Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills – Hotel Review

Escape the bustle of Japan’s capital at the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills, a tranquil escape that exudes quiet luxury. Curved timber sculptures hang over the main eatery and washi paper artworks adorn every elevator, transporting you into a world where Mid-century Modern and traditional Japanese design meet. Treat yourself to an ultra-fresh sushi omakase experience, sip smokey cocktails at the rooftop bar on the 52nd floor or take a dip in the pool that overlooks the Imperial Palace gardens – however you spend your time, this hotel is a chic retreat from the rest of the world. Read on for our full review.

Where is Andaz Tokyo?

Crowning floors 47 to 52 of the Toranomon Hills Mori multi-use tower, the Andaz Tokyo puts you in the heart of the skyscraper-laden Minato City. On the ground floor of the building there’s a private entrance where elevators will swiftly take you to the lobby on the 51st floor. From Narita International Airport it’s a one-hour drive to get to the hotel, while the journey from Haneda Airport will take 20 minutes.

What’s near Andaz Tokyo?

Within the Mori tower you’ll find stores, a pharmacy and restaurants for when you’d like to stay in the area. The building’s underground network links you directly to Toranomon Station and the Ginza line, placing you six stops from Shibuya and its dizzying array of restaurants, shopping complexes and Shibuya Sky, one of the best vantage points for looking out over the city. Toranomon Hills Station and the Hibiya line are a three-minute walk from the hotel, meaning the high-end boutiques of Ginza are two stops away, while Roppongi and the National Art Center are just two stops. The tranquil Imperial Palace East Gardens are also an eight-minute drive north.

Room types

The Andaz’s 156 rooms and eight suites are spaced across floors 47 to 50 and they begin at a sprawling 50 metres square in size. Thanks to their sky-high location, you’re guaranteed incredible vistas over the city, with specific rooms delivering front-row views to Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Bay or the Imperial Palace gardens. Inside, tan leather bedheads are paired with washi paper lights and walnut-panelled walls and furniture. Each room features a circular deep soaking tub fed by a waterfall faucet that wouldn’t look out of place in a traditional Japanese onsen and all non-alcoholic drinks and locally-sourced snacks (wasabi and seaweed-flavoured rice crackers) in the minibar are complimentary. The crown jewel of the hotel is its 210-square-metre Sky Suite where two king beds, a dedicated office space (complete with an Apple iMac for your use), living room and 180-degree views of Tokyo Tower and the Bay await.

Restaurants and bars

The central dining spot at the Andaz is the Tavern Grill & Lounge – an expansive space next to the lobby that transitions from dishing up buffet breakfasts in the morning to slinging classic cocktails in the evening with a side of live music (only Friday and Saturday). The restaurant plates up European-inspired classics, including mushroom risotto and scallop crudo, but the menu’s highlight is its ultra-tender, snow-aged beef, which is aged for one month within a traditional snow cellar in Niigata before landing on plates drizzled in Café dé Paris butter. Breakfast runs from 6.45am to 10.30am; lunch from 11.30am to 3pm; there are two afternoon tea seatings between 1pm and 5.30pm; and dinner is served from 6pm to 9.30pm.

On the 52nd floor, slinky electro-jazz beats pulse through the indoor rooftop bar and black and white film projections dance across the wall. Ceiling to floor windows deliver glittering views over Tokyo Bay while the bartenders shake up classic cocktails with a playful twist such as the Tokyo Mule infused with yuzu and Darjeeling tea. For the best window side tables an additional seating charge of JPY 1100 (JPY 2200 for non-staying visitors) is required after 8pm between March and December.

Tucked further within the rooftop bar lies the SUSHI, an 8-seater omakase sushi experience helmed by chef Eiji Nakamura that’s perfectly complemented by the Andaz original “52” sake – a special brew made just for the hotel. For a quick treat, pop into the Pastry Shop on the first floor where you’ll find cheese tarts, cream puffs and pastries to go.

Accessibility

All facilities are accessible via elevator and there are dedicated rooms equipped with mobility features.

Travel for work

Each room and suite features a desk and wi-fi is free throughout the hotel. For a more social atmosphere for replying to emails, pull up a chair in the Lounge beside the Lobby – juice, soft drinks and snacks are available all day to help keep your energy up.

Spa, pool and gym

Housed on the 37th floor, the 1350-metre-square AO Spa and Club is a shrine to wellness. At the entrance you’ll find the Blend Bar, where the spa’s therapists will custom blend minerals, herbs and oils and help you select from one of three skincare lines (kotoshina from Kyoto, Biologique Recharge from France and elemental herbology from England) for your treatments. The deluxe Pure Elements experience is the ultimate way to reset mind, body and soul: over three hours you’ll be pampered with a full-body scrub, massage and rejuvenating facial. The spa is open from 10am to 10pm.

Outside the five treatment rooms you’ll find a 20-metre indoor pool looking over the Imperial Palace gardens, carbonated pools designed to help improve blood circulation and jet baths as well as a steam room and sauna. The fitness centre is equipped with Technogym machines and fitness instructors are on standby to help curate a training session plan just for you. Access to the fitness centre is available 24/7, while the pool is open from 6.30am to 10pm.

What you need to know

Pop into the Andaz Lounge on the 51st floor between 6pm and 8pm for wine and canapés on the house.

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