Spa hotels in Tokyo

I come to Tokyo several times a year, staying a fortnight or more each time. This time I spent seven nights at The Capitol Hotel Tokyu. The room faced Hie Shrine. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows I could see the shrine's copper roof and half of Tokyo's skyline. The décor was modern without excess; the layout flowed easily, Bose speakers hidden in the walls, another set in the bathroom ceiling, connected by a 3.5mm jack. The curtains were motorized, though you hardly needed to close them. The turndown service. I would leave in the evening and return late to find the room changed: only the hallway light and bedside lamp left on, a bottle of water and a glass on the nightstand, two chocolates beside them. The evening tea and teacup, previously stored in the cabinet, had been moved next to the coffee machine. These changes were so slight you had to think back carefully to confirm they had happened at all. The temperature and humidity had been adjusted. As if the room itself remembered your habits. Room service fell short of the ryokan in Hakone or Lake Toya, but well above the ordinary hotel. Each day I made two or three cups of complimentary coffee, played music, read, wrote. In seven days I finished three books. The research ahead began to take shape. There were drawbacks. No washing machine, but a decent laundromat ten minutes' walk away—a chance to wander the streets of Akasaka. The room provided HDMI and ethernet ports but no cables; for those who came to rest, perhaps a mercy. The minibar fridge was mostly occupied by drinks for purchase, same as the Imperial, though there was still room for my sparkling water. The day I left it was half past five and fully dark. I could barely make out the faces of the bellhop and the taxi driver. Together they loaded my luggage into the boot. I wished the bellhop a happy new year in Japanese and told her I liked her hat. She smiled and returned the greeting. As the taxi pulled out of the underground drive, I thought of the inns Kawabata once wrote about: what had to be sought in the mountains of snow country can now be reached by elevator from the B2 exit of a metro station. I have watched the Shinagawa Prince Hotel loosen quietly over time, slip a little. That kind of decline is rarely one great error. It begins the day someone forgets to leave a glass of water, neglects to move a packet of tea, omits a newspaper. As for The Capitol Hotel Tokyu: in Japanese, what I experienced over these seven days is called ちょうどいい.

After the final exams, I took my kids for a few days of vacation. The first part of our trip involved two exhausting days at two Disney parks, so arriving at this hotel felt like salvation. Communication was seamless, even though my English isn't great, the staff were incredibly patient and attentive. Since we wanted to sleep in, we opted for in-room service after waking up. Ordering was super easy, and all the hot food was delivered in insulated containers. My kids absolutely loved it, so much so that they kept asking to order room service after our shopping sprees later on! 😂 _The delivery staff were very professional; they even took off their shoes before entering the room. The room's decor and furnishings were all solid wood, with no strange odors, which made us feel very safe. Check-out was smooth as well, with a Mandarin-speaking staff member proactively assisting us. The location is excellent; it's easy to hail a cab right downstairs. I'll definitely bring my family back here again.

Janu, rather than feeling like a younger, secondary brand of Aman, feels more like a modern European luxury private residence tucked away in Azabudai. There isn't a grand, ceremonial hotel entrance in the traditional sense. The entrance is either through a garage or directly connected to the shopping mall, creating a hidden sense of tranquility. The entire hotel, from the public areas and wellness center to the rooms, exhibits a very consistent design. Even the basic room types don't feel like 'downgraded' versions; the details and finish are impeccable. The amenities are also very refined and thoughtfully designed, not just a simple collection of expensive brands. The flow design is also excellent. Guests, restaurant and lounge visitors having afternoon tea, and service staff are largely kept separate. I had seen complaints on Google Maps reviews about noisy groups having 'girls' gatherings, but during my stay, the guest areas had significantly improved in this regard. The presence of the service staff is also very subtle. You rarely see them bustling through the hallways, yet the staff-to-guest ratio is incredibly generous. The internal pathways must be very well-designed, allowing them to reach all areas of the hotel quickly, ensuring consistently high service efficiency. The Mini Bar was replenished promptly, and the ice bucket was replaced during both cleaning and turn-down service. When I arrived early, the hotel calmly arranged my room in advance, without that rigid 'no room before 3 PM' feeling. The one-touch concierge in the room was also very effective, pretty much granting every request with quick response times. The overall service isn't overtly warm or effusive, but it's very reliable and never intrusive. Breakfast offered a wide selection, and there was absolutely no waiting. During my stay, I was always seated at a table directly facing Tokyo Tower, which was a fantastic experience. And most importantly, Janu Tokyo currently offers incredible value for money. For a similar price, I believe it easily surpasses the two Four Seasons hotels in Tokyo. Considering the hardware, design, service, and actual stay experience, it can absolutely contend with Bulgari for the second-best luxury hotel spot in Tokyo.

I visited Tokyo with my 88-year-old father. The hotel’s location is arguably the absolute best, making it incredibly convenient to visit Tokyo’s major attractions. The hotel facilities were also highly satisfying. First and foremost, the amenities in the guest room were excellent, and the thoughtful accessibility considerations for the elderly or infirm gave us great peace of mind. For instance, the provision of a bath chair with a backrest was very impressive. The hygiene and meticulous housekeeping were of the highest standard. Furthermore, the non-slip mat provided in the bathroom clearly reflected a deep consideration for the guests' specific needs. All of this, of course, is a testament to the staff’s proactive service and attentive care. If there was one minor disappointment, I wish a wider variety of pillows had been available in the room. In this regard, I felt it fell slightly short of meeting guests' diverse preferences. Additionally, as a helpful suggestion for safety, designing bathroom doors to open outward to facilitate emergency access in case of an accident inside is a fundamental design principle for luxury hotels. While preventing accidents altogether is ideal, being fully prepared for emergencies is what sets the highest standard of excellence. On another note, despite the hotel being located within a major railway station, there was absolutely no noise. The soundproofing was truly remarkable. The breakfast offered a rich and diverse selection, beautifully balancing traditional Japanese cuisine with Western options. While ordering a more unique or specialized beverage took a bit of time, the quality and taste were highly satisfying. The other facilities, particularly the restaurants and cafes, were exceptionally calm, elegant, and quiet, providing a very pleasant experience. The food, of course, tasted excellent. However, you must ensure you have ample time to enjoy it; it can require a significant amount of time and patience before the food is served in front of you. Overall, our experience was exceptionally satisfying and wonderful. With its rich historical background and narrative, the hotel offered a deeply engaging and far from boring stay.

It’s our second time visiting the hotel, we felt like the service and experience has not been as good as our first visit.  A few things to note: neighborhood has a lot of drunk people at night and it wasn’t quite clean  Room is spacious but the housekeeping failed to give a personal touch. For 5 stars hotel, housekeeper usually will note the preference of guest and try to make guest feels like it’s a home away from home, Bellustar makes you feel like it is a hotel. Every day it is back to factory setting. Taxi or uber are NOT allowed to drop off at lobby where there is covered. We need to be dropped off on side road and walk… don’t quite understand why. We asked and hotel said it’s policy?! It’s an overall great hotel but considering the pricing point and experience we had, there are many other choices in Tokyo we can go for.

The hotel is located directly opposite the international arrivals exit, on the same floor. Head towards Haneda Garden, and you'll see the signs once you're further inside. It's in the same building as the slightly cheaper option, just turn right once you're inside. It's much less crowded here, and it's not self-service; staff will take your luggage to your room. Most rooms are 'King' type and face the river, offering a nice view, though you can't see planes taking off or landing. The rooms are about 20 square meters, with a 2-meter-wide king bed, suitable for one person. Two people with large suitcases might find it a bit cramped. All drinks in the minibar, including alcoholic ones, are complimentary. The toilet isn't separated from the rest of the bathroom, and there's a bathtub. The showerhead isn't great; the overhead one sprays water everywhere, and the handheld one leaks, but hot water is instant. There's a main road outside the window, but the double-glazed windows do a good job of soundproofing, so it's not noisy. However, I woke up early at 6 AM because of light leaking through the curtains – it seems Japanese curtains generally aren't designed for full blackout, which is a common issue. Breakfast includes one main dish with a small buffet. I recommend the Japanese option; the Western sausages and bacon are extremely salty and inedible. Breakfast is optional, and there are many other restaurants available, like ramen shops, offering plenty of choices. Downstairs, you'll find Lawson, Matsumoto Kiyoshi, and Heijoen, making shopping and dining very convenient. In my opinion, the benchmark for Japanese airport hotels is the Portom International at New Chitose Airport, and this hotel's quality and taste fall far short of that. Overall, though, it's a good choice if you arrive late or have an early flight, and hotels in Tokyo aren't cheap anyway.

[HOSHINOYA Tokyo: A Vertical Ryokan Experience] HOSHINOYA Tokyo offers a truly unique concept. It is a traditional Japanese ryokan built vertically within a modern skyscraper, located in the prestigious Otemachi district. It provides a serene, luxurious escape right in the middle of the bustling city, perfectly blending classic ryokan hospitality with world-class modern design. We enjoyed a wonderful three-day, two-night stay at the property from 29 May to 31 May. We chose not to make any meal reservations, which gave us the flexibility to simply relax and explore the surrounding city. [Getting There] We travelled from Fufu Hakone via a day trip to Enoshima and Kamakura. We took a direct train from Kamakura to Tokyo Station, followed by a short walk to the hotel, and arrived at around 8:00 PM. To make the transit completely effortless, our luggage was picked up and delivered directly to the hotel by LuggAgent on the same day. [Arrival and Check-In] The hotel is situated in the central business district and distinctly stands out from the surrounding buildings. The discreet entrance completely shields you from the busy streets. Upon entering, staff immediately store your shoes, as the entire tatami-matted building operates on a barefoot or socks-only policy. We were incredibly lucky to catch a traditional jap instrument performance, which is usually reserved for weekends. A designated staff member managed our check-in with welcome snack & tea and escorted us to level 15. A major highlight is the exclusive lounge on each floor, shared by only 6 suites. It functions as a private living room, fully stocked with complimentary seasonal teas, coffees, and traditional snacks. [The Suite] We stayed in the Sakura suite. Rather than trying to describe the beautiful layout in words, I will let my photos speak for themselves. The beds are low to the floor with a mid-level hardness that we found quite comfortable, and each bed comes with two soft pillows. There is also a television cleverly hidden behind a mirror, though it is worth noting that it only broadcasts Japanese channels. We kept it switched off to maintain the consistent traditional ryokan feel. The provided yukata is absolutely superb. It comes as a full set complete with an inner layer, an outer layer, socks, and a small handbag. The material is soft, stretchy, and incredibly comfortable for lounging and walking around the property. [The Top-Floor Onsen] Having a natural hot spring in central Tokyo is a rare luxury. The onsen is located on the 17th floor and features a stunning design where the roof is open to the sky. As cameras are strictly prohibited, you will have to visualise it or check the hotel website for gallery photos. I understand that the bath is a salty hot spring containing a high concentration of seawater and seaweed minerals trapped deep in the ground. Soaking in this soothing water gently embraces the skin and helps alleviate fatigue in both body and mind. The onsen is open daily from 3:00 PM to 11:30 AM. It was the absolute perfect way to warm up and recharge before we headed out for a busy day. [Areas for Improvement] Toothbrush Set: The provided toothbrush is far too small and takes ages to use. I strongly recommend bringing your own.

The room was quite small, basically just a place to sleep. You could open your suitcase, but it made the space feel a bit cramped. The room's amenities weren't very new. The only thing I found really practical was the spacious vanity, which was great for putting things down. However, I wouldn't say it was easy to do makeup, as the whole bathroom was quite basic, lacking a proper vanity light or mirror. Although this hotel came up as one of the top three (I think it was the first) when I searched for Shinjuku area accommodations, the closest subway station is actually Nishi-Shinjuku. It takes about a fifteen-minute walk to get to Shinjuku JR Station. There aren't many convenience stores nearby, as the hotel is located above the metropolitan government building. There were even some homeless people in the vicinity (?). The hotel staff automatically provide service in English, which made communication much smoother than in many other Japanese hotels. The guests were also predominantly Westerners. The most impressive part of the entire hotel was probably the grand lobby. Overall, the service was fine, but next time, I'd probably use a similar budget to stay at a different five-star hotel.

Overall, I'd give it 4 stars, mainly for the location and the night view, though the hotel's facilities are a bit dated. 🚃 Transportation (very convenient) Take the Yurikamome Line to Daiba Station, and it's a 3-5 minute walk to the hotel. You even get sea views along the way. Downstairs, there's an Airport Limousine bus that goes directly to Haneda and Narita airports, which is super convenient when you're traveling with luggage. 📍 Location & Surroundings This deserves high praise – it's right in the heart of Odaiba. You can walk to Fuji TV, Joypolis (Sega Amusements), and the Gundam statue at DiverCity. Aqua City is right downstairs, so dining and shopping are a breeze. It’s perfect for families with kids or young travelers. 🌉 Night View (highly recommended) I booked a room on the Rainbow Bridge side, and the night view of Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Bay was truly amazing. Just sitting by the window and zoning out made it worth every penny. 🍳 Breakfast (average) The buffet offers a mix of Japanese and Western options, but nothing particularly memorable. The taste was just okay, and I felt it wasn't great value for money. 🏨 Facilities & Room (gripes) The decor is a bit old-fashioned. My biggest complaint is the hairdryer in the room – it's so old and weak; drying long hair was a real struggle. I hope the hotel replaces it soon. Other facilities were acceptable.

Good price for a capsule within walking distance of a JR station that reaches ikebukuro and Shinjuku pretty fast. Even has an onsen and sauna! Has a chill area to read manga and buy beer also. Staff also friendly and speaks English which is good to not get lost Only downside is the baggage area is quite messy and feels a bit dirty