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In a metropolis recognized for hustle and bustle – one solely wants to take a look at a photograph of Shibuya crossing throughout rush hour (or any hour) to get the concept – discovering someplace to relaxation up, and relaxation nicely, is important. And there are few locations higher geared up to supply a way of tranquillity within the coronary heart of the Japanese capital than the Hotel New Otani Tokyo.
For six a long time, the property has been one among Tokyo’s main five-star lodges, and it’s not tough to see why company select to remain right here repeatedly. Attractions just like the Imperial Palace, Shinjuku, and the aforementioned Shibuya are only a quick metro journey away, but the resort appears like a real oasis within the metropolis due to its setting subsequent to a 400-year-old Japanese backyard.
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While the greenery presents respite from Tokyo’s busy tempo, the resort itself is extra like a metropolis inside the metropolis, with 37 eating places and greater than 50 outlets inside, together with a submit workplace and a clinic.
Should you need to keep inside the complicated, you’ll not battle for issues to do, from a spa day to a night admiring the sundown from the restaurant on the seventeenth ground, but for many who do enterprise outdoors, you’re by no means too distant from an journey in surrounding Chiyoda.
Middle East Traveller checked in at Executive House Zen’s HINOKI Suite at Hotel New Otani Tokyo, for a stick with unrivalled views and world-class service.
The Hotel
Hotel New Otani Tokyo’s story started shortly earlier than the 1964 Summer Olympics, with founder Yonetaro Otani requested to construct the resort to handle a shortfall in lodging forward of the sporting occasion. Once accomplished – in simply 17 quick months – the property turned Tokyo’s tallest constructing, a title it held till 1968 with the completion of the Kasumigaseki Building.
Classic film followers might nicely recognise it because the headquarters of Osato Chemicals in You Only Live Twice (1967), however the resort additionally acquired its iconic standing partly resulting from its revolving restaurant on the highest ground.
The property was constructed on the previous residence of samurai lord Katō Kiyomasa, which was in flip used because the Fushimi-no-miya household residence, though now solely the gardens stay. It’s right here you’ll discover greater than 100 cherry blossom bushes, with 20 completely different sorts of sakura, making for a powerful web site throughout peak bloom.
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Our go to coincides with the tip of cherry blossom season, and resort company are in a position to get pleasure from backyard excursions and lantern excursions all through their stays. Should you miss the short-but-sweet blooms, the area is reworked in hues of deep pink come autumn, whereas a separate rose backyard flowers in May and October.
The unique constructing – now known as The Main – and the Garden Tower, first opened in 1974, host 1,474 visitor rooms, quite a few outlets throughout the Arcade Floor within the basement, in addition to the spa and fitness center, together with a seasonal out of doors pool. It ought to be famous that company with a tattoo of any dimension will not be in a position to entry the spa, even with a sticker cowl up.
The Arrival
Guests travelling through taxi can attain the property inside 40 minutes of leaving Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, whereas the town’s incomparable metro will drop you off at Akasaka-Mitsuke Station, only a quick stroll away, in below an hour.
Check-in for Executive House Zen is on the eleventh ground, beside the Zen Lounge. Here, you’ll discover floor-to-ceiling home windows with views out to Akasaka Palace, the skyscrapers of Shibuya (that are greatest considered at night time, while you’ll see the highest of Docomo Tower lit up in pinks and blues), and, must you be fortunate sufficient to go to on a transparent day, Mount Fuji.
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The area is glossy and fashionable, with charcoal and gray hues all through, however manages to nonetheless be welcoming with gentle pouring in. Throughout the Zen Lounge, and within the Executive Zen rooms, you’ll spot ink drawings harking back to conventional calligraphy.
Executive Zen company can return right here all through the day for numerous meals choices, together with breakfast, a morning snack, lunch, afternoon tea, hors d’oeuvres and night time caps. The lounge maintains a quiet buzz with out ever feeling too busy — the emphasis is on zen, in any case.
After just a few fast types, paired with a heat ginger drink, you’ll be prepared to move down the hallway to your room. We arrive barely sooner than the official check-in time of 3pm, however our room is already prepared and ready for us.
The Room
Executive House Zen presents 84 rooms and suites throughout the eleventh and twelfth flooring, with views both just like these provided by Zen Lounge, or out to Chiyoda and the Tokyo Dome. What greets you inside is an up to date model of a standard Japanese residence, with bamboo poles within the entrance approach, and shoji masking every of the floor-to-ceiling home windows.
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In our HINOKI suite, the primary room serves as the lounge, with a chaise lounge in entrance of the TV, a eating desk for 2, and a walk-in closet off to the aspect. The bed room options two twin beds pushed collectively to type a king dimension mattress, with an en-suite that includes his-and-hers sinks.
The pièce de résistance, nevertheless, is the hinoki bathtub made from cypress wooden. Dips listed here are improved by the inclusion of a bottle of sake, permitting you to bask in a standard sake bathtub meant to melt the pores and skin. Should you need to take your leisure up a notch, in-room remedy therapies can be found day by day between 11am and 2am.
The Service
While workers are readily available to help you with a fast press of ‘0’, the room is designed to minimise your want for interplay, with nearly each need considered.
Not certain what the climate shall be tomorrow? Your bedside desk has the climate forecast on it. Raining outdoors? Find umbrellas within the walk-in closet. Forgot your face wash or moisturiser? The rest room has a skincare set (alongside extra widespread facilities like shampoo and physique lotion courtesy of Salvatore Ferragamo). Forgot your PJs? There’s two units ready on the mattress for you (NB: It is commonplace for many Japanese lodges to supply these, though the set at Hotel New Otani Tokyo is exceptionally delicate).
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On high of those, you may also request a cell phone charger, hair roller or straighteners, humidifiers and extra. Those who’ve a favorite sort of pillow can decide to modify theirs out with the usual providing for tempur or buckwheat hull, too. It’s an invite to reach with an empty suitcase and discover the purchasing alternatives of Ginza and Shinjuku to the max – one we’re all too prepared to simply accept.
To us, the usual of service is encapsulated by the truth that workers behind the reception desk at Zen Lounge will name the elevator for you earlier than you even have the prospect to carry a finger.
The Restaurants and Bars
While the highest ground restaurant of The Main, The Sky View & Dining, now not spins, it nonetheless serves as a buffet restaurant with reside cooking stations for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Across the sprawling complicated, you’ll discover a additional 36 eating places, with 4 choices for breakfast alone – our choose can be both the Garden Lounge, with views out over the Japanese backyard, or the Tower Restaurant, up on the fortieth ground of the Garden Tower. For these wishing to strive a Japanese-style breakfast, head to Kioi Nadaman, or order from room service.
Whether you’re within the temper for shabu-shabu, noodles, sushi or teppanyaki, the numerous Japanese eating places have you ever coated. Other notable choices embody Tour d’Argent Tokyo, the second, and solely department outdoors of Paris, in addition to Sekishin-tei, a teppanyaki restaurant serving Kobe beef and different unique delicacies.
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In Tokyo, the early chicken catches the worm (or, captures the proper shot for the ‘gram lengthy earlier than the opposite vacationers have woken up), and it appears that evidently our fellow company at Hotel New Otani Tokyo have cottoned on to this. A 6.45am go to to the Garden Lounge finds the restaurant teeming with individuals, though the wait to be seated is mere minutes.
Halal meat choices can be found throughout the resort’s eating places, however should be requested upfront.
Why Stay?
A way of zen permeates the property, which gives a much-needed respite from the overwhelming scents, sights and sounds of the remainder of the town. While the Japanese backyard is greatest considered throughout sakura season, peace will be present in each nook all year long.
Over the years, Hotel New Otani Tokyo has welcomed notable figures reminiscent of Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Canada’s premier Stephen Harper and the British Prime Minister Theresa May (and, in fact, James Bond). We’re all too happy to have joined them in staying at this long-standing resort.
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The Essentials
- Rates: Rooms begin at USD420 per night time for a Deluxe King room together with breakfast, topic to taxes
- Phone quantity: +81 3 3265 1111
- Website: newotani.co.jp/en/tokyo
- Address: Hotel New Otani Tokyo, 4-1 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8578, Japan
