HOW can you fail to fall in love with a hotel that offers possibly the world’s most comfortable beds coupled with heated toilet seats with a built-in bidet at the touch of a button?
Where else but Tokyo I hear you ask and, in truth, you could be right. It is after all the home of the great gadget.
But the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo is about so much more than just a warm posterior.
In fact, having now stayed at several Ritz-Carlton’s, I would say it epitomises the brand – effortless luxury, great facilities and staff who make you feel both like one of the family and at the same time an honoured guest – truly, in Ritz-Carlton parlance, ‘ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen‘.
The 248-room property runs from the 45th floor upwards in the city’s tallest skyscraper so the views are panoramic, an asset which has been expertly exploited providing glimpses of the snow-capped Mount Fuji and the dramatic cityscape sprawling below.
Designed by renowned interior decorator Frank Nicholson, the hotel reflects classic European inspiration fused with contemporary accents. Four bold and colorful works by American painter Sam Francis – a favorite of Japanese art collectors – stretch four metres high creating a striking presence in the lobby.
In the guest rooms, which at 52 sq m are the most spacious in the city, fine, light woodwork, hand-tufted carpets and drapes and Japanese Chiyo-gami patterned wall coverings join with Frette linens and luxury bathroom products (including pretty much everything you can think of for the forgetful traveller) to create a sense of unobtrusive opulence.
And since I was actually there for work, I should mention that the desk workstation and free Wi-Fi made sitting at my computer with a glass of bubbly and a cigarette (yes they still have smoking rooms), if not a pleasure, then certainly not a chore.
Facilities at the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo include the Espa space which, at 2,000 sq m, occupies the whole 46th floor and offers a state-of-the-art fitness studio and heated indoor pool alongside nine treatment rooms for some serious pampering. There is a range of restaurant and lounge choices offering both traditional Japanese and more international cuisine. I tried both Azure for breakfast and the Michelin-starred Hinokizaka (pictured) for a scrummy Japanese lunch. A 200-year-old Japanese teahouse, Kokushoan, is also available for private dining.
Meeting space is extensive and, for those with romance in mind, the hotel offers the perfect venue for the traditional and elaborate Japanese weddings, with facilities including a wedding chapel, full-service beauty/costume salon and photo studio.
Other notable features include Japan’s most expensive guest room, The Ritz-Carlton Suite, which at JPY2,000,000 ($24,338) per night, proved a little rich even for TTN’s budget.
By Liz O‘Reilly