THIS TOKYO HOTEL HAS AN INTIMATE OMAKASE RESTAURANT, A MASSIVE SPA IN THE SKY, AND MOUNT FUJI VIEWS

Aman Tokyo is a hotel masterpiece.

A hotel rarely renders me speechless, but I was amazed when I arrived at Aman Tokyo this May.

Stepping into the 33rd-floor lobby, I first noticed the soaring white washi paper ceiling, the crown of the towering space’s superb modern Japanese design. Rather than standing at a desk to check in, I was immediately sat in a comfortable chair in the lobby and given a refreshing towel and a cup of tea to enjoy as I completed the process. It’s clear from that moment that every aspect of the stay is carefully crafted in a way that can only be described as perfect hospitality. And even without the impeccable design by Kerry Hill Architects and better-than-five-star service, the views alone would be a reason to stay at Aman Tokyo. From the lobby (and later, I discovered, from my room), you can gaze out over the endless Tokyo skyline, all the way to Mount Fuji.

Since it first opened in December 2014, Aman Tokyo has gained a reputation as one of the Japanese capital’s most luxurious and exclusive hotels — and it’s become a Travel + Leisure reader favorite, ranked among our top hotels in Tokyo in the World’s Best Awards. Perched on the top floors of the Otemachi Tower in Tokyo’s Otemachi business district, the hotel is best for adult leisure and business travelers. Tucked between skyscrapers, Aman Tokyo was the brand’s first urban hotel, but the property has the distinctive Aman resort feel thanks to ryokan-style rooms, a serene spa, and a sky-high pool that overlooks the cityscape.

Here, our review of Aman Tokyo.

Set on the top floors of the Otemachi Tower, Aman Tokyo feels like a serene escape in the always-bustling city.
Beautiful rooms with modern Japanese design feature incredible views of Tokyo, including some rooms facing Mount Fuji.
An expansive 26,900-square-foot spa offers a range of holistic treatments featuring traditional ingredients and practices. The indoor heated pool has floor-to-ceiling windows that offer breathtaking views while you soak.
Musashi by Aman offers an intimate omakase experience with local touches, including rice grown by the chef.
The service is impeccable from the moment you check in, thanks to considerate, attentive staff in every part of the hotel.

The Rooms

Eighty-four guest accommodations range from the Garden View, Deluxe, and Tokyo suites to the signature Aman, Grand, City, and Panorama suites. I stayed in an 829-square-foot Tokyo Suite, with wood, washi paper, and stone anchoring the peaceful space with a modern Japanese aesthetic. The entire room — from the desk to the king-sized bed to the sunken living area — was positioned for optimal views of floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on the city and beyond. I could have sat in the window seat, pressed against the glass, for hours, watching the lights twinkle as the sun set across the skyscrapers, the Imperial Palace Gardens, and Mount Fuji. Every room promises incredible city views, but I highly recommend first-timers book a room with a Mount Fuji view — it was magical to wake up to the sight of the iconic volcano each morning.

Behind a sliding door, the large bathroom has two sinks, a toilet with a state-of-the-art bidet, a traditional furo tub (with handy instructions for using it!), and all the amenities you could need, including a mini Marvis toothpaste. Even the in-room minibar was a work of art, with perfectly wrapped Shiranui orange juice (perhaps the best orange juice I have ever tasted) among the curated beverage selections.

Food and Drink

Aman Tokyo’s five food and beverage outlets provide diverse dining experiences. Starting at the bottom, La Pâtisserie by Aman Tokyo is located on the B2 floor of the Otemachi Tower, offering a gorgeous display of French pastries. (I had the mille feuille, packaged with the utmost care so it wouldn’t tip en route to my room.) Outside in the Otemachi Forest, The Café by Aman offers lunch and dinner in a beautiful, glass-walled space looking out on the lush greenery.

Upstairs off the lobby, The Lounge by Aman is the hotel’s upscale take on a lobby bar with all-day dining and afternoon tea that highlights seasonal flavors (right now, it’s a peach-themed afternoon tea menu for summer). Avra, an Italian restaurant that highlights seasonal, local produce, is also located off the lobby with window tables that offer incredible Mount Fuji views. This is also where you can enjoy breakfast in the morning (unless you prefer room service). I was delighted to try my first traditional Japanese breakfast, a multi-dish meal resembling a jewel box of savory seafood bites, pickled vegetables, fresh fruit, miso soup, and rice.

Finally, the hotel’s omakase restaurant, Musashi by Aman, is tucked above the lobby with eight seats surrounding the Hinoki cypress wood counter. Omakase is already an intimate meal style, with the chef determining the menu each day and then preparing each bite right in front of you, but this dinner offered something more — a connection to this place and to the chef that goes beyond the typical dining experience.

Master Chef Musashi delicately prepares each morsel of the meal with fish selected from the market that morning and rice he cultivates and harvests himself in his hometown in the Yamanashi Prefecture. Chef Musashi even uses his rice to brew the restaurant’s sake, and the Musashi by Aman extra dry sake was the perfect compliment to the outstanding meal. The 21-course parade of seafood was beautifully choreographed, with standout dishes including stewed fatty tuna, grilled miso fish, marbled flounder nigiri, and an uni hand roll.

Guests drinking sake were presented with a box of 20 crystal sake cups in different shapes, patterns, and colors to choose from — a small, but thoughtful detail that elevated the experience even more.

Activities and Experiences

Aman Tokyo offers a range of activities in the Otemachi neighborhood and beyond, from a behind-the-scenes look at sumo to art gallery tours. I took a traditional rickshaw ride (aboard a plush red velvet and shiny silver chariot) through the neighborhood on a sunny morning, and my guide taught me all about the area, impressively carrying the rickshaw as he jogged. Wellness-seekers will want to check out the hotel's yoga and Pilates studio, fitness center, and traditional Japanese baths — and all guests should visit the 98-foot heated indoor pool with breathtaking city views. The stone-column-lined pool is lovely during the day, but the poolside beds and calming water are even better at night when you can see the Tokyo Tower lit up amid the other glowing buildings just outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows.

The Spa

With 26,900 square feet spread over two floors, the Aman Spa is the largest, most comprehensive hotel spa in Tokyo. Before the treatment begins, guests can spend an hour enjoying the baths, showers, and steam rooms for a Misogi experience based on a traditional Shinto bathing ritual. Onsen-style baths have skyline views, too, and there’s something oddly serene about watching the fast-paced city from high above in the warm stone pool. Treatments range from holistic, one-day wellness programs to facials, massages, or body treatments that aim to ground, purify, and nourish the body.

I chose the Aman Tokyo Signature Journey, a 150-minute head-to-toe experience starting with a full-body scrub and a 90-minute massage. After the treatment, the discomfort of my 14-hour flight and intense jet lag felt like a distant memory; if only every long-haul flight could be followed by an afternoon at the Aman Spa.

Location

Aman Tokyo is located on the top six floors of the Otemachi Tower in Tokyo’s Otemachi business district, about a 10-minute walk from the Imperial Palace and Imperial Palace East Gardens.

It’s right by Otemachi Station, which is served by five subway lines, and it’s just a short walk to Tokyo Station, which is served by subway and train lines, including some shinkansen or bullet trains.

Haneda Airport (HND) is about a 40-minute drive from the hotel, and Narita Airport is about an hour away.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

The starting rate at Aman is $1,260 per night, placing it among the more expensive hotels in Tokyo. Now is a fantastic time for American travelers to visit Japan thanks to favorable dollar-to-yen exchange rates.

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2024-07-26T19:26:23Z dg43tfdfdgfd