Review: Palace Hotel Tokyo

Why book?

The legendary property, so named as it’s the closest hotel to the Imperial Palace, lures wealthy Japanese guests with its demure luxury gloss; now, international travelers have gotten wise and are starting to book in as well.

Set the scene

A mixed-use microcosm of Tokyo at large, the Palace Hotel is one of the city’s most sought-after wedding venues hosting over a thousand nuptials a year. Besides the beautiful brides sashaying through the lobby on their way to the ballrooms, expect handfuls of Japanese businessmen buttoned up to the neck in their Ferragamo suits, not to mention the gaggles of ladies lunching (but really, just sipping a martini) in the ample social spaces throughout.

The backstory

Back in the early 2010s, the Palace Hotel doubled down on its commitment to quality and completely demolished its historical property that was erected in the early 1960s in time for the first Tokyo Olympics. A glimmering new luxury stay was born anew, with all the contemporary touches but maintaining its sedate, mod charm born 50 years prior.

The rooms

When you think of modern Japanese design, it’s not these rooms—the decor at the Palace, while only just over a decade old, feels like a retro nod to an earlier vocabulary of modernity. Muted beige and a palette of floral colors are a subtle nod to the ample views of the Imperial Gardens below, and, if you’re lucky, on a very clear day it’s possible to see the majesty of Mount Fuji in the distance.

Food and drink

You could spend an entire long weekend without leaving the confines of the hotel and never have the same meal twice, indulging in the ten different restaurants and bars. The Palace Hotel’s offerings range from Esterre, the much-lauded French dining concept by Alain Ducasse, to Tatsumi, a six-seat tempura bar, where chatting with the friendly chef is as much a part of the experience as savoring his lightly-fried vegetable and seafood bites. Pro tip: have breakfast on the outside veranda facing the gnarled trees in the garden adjacent to the imperial grounds (there are heat lamps available in the colder months.)

The spa

After a long day out walking around the city, the spa, branded by Evian, is the perfect way to soothe sore leg muscles—the fifth-floor wellness center boasts a gym with Technogym equipment and an amoeboid swimming pool. Sorry: the pool is not filled with Evian water, despite many guest requests.

The neighborhood/area

There’s very little neighborhood flair among the gridded streets of the Marunouchi business district, in fact, the lion’s share of luxury hotels are headquartered in this area. The upside of the Palace is its unmatched proximity to the gardened grounds of the emperor’s residence.

The service

Everything you’d expect from the Japanese hotel: consummate poise, polish and politeness, but sometimes a little more English was needed.

Anything left to mention?

The Club Lounge is a worthy extra perk, especially if you’re planning to spend more time in the hotel (perhaps getting over jet lag?) than out. And pick up a copy of the proprietary Palace Magazine—easily the best hotel magazine we’ve encountered.