Why stay?

The first of two outposts for the brand in the Japanese capital, The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon ushers in a new guard of unconventional five-star lodgings. It delivers luxury with a little less pretense and a youthful exuberance, standing out as a collaboration between star architect Kengo Kuma and boundary-pushing American hotelier Ian Schrager. The existence and popularity of this sleek, artfully simple, and very international property reminds both Tokyoites and visitors that high-end doesn’t have to mean putting on airs; high-end living can also be synonymous with having a whole lot of fun.

The neighborhood

Taking up the highest levels of the 38-story Tokyo World Gate skyscraper, csits in the center of the suited-up Toranomon business district like a party hub hidden in a deceptively low-key exterior. Toranomon doesn’t have a reputation for being a tourist hub; it’s a place where the city’s elite hold breakfast business meanings in plush hotel lobbies (like at the Edition) and where international diplomats slip in and out of nondescript black cabs. The area is at the cusp of a cultural evolution, though, with redevelopments well underway. From the Edition’s large windows, you can witness the new Toranomon unfurl in real-time, with fresh, ambitious projects emerging from the scaffolding.

One of the Studio Terrace rooms at The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon.

The feel

An element of surprise hits you when you step into the expansive 31st-floor lobby, a tropical forest in the sky that sets the scene for the Edition’s understated style while revealing knockout views of Tokyo. The meticulously maintained greenery framing every inch of the open space—cordoning off nooks and creating private corners—speaks to Kuma’s appreciation for merging the modern and clean-lined with the natural and organic. So too does the wood paneling on the walls and ceiling slats, which were derived from Buddhist temple architecture. The international staff and more laid-back approach to service, paired with DJ-curated soundtracks rather than your typical piano-heavy staples for a luxury hotel, speak to the brand’s more contemporary ideologies and passion for challenging the status quo.

Guest quarters

The rooms feel like a natural progression from the lobby; they’re effortlessly cool without trying to go over the top. Minimalist in design, accommodations feature light wooden finishes, clean white linens, and low platform beds with faux fur throws arranged just so. With the changing Tokyo skies as a backdrop, the ensemble makes for a soothing sight. Bathrooms come stocked with bespoke black tea–scented products from Le Labo, a New York City–born fragrance maker that has become a marker of new luxury. Studio Terrace rooms are distinguished by an outdoor sky terrace complete with potted plants and teak patio furniture—rare for any Tokyo hotel. South-facing rooms and suites (you’ll know by the word “tower” in the name) promise excellent views of the Tokyo Tower, which stands proud in its vermillion glory—an iconic punctuation mark against the urban sprawl. Of the 22 suites, the biggest one is the 168-square-meter Terrace Suite, which includes an eight-seater dining table and an expansive outdoor deck made for entertaining.

Food and drink

Each of the restaurants and lounges at the Edition has its own personality, but it’s evident that their interconnectedness has been thoughtfully considered. Start with the Lobby Bar, a more relaxed hangout where high tea is served to elegant ladies of leisure while international, casually dressed movers and shakers chat business at the bar counter. Behind this is The Blue Room, which hosts a convivial breakfast session in the mornings, then transforms into a chic lunch and dinner spot serving global culinary delights: think herb-roasted Yamagata pork loin with sweet potato and red onion in a sage sauce or paella made of koshihikari rice, dashi broth, and Canadian lobster. Also on the 31st floor is The Jade Room + Garden Terrace, the hotel’s crowning jewel. The first outpost in Japan for renowned British chef Tom Aikens, this two-in-one dining destination comprises an alfresco setting for nature-inspired light bites and drinks, and a ritzier restaurant whose multicourse menus fuse Western culinary techniques and Japanese influences in playful creations like onion custard with “bread miso” and Hokkaido cheese. Each plate has a story, which it doesn’t tell but sings. When it’s time to take the dinner conversation to its next destination, there’s the ground-floor Gold Bar—a hideaway cocktail den with an interior that harks back to more traditional interpretations of luxury. Patrons here sip creative tipples on faux-leather sofas and velvet banquettes below a scalloped white ceiling.

Fire-roasted celeriac carpaccio at The Jade Room; a lounge area at The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon’s spa.

Wellness factor

From a vigorous workout at the Technogym-equipped fitness center to a facial, body scrub, or massage in one of the six treatment rooms, the hotel’s wellness offerings cover all the bases. Those who want to get the body moving while basking in a sense of relaxation should spend time in the pool and Jacuzzi, both of which are internally lit in a dramatic shade of blue. Designed like a conservatory, the concrete-tiled pool area has high windows that let in natural light.

Family matters

The buzzy, youthful energy of The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon lends itself a little more to folks traveling sans kids. That said, the more casual approach to luxury here means you can feel at ease bringing your younger ones and letting them get a little raucous without messing with the ambience. Children receive amenities like special pajamas and even toddlers are welcome.

Sustainability cred

Since pre-opening, the hotel has worked with partners like Project 0 to become entirely plastic-free: you’ll see bath amenities in refillable pump bottles, bamboo toothbrushes, and wooden key cards, as well as drinking water in small paper cartons with lids made of sugarcane. Local sourcing is prioritized across the board, whether in organic products for the spa, food for the restaurant kitchens, and items for in-room minibars.

What else?

The works of Japanese artists take pride of place around the hotel—look out for Two Birds by Mariko Mori at the street-level arrival lobby and Shiro Kuramata’s mesh metal chair How High The Moon near the 31st-floor reception area. Ahead of the year-end holidays, The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon enlists sought-after local designers to conjure up its lobby Christmas tree.

Reviewed by Lucy Dayman

editionhotels.com/tokyo-toranomon/
+81 3 5422 1600
4-1-1 Toranomon, Minato City, Tokyo, Japan

The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon: Elegantly Exuberant

Tokyo Hotels

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