Review: The Peninsula Tokyo

Why book?

Classic international luxury has not lost its luster despite a crowded field of new hotel entrants.

Set the scene

One of Tokyo’s most iconic pieces of art is not in fact in one of its museums—it’s in the lobby of the Peninsula Tokyo; the Lying Dragon Gate (which looks like a giant wooden eye) attracts legions of curious outsiders who sneak in for a glance. And when they walk through the lobby, they are immediately ensconced in the coziness of the entry’s dark wood and heavy fabrics. Although the hotel is Japanese inspired, the Peninsula Tokyo incorporates many pan-Asian elements—gilt finishes, flower petal motifs on the carpets, and cherry wood panelling, to name a few. Guests run the gamut from staycationing Tokyoites and moneyed Chinese travelers, to American and European clientele.

The backstory

The head honchos at Peninsula spent years eyeing viable real estate for their Tokyo outpost, opening in 2007 with the perfect balance between space and location—at the time, it was the first new-build hotel in over a decade. Inhabiting an entire structure near Tokyo Station, the Imperial Palace, and shopping-centric Ginza, one would think that such prime real estate would mean sacrificing room size, but to the contrary—even the smallest options are significantly larger than most Tokyo digs.

The rooms

Dear upper-midrange spenders: Rather than splurging on a suite upgrade at a middle-tier hotel, it’s worth eking into the entry-level rooms here, which never skimp on the Peninsula’s signature luxuries: plush interiors, lavish toiletries, and, most importantly: plenty of space. Our favorite rooms are along the 20 line of each floor—views from the floor-to-ceiling windows are hard to beat.

Food and drink

Vegetarians needn’t look further than the Peninsula’s latest partnership with Ippudo, providing a new, velvety-rich ramen completely free of animal products as part of the property’s new room service offering. Carnivores shouldn’t miss out on Peter upstairs—a rambling dining venue perched on the 24th floor, high above the rooms, that looks like a glitzy Vegas club complete with purple accents and ethereal, Avatar-esque light sculptures. The menu promises A5 Wagyu steaks, seafood plucked fresh from nearby Toyosu Market, and delectable Hokkaido scallops to name a few of the superlative Japanese produce available. Breakfast is served in the lobby, which changes its decor throughout the year to reflect the seasons (Christmas, with over-the-top holiday flourishes, is everyone’s favorite).

The neighborhood/area

Step out onto the street and you have the luxury boutiques of Ginza, the mom-and-pop izakayas of Yurakcho, the rambling gardens of the Imperial Palace, and the Hibiya subway station a few feet away granting easy access to a ton of other hip neighborhoods nearby—you are, for example, on a few stops away from Omotesando.

The service

The premium service doesn’t end when you leave the hotel—arrange for your bullet train or airport transfer in the property’s custom Toyota Century; old-school wheels painted in the Peninsula’s signature Brewster green and outfitted with wireless chargers and even a small TV. Guests can hire the chauffeured service for 10,000 yen per hour, which is a pretty good deal considering how pricy cabs are around town.