Convenience. Elegance. Luxury. These are the words that I would use to describe The Tokyo Station Hotel.
In the spring of 2019, I had the utmost pleasure and privilege to spend a night at the iconic red-brick building in Japan’s most important station, The Tokyo Station Hotel (東京ステーションホテル). A 5-star hotel that opened its doors in 1915, The Tokyo Station Hotel is one of the facilities offered in the Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building (東京駅 丸の内駅舎 Tōkyō-eki Marunouchi-ekisha) which was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 2006.
Of course, I was ecstatic when I was given this opportunity—it isn’t very often that one gets to stay at one of Japan’s most prestigious hotels! So if you’re here to find out whether The Tokyo Station Hotel is worth the stay (the answer is an obvious yes, by the way), here’s my personal review with four simple reasons why:
1. Convenience, connectivity, accessibility
If you’re looking for high accessibility and connectivity within Japan’s busiest city, it really doesn’t get any more convenient than staying right at Tokyo Station (東京駅) itself. Besides housing tens of railway lines, did you know that Tokyo Station is the originating point of the national railway network? Connected right next to Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi South Exit (丸の内南口 Marunouchi-minamiguchi), you’re literally minutes away from the gates to board your next train or shinkansen to whichever destination you’re heading to.
I stayed at The Tokyo Station Hotel on my first day in Tokyo. Upon my arrival from Singapore at the Narita International Airport (NRT; 成田国際空港), I boarded the direct limited express train Narita Express (N’EX) where it was an hour of a pleasant and smooth journey to Tokyo Station. If you’re flying in from Haneda International Airport (HND; 羽田国際空港), Tokyo Station is just about 30 minutes away by train.
Of course, navigating through one of Japan’s busiest stations isn’t an easy feat, but directions on the signboards all around the platforms and station were clear: just head towards Marunouchi South Exit and soon enough you’ll find yourself at the entrance of The Tokyo Station Hotel.
2. Top-notch hospitality and service
The Tokyo Station Hotel is famed for its hospitality and meticulous attention to detail. Recently I learnt that The Tokyo Station Hotel actually has a formal relationship established with Singapore’s very own Raffles Hotel, and sends their staff members to our heritage hotel in efforts to improve their level of hospitality and service to further cater to visitors worldwide.
And it truly shows. From the moment I entered the hotel, I was warmly greeted by attentive porters and a welcoming receptionist who made me feel at ease right away. Despite arriving early, well before the official check-in time, the staff reassured me that my belongings would be securely stored and later delivered to my room. To make the wait more enjoyable, they even recommended several nearby restaurants for lunch. I’ve never encountered hospitality quite like this before!
3. Rooms fit for royalty
In my opinion, a night at The Tokyo Station Hotel is as close as it gets to having a taste of royalty. As one of the hotels listed in Small Luxury Hotels of the World and the recipient of multiple awards and accolades, this hotel indeed prides itself in striking a balance in preserving the heritage of this historical landmark as well as bringing in a flair of modernity and contemporary in both its design and amenities.
The hotel has around 150 guest rooms and suites (Classic Rooms, Palace Side Rooms, Dome Side Rooms, Maisonette Duplex) all uniquely decorated with a classic European charm, providing guests with varying facades of the station’s rich heritage.
As a young professional, a cosy stay in one of the prestigious rooms offered by The Tokyo Station Hotel was more than what I would bargain for for a night of pampered luxury. I spent the night at one of the Palace Side Rooms, where I was granted a view overlooking the grand Imperial Palace (皇居 Kōkyo). The room was spacious and bright, and had all the amenities one would need and more. If I had the choice I wouldn’t ever want to leave the room!
4. Top-notch breakfast
Here comes one of my favourite parts about my stay at The Tokyo Station Hotel: their buffet-style breakfast at The Atrium. Strictly offered to in-house guests only, the hotel’s breakfast selection is one of the best served in hotels in Japan, serving a wide spread of exquisite Continental and Japanese food.
Apart from the egg station where the chef prepares one of the best omelettes and Egg’s Benedict that I’ve ever had, the highlight of my breakfast was the fresh slices of chutoro (中トロ) sashimi served at the Japanese food section.
Quintessential Japanese breakfast items such as natto, tororo, tsukudani, miso soup, and three types of Japanese rice are also served alongside the premium selection like ikura and mentaiko, all in the highest of qualities.
Visitors to The Tokyo Station Hotel can also enjoy breakfast served at the Lobby Lounge. Though not as large a spread as the one in The Atrium, you can expect a scrumptious serving of Continental breakfast at the Lobby Lounge as well.
An iconic heritage of Tokyo
Lastly, to tie up with all aforementioned reasons as to why The Tokyo Station Hotel is worth the stay, a night in The Tokyo Station Hotel is not just a night in any luxury hotel, it is a night spent with preserved history and heritage. Even after going through more than a century’s worth of world affairs, events, and reconstruction, the building’s iconic red-brick design and grandeur still stands out and tall among Tokyo’s ever-changing Central Business District’s landscape.
Given its central location, The Tokyo Station Hotel is walking distance to some of Tokyo’s must-see sightseeing spots such as the Imperial Palace and the Ginza (銀座) shopping district. And of course, the rest of Tokyo is just a train ride away from Tokyo Station.
While a night at The Tokyo Station Hotel comes with a price, there’s really no better choice for a luxurious, comfortable, and convenient stay than at The Tokyo Station Hotel and it is an experience that I would definitely recommend to all to try once in their lifetime.
The Tokyo Station Hotel (東京ステーションホテル)
Address: 1-9-1, Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo 100-0005
Access: Directly connected to Tokyo Station (東京駅) via the Marunouchi South Exit (丸の内南口).
No. of rooms: 150
Tel: +81 3-5220-1111
