The Presidential Suite’s Palatial Bathroom, Photo Credit: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
With so many amazing features, Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo has a list of amenities that goes on and on. The Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel has a prime location overlooking Japan’s capital city, first-rate facilities built to please, stunning East-meets-West design elements and a calm but hip ambience.
It was hard, but we narrowed the list down to a handful of things that deserve an extra bit of your attention.
The view
Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo’s skyward orientation translates into vistas worth writing home about. At night, the hotel’s bars and restaurants provide a glamorous panorama of the dramatic contrast between the shroud of darkness and the twinkling city lights.
By day, the rooms and suites, strategically located between the 30th and 36th floors, have plenty of viewpoints of Tokyo Skytree, the Imperial Palace, the bustling Shinjuku district and beautiful, snow-capped Mount Fuji.
Mandarin Bar, Photo Credit: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Mandarin Bar
The chic and buzzing bar on the 37th floor of Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo is the best place in the city’s central business district to see and be seen.
Low lights, live jazz and intimate corners make Mandarin Bar an inspired choice for an elegant cocktail, such as the Nihonbashi, a delightfully citrus-forward signature drink. You can also try the sake-based libations and rare Japanese delicacies (grasshopper bar snacks, perhaps).
Bathrooms
So much more than a place to wash your face, the Japanese-inspired bathrooms are a thoughtful feature of each room.
A separate bath with a view, wooden panels, anti-fog mirrors and a Japanese toilet (automatic lid, built-in bidet and running-water soundtrack) solidifies our impression that Japan delivers the best restrooms in the world.
All bathrooms come with luxurious amenities and are equipped with plush terry towels and the finest yukata robes, too.
Kimono Customization, Photo Credit: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Premium Kimono Stay
The ultimate extravagance for lovers of Japanese art, culture and cuisine, the property’s Premium Kimono Stay is a tempting treat that includes two nights in the opulent Oriental Suite with breakfast for two, a couple of spa treatments and a fitting for a custom-made kimono with all the necessary accessories.
Once the kimono is ready, a hair and makeup styling session follows to ensure you’re ready for your close-up at your private photo shoot. An album of your snapped memories and the custom-made kimono by Chiso (worth a small fortune in itself) are yours to keep.
If that’s not enough, the package (approximately $32,900) also includes dinner for two at the renowned Sushi Sora and at Tapas Molecular Bar.
Afternoon tea
One of Tokyo’s finest, the afternoon tea at the hotel’s Oriental Lounge is an elegant experience in a contemporary Asian setting. Sit on the comfortable armchairs and enjoy the feast on gold-rimmed fine-china plates. Tea starts with a selection of delicacies, such as shrimp tarts, char-grilled vegetables and classic cucumber sandwiches.
Of course, the main event of any afternoon tea is the sweets: Bite-sized tarts, blueberry cakes and mini-puddings leave just enough room for the plump, fresh scones.
As is the trend with the Mandarin Oriental brand, the menu is regularly adapted to seasonal produce.
