Review: Peninsula Hotel Tokyo

Introduction

Featuring 314 guestrooms, the Peninsula Tokyo offers up some of Tokyo’s biggest rooms in supremely luxurious surrounds. With 5 restaurants and bars on-site, the Peninsula Tokyo is an ideal base for business travellers in Japan.

Join Australian Business Traveller as we explore one of Tokyo’s most renowned hotels. 

Location & Impressions

Located at the crossroads of Harumi Dori and Naka Dori, across from the sprawling Imperial Palace and Hibiya Park, the Peninsula Tokyo is directly connected to the Hibiya subway station making it extremely accessible.

Business travellers will appreciate the Peninsula’s proximity to the Otemachi financial and theatre districts, as well as the Aoyama fashion district. The hotel’s second main entrance opens onto Marunouchi Naka Dori, just a three-minute walk to the shopping mecca of Ginza with plenty of the world’s top luxury fashion brands represented.

Standing 24-stories tall, the Peninsula Tokyo’s exterior is inspired by a traditional Japanese lantern. The hotel’s philosophy of being ‘international in design’ and ‘Japanese in inspiration’ is evident throughout the hotel, especially in the lobby’s iconic ‘hanabi’ firework-inspired chandelier.

Depending on when you check-in, the lobby can feel crowded with all the breakfast tables set up, however check-in itself is courteous and efficient.

Settling into your room, the staff explain how all the technology works – while some hotels can be very hit-or-miss with the way the tech works in the room, the Peninsula’s room controls are all intuitive and well-labelled so you’re not struggling to do basic tasks like open the curtains. 

Room

There are a number of room options on offer but for our stay we were situated in the hotel’s most popular room category, the Deluxe Room.

Located on floors 8 to 23 of the Peninsula, there can be views of the Imperial Palace or Hibiya Park depending on how high up you are and which side of the building you’re on.

The room styling is elegant, featuring a lot of earth tones and wood – you almost get the sense of a traditional ryokan, but with all the creature comforts that a luxury hotel provides. Recessed lighting and contemporary lamps provide plenty of light that you can adjust to your own preferences.

Within the room there’s a large king-size bed, a lounge area in the same space, and a small breakfast table for two.

There’s also a desk with plenty of powerpoints and connectivity options for your laptop and tablet, as well as a hidden television.

A self-contained dressing room on the right of the entrance foyer gives you ample wardrobe space and mirrors for getting ready in the morning…

…while the bathroom on the left of the entrance foyer features a bathtub to soak in….

…plus a shower, and of course one of Japan’s famed technology-packed bidet/toilets.

The room also features a Lavazza coffee machine….

…as well as a generously sized safe to keep your valuables tucked away. 

Work

With free wired and wireless internet available, getting connected is a breeze. The internet speeds aren’t exactly blazing fast, which is especially frustrating considering Japan offers some of the world’s highest internet speeds, but it’s free and reliable which is a lot more than can be said for many other luxury hotels we’ve stayed in.

Within the room, you’ll find a dedicated fax machine with its own number, but there’s also a business centre on basement level one if you require any assistance or need to use one of the hotel’s computers.

Eat

If you’re taking advantage of the hotel breakfast, be warned that it’s not very substantial (but it is fairly high quality) and you’ll most likely have to wait to be seated as the area is quite small, so it’s not ideal for business travellers that need to run out quickly in the mornings.

With that being said, Tokyo is renowned for its cuisine and the Peninsula offers a range of fine dining choices, from traditional Kaiseki cuisine to Western-inspired grilled food, that are well worth checking out.

One of the standouts at the Peninsula Tokyo is Kyoto Tsuruya. The sister restaurant to the 3-Michelin Star ‘Kyoto’ restaurant, Kyoto Tsuruya serves up Kaiseki cuisine using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Our recommendation? Sit at the stone-top tempura bar and you’ll get a front row seat to watch the skilled chefs preparing one of Japan's oldest and most revered cuisines.

For stunning, unobstructed views  of the Imperial Palace, head up to the 24^th floor to Peter, a bar and grill at the very top of the Peninsula Tokyo. Named for the Peninsula Group’s Chief Operating Officer, Peter serves up Western fare alongside an extensive menu of Japanese beefs, including a number of A4 and A5 graded Wagyu beefs.

If you’re after something a bit more casual, there’s a plethora of restaurants of all cuisines and budgets in nearby Ginza, and with a direct connection to the subway station, the Peninsula is perfectly situated to take advantage of all that Tokyo has on offer. 

Relax

The Peninsula Tokyo offers a number of relaxation options, including a very well regarded spa, featuring a range of massages and treatments, as well as a 24-hour fitness centre and a swimming pool with lovely views out over the Imperial Palace.

Overall, the Peninsula Tokyo lives up to its reputation as one of the region’s premier hotels – its central location, elegant, Japanese-inspired interiors, and friendly, knowledgeable staff make it a pleasure to stay here for business or for simply exploring Tokyo. 

James Fordham

James has been interested in aviation ever since his first flight. When he’s not travelling, he’s still on the road indulging his motoring hobby, or trying a new whisky.