally revered for its 1990’s design aesthetic made famous in the timeless classic ‘Lost in Translation’, it’s unclear what the refit will deliver but there is no doubt that it will be appropriate for a hotel of this stature and will be amazing. But be prepared as demand for rooms is going to be sky high.
There are of course other options that didn’t make this list – there are just too many to choose from. If you want to hear more about any of the hotels on this list or other favourites worth considering – The Capitol and The Okura for example - please drop us a line and let us find you the perfect temporary Tokyo abode.