The Okura Tokyo

The iconic Hotel Okura Tokyo returns with a brand new name (The Okura Tokyo) and plenty of brand new updates – blending modern facilities we expect of a 5-star luxury hotel with the charm and traditional craft guests loved with its predecessor. 

Disclaimer: Our stay at The Okura Tokyo was hosted but all words, comments and thoughts in this post are our own.

Things we love

• Exceptional service from staff 
• Heritage stay with the comfort of a 5-star hotel
• Great transport connectivity and convenient location
• Higher-floor rooms offer incredible views

Location

We’ve been fortunate enough to visit Tokyo a number of times over the years, but something we’ve always struggled with is choosing an area we want to base ourselves in. Tokyo is the world’s largest city so choosing a good location will pay dividends – especially if you have a packed itinerary full of exploring. 

The Okura Tokyo is a 5-star luxury hotel located in the heart of Tokyo. Positioned in the business district of Toranomon places it central enough for most places to be easily reached. Its advantageous positioning combined with the multiple metro stations dotted nearby makes The Okura Tokyo a great choice when it comes to location.

Guests happy to get a few steps in can also reach Tokyo Tower within 15 minutes by foot or Hie Shrine and Akasaka district in around 10 minutes.

Property

The hotel has a long and rich history, dating back to its opening in 1962. Previously known as Hotel Okura Tokyo, the original hotel was designed by Japanese architect Yoshiro Taniguchi, he infused Japanese style with modernist aesthetics throughout the property. The mix between traditional and modern was particularly evident inside the hotel’s much-loved lobby from the hotel’s iconic The Okura Lanterns to the traditional latticed woodwork and plum flower motif tables and chairs.

In 2019, the hotel completed a major 3-year renovation transforming it into The Okura Tokyo of today. The architect tasked with redesigning such an iconic hotel was none-other than Yoshio Taniguchi, Yoshiro Taniguchi’s son. Fans of the hotel’s predecessor will be happy to know the lobby has retained much of its elegance, tradition and charm. Many parts of the old lobby were carefully lifted and re-used to recreate a strikingly similar lobby as the old – the main difference is the clean and polished finish one would expect from a luxury hotel of today.

Where we see major changes is in the layout. Previously a single large building, The Okura Tokyo now consists of two glass towers – the 41-floor The Okura Prestige Tower which houses the main lobby, many of the restaurant offerings and Prestige style rooms; and the 17-floor The Okura Heritage Wing with its, you guessed it, Heritage style rooms.

Room

We spent two nights at The Okura Tokyo, one in each style room. Our first night was in the higher Prestige Corner Room which offers (what we can only describe as) an “immersive view” of the city – we’ll let the photos do the talking. The view extends all the way into the bathroom so if you’re up for it you can enjoy a nice bubble bath with city lights blinking in the background.

The room itself is beautiful and modern. Two large beds with a sofa seating area at the end, and a spacious desk with all the charging ports one might need if you need to do a spot of work. The lighting, temperature and blinds of the room can be controlled from the handy tablet sat at the bedside.

In contrast, The Heritage rooms pay tribute to traditional Japanese aesthetics, step inside and you’ll be greeted with comforting natural tones and plenty of wood used throughout. The Heritage rooms also offer balcony options which overlook the hotel’s garden – we stayed just before sakura season but spotted some early blossoms in the garden.

Facilities and Restaurants

There are five restaurants inside The Okura Tokyo ranging from teppanyaki to French fine dining. We didn’t quite have enough time to try lunch or dinner at the restaurants but the included breakfast at Yamazato was one of the best traditional Japanese breakfasts we had throughout our whole stay in Japan.

On the 41st floor is Starlight, a bar which (in our opinion) offers some of the most stunning views in the whole of Tokyo. Starlight Senior Bartender Kenji Nakano also won the Original Cocktail Competition with his “Filer” cocktail so be sure to give it a taste while you’re there. Other hotel facilities include a world-class spa (so relaxing, Sarah fell asleep during her 60 minute session), a gym and fitness centre with heated pool, and a ground floor shopping arcade. 

Summary

So often guests want to experience a unique stay yet they might not want to give up the comfort and level of service that comes from a more established hotel brand – the choice is somewhat of a balancing act. The Okura Tokyo treads this fine line well, offering luxury and service at its finest alongside tradition and architecture that is quintessentially Japanese. As of writing this article, The Okura Tokyo is our number one choice when recommending luxury hotels in the capital city.

For more information or to book your stay visit theokuratokyo.jp