Open for more than 105 years, The Tokyo Station Hotel is one of the city’s most splendid landmarks. Its location plays a major role in its enduring legacy: the beautiful hotel is connected to the JR Tokyo Station Marunouchi, it overlooks the Imperial Palace and it resides in the upscale, lively neighborhood of Marunouchi.
This one-of-a-kind hotel in the middle of the city is beloved by celebrities, royals and train enthusiasts alike. Here are five reasons you should check in, too:
The Hotel Is Historic and Beautiful
In this modern city, few older buildings survived World War II. The Tokyo Station Hotel is one of the rare remnants, and the building is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
Its stately brick exterior from 1915 stands out among the futuristic towers surrounding it. The hotel’s interior recently underwent a refurbishment, but the original structure and some of the antique furniture remain intact. The Dome Side Rooms overlook the beautifully restored cupola domes in the interior of Tokyo Station. If you want to learn more about its heritage, the hotel can arrange historical tours.
Try One of the City’s Top French Restaurants
Blanc Rouge is one of Tokyo’s most exclusive restaurants. It serves fine French cuisine prepared with fresh Japanese ingredients and delicious local fish and meat. The menu is classic; the decor is modern; and the wine list is extensive, spotlighting rare Japanese bottles and French favorites.
This is a place for indulging: Blanc Rouge is famous for its succulent Japanese steaks, handmade French desserts and decadent tasting menus.
The Royal Family Is a Patron
Since the Tokyo hotel is close to the Imperial Palace, this is the first stop of the Japanese royals on their tours of the country. Inside the hotel, a special tunnel leads to the royal carriage and an exclusive waiting room for the royals where they take tea and wait for the train. They along with celebrities and politicians frequent the hotel for its convenience, discretion and exemplary service.
It’s a Luxurious Stopover on The Train Route
The Tokyo Station Hotel is the ideal place if you’re traversing Japan and wish to spend a few days in the capital city. After a long day of travel, the hotel offers a convenient respite with 150 European-inspired guest rooms and suites featuring Western comforts such as Simmons mattresses. For some of its best accommodations, upgrade to the spacious Maisonette duplexes. Then refuel at the guest-only breakfast buffet — it’s one of the best spreads in the city with more than 100 dishes — or the exquisite afternoon tea.
The Marunouchi neighborhood is in the center of Tokyo, right by the palace, and the luxury hotel is within walking distance of the best shops, restaurants, bars, museums, galleries and tourist sights. As Japan Rail owns the hotel, the concierge can help purchase tickets for the celebrated shinkansen bullet trains and curate an itinerary, ensuring you experience an unforgettable time exploring the country.
Get a Drink
Sporting a wood bar and walls, leather chairs and chesterfield sofas and dim lighting, Bar Oak is a handsome and inviting space to unwind with a drink. Many choose among the Japanese whisky selection, but the most popular order is the Tokyo Station, a gin and Suze (a French aperitif) cocktail whose hue took inspiration from the hotel’s red-brick structure.
If you’re lucky, master bartender Hisashi Sugimoto will be behind the bar. Sugimoto has worked there for more than six decades and devised many of the bar’s cocktails, including the Tokyo Station. He will craft an expertly made drink and regale you with stories from his long tenure at the special hotel.
