5-Star 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.

Might be one of the best cityview hotels in Tokyo. For anyone looking to enjoy an incredible night/ day city view experience and u might be able to see Mount Fuji ! Then this is definitely the place to stay. The location is also very convenient, situated close to most of the main shopping areas in Shinjuku. The only downside is that the hotel is located right next to a train station, so light sleepers may want to bring earplugs for better sleep quality. That said, the hotel service was truly exceptional easily one of the best hospitality experiences I’ve ever had. Special mention to the amazing team for making the stay even more memorable.

Staying at this luxury hotel, nestled within a historic building at Tokyo Station, was an absolute delight. Both the facilities and services were outstanding. The shower and faucet in the room felt incredibly luxurious – a truly 'premium' experience. The hotel's long guest room corridors, with their wall sconces, created a wonderfully warm and inviting sense of depth. A major highlight was the hotel's breakfast and its setting. Served on the 4th floor, the breakfast offered a rich and diverse selection. The peaked, herringbone-patterned ceiling, with one side a wooden roof and the other a light-transmitting glass roof equipped with awnings, filled the space with bright, natural light, making for a truly comfortable start to the day.

The environment is quite good. The view from the front desk is absolutely stunning, and the sea view from the room window is also nice. The large public bath on the top floor is quite convenient, a bit like a refined, smaller version of Gokurakuyu. The only drawback is that the entranceway is a bit narrow, so those used to larger rooms in China should be careful not to bump into things.

This hotel is fantastic! The rooms were promptly cleaned and spotless. Having coffee, water, and a fridge readily available was really convenient. The breakfast was excellent and varied; my kids especially loved the udon noodles, beef bowls, and all the dried fruits. The assorted breads were delicious when toasted! There's a supermarket nearby, which was great for grabbing some sashimi and beer when we got back late at night. The Takanawa station next door offers easy access to Disneyland, Tokyo Station Ichiban-gai, Asakusa, Ginza, and Harajuku. We also highly recommend Uohoshi at Toyosu Market – the food was amazing and affordable, with an incredible amount of sashimi on the rice bowls! Definitely recommend this place for family trips!

My overall experience with this stay was quite complex, feeling more like a test of service management capabilities. On the first day, the room cleaning quality was noticeably below expectations. The wash area, countertop details, and some amenities weren't clean enough, and the bedding wasn't tidied properly. From a housekeeping management perspective, this felt more like a failure in process execution rather than an isolated incident, and it definitely affected my first impression. However, after I raised the issue, the hotel's recovery actions were prompt. In the following days, the room cleaning was significantly more standardized, with noticeable improvements in detail. This indicates that the hotel is capable of good service, but the initial day's execution standards simply weren't met. In contrast, Trip.com's service experience during this incident left a deeper impression. The customer service proactively followed up, communicated efficiently, and handled the situation professionally. They were able to push for problem resolution from a customer experience perspective, demonstrating a mature platform service system. This level of after-sales responsiveness is quite high among current online travel platforms. Overall Rating: The hotel's hardware and positioning are fine, but there's room for improvement in service consistency, especially regarding the first-day delivery standards of housekeeping management. Trip.com's coordination and service performance in this incident, on the other hand, highlighted the professional value of their platform.

The room was incredibly spacious, and the elevators were very efficient. There are plenty of dining options nearby, and it's conveniently located close to both JR and subway lines, making transportation a breeze. The staff were very friendly, and the self-service check-in and check-out made everything super convenient. You can store your luggage after checking out, and there's a bus service to Haneda Airport.

The hotel lobby is on the 22nd floor, and breakfast is also served there. There's a lovely little courtyard, which is very pleasant, and the breakfast selection is really extensive. The rooms are incredibly spacious and come with a kitchen and utensils. Highly recommended!

Facilities: I'm not sure if the cabinets were renovated, but the edges are incredibly sharp. It really doesn't fit the Japanese emphasis on detail. I actually cut my arm. Ambiance: The lobby is beautiful, and the transportation is very convenient. There are shuttle buses right outside the hotel that go to the city center and the airport. Service: The front desk staff were nice, but when we tried to book a restaurant, they asked a bunch of questions about allergies. Only after all those questions did they call the restaurant, only to tell us there were no tables available. Couldn't they have checked availability first and skipped all the allergy questions? It was a huge waste of time. Cleanliness: Unfortunately, the room cleaning wasn't very thorough. Every time we came back, the trash on the floor was still there. In the mornings, they kept ringing the doorbell before we were even awake. The sheets weren't changed when they were dirty, and when a pillow fell on the floor, they just picked it up and put it back on the bed, still covered in dust from the floor. This really doesn't live up to five-star standards.

This organic architecture, completed by Togo Murano at the age of 91, still exudes enduring vitality, especially when compared to Kenzo Tange's conceptual designs. Bathed in sunlight, it possesses a surreal, otherworldly quality. Design Studio SPIN collaborated with local artisans to redesign the lobby, executive lounge, and an executive suite. The actual spatial experience is incredibly refined; the executive lounge features four distinct sections, each with clear functions and varied, opulent decor – a masterclass from a top design studio, truly a step above. Compared to the 'pigeonhole' rooms in Minato Ward, the guest rooms here feel more like Western hotels, and all come with balconies. If you can overlook the lack of a separate shower, the weekday value for money is impeccable. However, Seibu Group's service is far from ideal, especially at the front desk. The 3 PM check-in policy clogs up the reception during peak hours, and the self-service kiosks are useless. When checking out, I wanted to keep the room key card as a souvenir, but the staff looked annoyed and confused. Good or bad, with the Shinagawa redevelopment, this heritage-level hotel is slated for closure and demolition this year. After decades of existence, this 'architecture of the future' is reaching its end.