All images courtesy of Ritz Carlton Hotels
Tokyo is a cosmopolitan destination ideal for today’s urban explorer. There you’ll find ultramodern experiences as well as their exotic culture built on thousands of years of traditions. Women in pretty kimonos can be seen strutting through the city as can men in bespoke Brioni suits dashing off to strike a mega business deal. Tokyo has as much gravitas as New York, Paris or London with 37 million people and miles and miles of skyscrapers. In the middle of it all, rising high above the city as a beacon of opulence is the Ritz Carlton, Tokyo.
The Ritz Carlton is located on the top eight stories of the city’s tallest building, the Tokyo Midtown Galleria. From its perch over Japan’s capital, one can see Mount Fuji as well as the urban sprawl of neon lit skyscrapers, and iconic landmarks such as the Tokyo Tower, Olympic Stadium and Imperial Palace.
The views are exquisite from the hotel’s common areas as well as each of its 248 rooms. Inside the glamourous interiors are replete with decadent marble floors, sparkling chandeliers, a collection of gorgeous art masterworks and two story windows that allow guests to partake in the panoramic views of the city.
The Ritz Carlton is ideally located in the new urban renewal center of Midtown which is part business complex as well as an upscale mall with designer stores and hip cafes. Just beyond is the bustling area of Roppongi which is Tokyo’s most happening place filled with restaurants, bars and night clubs. Tokyo is extremely well laid out and easy to get around with a subway system that is easy to access from the hotel.
The Ritz Carlton, Tokyo is an exploration into haute hospitality and is sure to impress the most jaded traveler. It is one of the world’s finest hotes and was recently ranked as the number 1 hotel in Tokyo by Travel and Leisure and their number 8 hotel in Asia. The lobby of the hotel is located on the 45th floor where guest services staff greet each guest in their pretty kimonos with welcoming bows. The lobby is grand with sky high ceilings adorned with glitzy chandeliers and gargantuan art pieces, decadent floral displays and utterly lavish surroundings. Guests will struggle between looking within or out at the stunning views of the mountains during the day or the twinkling neon lights of the city at night. The lobby bar is the place for Tokyo’s haute monde and Ritz Carlton guests to saddle up to the bar after a long day of deal making or sightseeing. The bar offers a wide range of drinks and is known for their collection of 200 whiskies. The bar is also getting buzz for their award winning signature cocktails made with Four Pillars Gin by their talented mixologists. Evenings in the lobby are a great place to unwind with their live music performances of jazz standards by a talented band.
As one would predict with a Ritz Carlton hotel, the rooms are elegant and opulent with uber comfy featherbeds with Frette linens and the latest electronics. What is also impressive is that they have integrated Japanese style and design elements into the décor such as the wall accents which are made of actual kimono fabrics from a 300-year-old factory in Kyoto. The opulence continues in the marble bathrooms with a large soaking bath, separate rainfall shower, and Toto electronic toilets. Beyond that, the wow factor of all the room is the unobstructed views of the Tokyo cityscape.
Every guest at the Ritz Carlton Tokyo is made to feel special with the utmost in care, amenities and service. However, guests staying in the club level rooms feel privileged. And they should. The lounge is located on the 53rd floor and sprawls the length of the building with wide open spaces partitioned into a lounge, dining room and library. Benefits of the Club Level include a dedicated check in area, five meal services throughout the day, complimentary garment pressing and shoe shine. Breakfast is a sumptuous buffet of Japanese and international items including live omelet station. Afternoons offer a proper high tea with three stacks of sweets, scones and savory nibbles. The cocktails are complimentary as well so it’s the ideal place to end the day to relax with wine and hors d’ oeuvres. To make the experience complete there’s live music on many nights including Bossa Nova jazz or performances by a gifted harpist.
The dining options in Tokyo are endless but guests will want to dine in at the hotel’s two Michelin star options. The Hinokizakura restaurant is one of Tokyo’s top fine dining Japanese restaurants and is actually four dining experiences including sushi, kaiseki, tempura and teppanyaki. The restaurant decor is as decadent and the menu with a sleek and modern design based on bamboo and water. Seating overlooks the skyline or guests can opt for private dining rooms or the culinary performance at the teppanyaki grill.
Azure 45 is the Michelin stared restaurant helmed by the culinary visionary, Chef de cuisine Shintaro Miyazaki who seamlessly deconstruct French recipes using a Japanese approach. Chef Miya built his reputation by being awarded Michelin stars seven years in a row at his own small fine dining restaurant. His culinary ingenuity continues to flourish at the Azure 45 where each plate is a piece of art not only in the presentation but in the layers of complexity in taste, texture,and level of detail that only the Japanese can achieve. Each dish is a masterpiece such as the Scottish Blue Lobster with and Mango and Tarragon or the Roasted Racan Pigeon with Blueberry and Polenta. The setting is cozy and romantic with couples enjoyed their meal along while overlooking the twinkling lights of the city.
The amenities and services continue at the Ritz Carlton Tokyo with a full service spa with nine treatment rooms and a talented staff providing a wide ranges of signature massages and treatments. There’s also a fully equipped gym with steam and sauna rooms and hot & cold onsen-style baths as well as a 65-foot swimming pool with views over the city from the 46th floor.
The Ritz Carlton, Tokyo is an delicious blend of the East and the West. Japan is Asia’s obsessive compulsive perfectionist which can be seen in the Japanese culture which practices origami, bonsai trees, raked Zen gardens, or the meticulous techniques of their tea service. The Ritz Carlton is the world’s premier luxury hotel brand known for providing the highest echelon of service and amenities. To put these two perfectionist power houses together is a luxury travel dream come true and found only at the Ritz Carlton, Tokyo.
