Background
Part of The Leading Hotels of the World, Imperial Hotel Company also owns Imperial Hotel, Osaka and Kamikochi, Imperial Hotel along with Imperial Hotel, Tokyo. The hotel opened in 1890 just south of the Imperial Palace grounds. The original Imperial Hotel was designed by Yuzuru Watanabe, a Japanese architect. The hotel has been an imminent part of Japan’s cultural fabric and has hosted renowned guests like Charlie Chaplin, Marylin Monroe and Tom Hanks.
What’s it like?
The Main Building occupies 17 floors and the Imperial Tower Building houses 31 storeys of rooms and suites. A striking geometric light installation on the ceiling welcomed me at the entrance. Upon walking in, a luminous chandelier takes the spotlight in the lower storey of the lobby. Shades of gold and beige add richness to the ambience. There is a staircase that takes you up to the lobby lounge, which is an expansive space with many pockets of seating areas.
Where is it?
About a five-minute walk from three stations in central Tokyo. It is in Hibiya which is a nice choice for travellers interested in local culture and walking tours.
Rooms
It is a colossal hotel with 931 rooms and suites (570 in the Main Building and 361 in the Tower Building). Some of the accommodation categories are Superior, Deluxe and Premier Deluxe rooms and various types of suites. Storeys between the 14th and the 16th have been renovated by English decorator Julian Reed and are called the Imperial Floors. I stayed in a Junior suite (64 sqm) on the Imperial Floor that overlooked Hibiya Park. I enjoyed my morning coffee on the chic lounger in my room. The design of this open plan suite is quite sophisticated with modern Japanese design sensibilities. Some of the in-room amenities include a Bluetooth speaker, an air-purifier, a 42-inch TV, a private bar and Ayura bath amenities.
Food and drink
There is an expansive range of F&B at this hotel. I dined at Les Saisons, its French fine-dining restaurant, a review of which can be read in Business Traveller India’s October 2019 issue. Its all day dining restaurant is Parkside Diner that serves western favourites. Kamon serves grilled specialities and Tokyo Nadaman is known for its Japanese fare. For tempura head to Ten-ichi and for classic sushi visit Sushigen.
Meetings
It houses 27 different banquet and function rooms that are equipped with state-of-the-art support systems for conferences, seminars, fashion shows, exhibitions and gala receptions. Smaller ballrooms for private parties, meetings and other functions are also available. The hotel houses three wedding halls and 18 bridal salons as well.
Leisure
The Imperial Hotel Plaza and Imperial Hotel Arcade are the hotel’s luxury retail spaces. There is also a swimming pool with a sauna, a fitness centre, a music room, a salon, a travel agency, a florist and a pharmacy at
this property.
Verdict:With its rich history and cavernous spaces, it makes for quite a good choice for a discerning business traveller in the Japanese capital.
Price: Upwards of ¥60,500/ ₹39,826
Contact: Imperial Hotel, 1 Chome-1-1 Uchisaiwaichō, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-8558, Japan
Ravi Lalwani
