Hotel New Otani Tokyo – Hotel Review

The stalwart Hotel New Otani Tokyo is a melange of comfort and convenience. It’s certainly hard to resist: with everything from a spa to a hairdresser, dentist, cluster of around 40 restaurants and acres of private gardens woven with ancient trees, koi ponds and waterfall, it’s a stay unlike any other – Tokyo or otherwise. Read on for the full review.

Hotel New Otani Tokyo is also a beautiful property, with spacious rooms, wonderful views of the surrounding skyline and, of course, green oases that feel like private shrines in the middle of the metropolis. 

Where is Hotel New Otani Tokyo? 

The sprawling property is in Chiyoda, a neighbourhood that encircles the Imperial Palace. The hotel is about an hour by car from Narita International Airport. 

What’s near Hotel New Otani Tokyo?

The moat of the Imperial Palace is reachable by foot in around 25 minutes. There are also two small shrines (Hie and Toyokawa Inari Tokyo Betsuin), both less than a  10-minute walk away. And the nearest train station of Yotsuya, which has metro links to all over Tokyo, is a similar distance.

Room types 

Even the smallest rooms at New Otani are bigger than the city’s average, some with  bathtubs made of cypress wood, no less. The decor is free from widespread continuity, with rooms dressed in a corporate vibe while others are presented in a more adventurous mix of shibori-style soft furnishings and self-dubbed “Japanesque” design features. 

Business travellers should splash out for the Garden Tower’s King Suite, which has a smart (and completely separate) study with additional bathroom, as well as a dining, living –and plenty of space to spread out. “Shin-Edo” suites are also excellent choices, owing to the cypress soaking tubs and complimentary sake that make for special touches in these eclectically designed spaces. 

Restaurants and bars 

There’s an eatery for almost every mood at Hotel Otani. Choices span a teppanyaki/ steakhouse hidden in the garden to a Shanghai-influenced eatery with city views, and a chandelier-adorned French bistrot. A tipple at Sky Bar, is a non-negotiable, where you can experience the drinking spot on the hotel’s soaring 17th floor, with stellar views of the city.

Travel for work

There’s a dizzying array of meeting spaces and rooms for hire if you’re meeting clients while in town. (The breakfast meeting is a tempting choice, thanks to its gorgeous city views.) There’s also a business centre, post office, parcel packing office, laundry service and currency exchange machines within the hotel. 

Spa, gym and pool

Spas, barber shops, two pools, fitness centre and a dentist… the on-site facilities cover extensive ground, even in the wellness (and life admin) category. Whether a traditional tea ceremony or facial treatment is needed, this hotel can deliver (provided you book, of course).

Sustainability

There’s a wide-ranging sustainability effort throughout the hotel. The most impressive measures include the cypress barrel water-storage system (the wood is naturally antibacterial), electrically equipped kitchens, an extensive on-site compost system and even their own water recycling plant. 

What you need to know

Depending on the time of year, there’s a schedule of on-site activities that immerse visitors in Japanese culture. The “Kimono Experience” is year-round and gives guests the chance to dress in these stunning traditional garments.

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