Park Hotel Tokyo
1–7–1 Higashi Shimbashi, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 105-7227, Japan
Why We Like It
A few nights at Park Hotel Tokyo are enough to make you want to pick up a paintbrush. Set in the topmost floors of Shiodome Media Tower, the art-themed accommodations include boutique amenities and panoramic views of the city. Local artists received free reign to decorate dozens of rooms, decking them out floor-to-ceiling in charming themes such as Sumo, Zodiac, and Lucky Cat.
Fodor's Expert Review
A stay at Park Hotel Tokyo feels as if you’re in an art gallery above the clouds. The boutique property runs a residency that brought in Japanese creatives to transform 42 rooms into immersive works of art. Even if you’re not staying in one of these Artist Rooms, you can take in skyline views of Tokyo Tower and Mount Fuji from the giant windows. From a colorful afternoon tea in the glass atrium lobby to rotating exhibitions throughout the halls, Park Hotel Tokyo is a joy for anyone with a yen for contemporary Japanese art.
You Should Know All guests of Park Hotel Tokyo have access to the 25th floor lounge, including for an hour before check-in and after checkout. Sit by the windows and fill up on free drinks and pastries while flipping through art books. Guests can also wander the corridors between floors 26 to 34 to see rotating art pieces.
PROS
- Inspiring art experiences throughout the hotel
- One-of-a-kind decorated rooms with Tokyo Tower views
- An outstanding whisky bar and range of dining options
CONS
- No gym or pool facilities
- Not located in a major Tokyo district
- Non-artist rooms have a more standard design with compact bathrooms
Recommended Fodor’s Video
Room
Of Park Hotel Tokyo’s 268 rooms, 42 were designed by artists that put a personal spin on a Japanese theme. For example, in “Festival,” painter Nanami Ishihara covered every inch of the room with whimsical dancing animals and schoolgirls—even turning an air vent into the grinning mouth of a lion. In “Geisha Goldfish,” Aki Narita transformed the walls and ceilings into an aquarium with glistening orange goldfish and geisha floating all around. Park Hotel’s regular rooms have a clean and modern boutique vibe, as well as ample space. From the giant vista windows, guests can spot Mount Fuji and the twinkling Tokyo Tower.
Bathroom
If you booked an Artist Room, then the creative design extends into the bathrooms. In “Kabuki,” for instance, Yamaguchi Keisuke painted a colorful scene above the tub showing masks and actors from the traditional Japanese theater. He even added a scowling red and white kumadori mask to the toilet seat lid! While the bathrooms at Park Hotel Tokyo are on the smaller side, they have high-tech Japanese toilets and deep bathtubs, as well as aromatic wood-scented amenities by Thai brand Thann.
Lobby
Park Hotel Tokyo’s interactive art experience begins at the 25th floor lobby. The tall, open atrium soars up nine floors to a geometric glass prism that lights up the lounge areas. With greenery and gold accents juxtaposed with dark wood, the lobby is a peaceful space for kicking back and browsing art for sale by the resident artists. There’s even an unusual smoking room by artist Akihisa Hayashi, with a mural of a pipe-smoking geisha surrounded by Tokyo landmarks and J-pop references.
Spa
The in-house Thann Sanctuary is a Thai spa that targets all the senses. Located on the 26th floor, these serene, earthy-colored rooms have vista views of Tokyo’s skyline. Thann’s aromatherapy-based relaxation menu includes a signature Thai massage with vitamin-rich rice bran and plant essential oils.
Dining
Every morning, Art Colours Dining puts out a continental and Japanese buffet beneath the atrium skylight. The healthy selection includes free-range eggs cooked in your favorite style, and traditional dishes like grilled salmon, gobo (burdock root), and hijiki (dark brown seaweed salad). This restaurant also serves lunch, dinner, and a “Magic of Colors” afternoon tea with organic brews and well-presented seasonal bites. Have supper at Hanasanshou; the luxurious Japanese menu features a kaiseki set course with starters like black soybean sponge cake followed by sushi, sashimi, and wagyu beef sukiyaki.
Drinking
Whisky connoisseurs are in for a treat at The Society, the first bar in Japan recognized by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. The bartenders are delighted to take you on a journey through hundreds of specialty bottles from around the world, including dozens of single malt whiskies from Scotland and a local sake selection. Try a craft cocktail with Japanese herbs and fruits or have a whisky flight while looking out at Blade Runner-like nighttime views.
Tip Request a room with a window view of Tokyo Tower, and ask for an international newspaper like The New York Times to be delivered to your door. This way, you can spend a slow morning lounging on the scenic sill while sipping green tea and doing the crossword.
What's Nearby
Getting Around
Park Hotel Tokyo is in a quiet business district near Shiodome and Shimbashi stations, which is a 22-minute walk to ritzy Ginza. Amble 17 minutes west to Hamarikyu Gardens, a 17th century park with picture-perfect wood bridges over ponds. The serene Prince Shiba Park and Tokyo Tower are a 25-min walk in the opposite direction. You can also stroll 18 minutes to the Tokyo Bay waterfront and Tsukiji, the city’s traditional market for fresh fish and seafood.
Restaurants
Follow your nose to Tsukiji Outer Market (18-min walk) in the early morning for breakfast sets made with the catch of the day, such as uni and salmon rice bowls. Snack your way around Tsukiji, hitting up Ihachi A5 Wagyu Steak for a juicy skewer of high-grade marbled beef. Save room for a melt-in-your-mouth flight of tuna nigiri at Maguroya Kurogin; the fatty toro is a must.
Bars
After work, many Japanese businesspeople head to the small bars along the train tracks in Shimbashi. Raise a glass with them at Side B (8-min walk), a bar known for its tequila selection and classic rock soundtrack. Sip whisky on the rocks at Bar Blue Bridge (8-min walk), a laid-back listening hole that feels like a scene from a Haruki Murakami novel.
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