REVIEW | The Okura Tokyo, Japan
- VVZ Travels
- Jun 29
- 10 min read
Room rate and hotel details
Room type: Heritage Room Bath (with Balcony)
Room rate: USD 847
Nights stayed: 3 nights
Dates stayed: 6 June - 9 June 2026
Complimentary Virtuoso benefits when you book with us
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily Buffet breakfast for two , served in the restaurant
$100 USD equivalent in local currency Food & Beverage credit
Bookings in our Suites or higher categories will also receive an in-room welcome amenity of fruits, flowers, and sweets
Early check-in / Late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Overall Rating
Explanations can be found in the conclusion of this post
Room: 9/10
Breakfast: 10/10
Dining: 10/10
Lounge: 8/10 General areas: 9.5/10
Facilities: 9/10 Service: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Would we stay here again?
Yes! Especially for the breakfast and Teppanyaki restaurant.
Introduction
Few hotels in Japan carry the reverence of The Okura Tokyo. First opened in 1962, the original Hotel Okura became an icon of post war Japan and a defining expression of Japanese modernism, welcoming everyone from royalty and heads of state to generations of travellers drawn to its distinctly Japanese interpretation of luxury. At its heart was the legendary lobby, celebrated for its lantern inspired lighting, lacquer finishes, geometric screens, and understated elegance.
When plans were announced to redevelop the hotel, the decision sparked widespread public debate and international protest from architects, designers and loyal guests who considered the lobby a cultural landmark. Rather than allowing its legacy to disappear, architect Yoshio Taniguchi, son of the original architect Yoshiro Taniguchi, led the preservation and reinterpretation of many of its most iconic elements. When The Okura Tokyo reopened in 2019, the spirit of the original lobby had been meticulously recreated and integrated into the new hotel.
Today, staying at The Okura Tokyo feels like experiencing living design history. It remains a masterclass in restraint and omotenashi, proving that luxury does not need to announce itself loudly to leave a lasting impression.
Arrival and Check-In
Our stay at The Okura Tokyo began in a way that felt entirely fitting for the hotel itself, quietly elegant and completely unhurried. Arriving just after 9am following an overnight flight, we fully expected to leave our bags and return later in the day. Instead, thanks to our Virtuoso benefits (which you get too when booking with us), we were warmly informed that our room was already ready and we could check in immediately, an unexpected luxury that instantly transformed the start of our stay.
Check in took place in the Heritage Wing and it was intentionally restrained, calm, hushed and almost
meditative. That said, one detail felt noticeably absent. For a hotel of this calibre, we were surprised there was no welcome drink, tea service or small arrival refreshment. It did not detract from the experience, but did feel like a missed opportunity to create a slightly warmer sense of occasion.
Even so, within minutes we had our room keys in hand and were being escorted upstairs, skipping the usual wait and immediately settling into the experience.
Heritage Room Bath (with Balcony)
We stayed in the Heritage Room Bath with Balcony and found it to be a perfect reflection of what makes The Okura Tokyo so special, understated, thoughtful and quietly luxurious. At approximately 60 square metres, the room feels remarkably spacious for Tokyo, with warm timber finishes, soft textures, and subtle design references to the original Hotel Okura. Large windows fill the room with natural light, while the (very large) private balcony offers a peaceful moment above the city (especially when it was raining in the evening).
The room features a king bed, seating area, writing desk, generous wardrobe space and one of our favourite inclusions - a fully complimentary minibar PLUS a treasure chest filled with souvenirs staff prepared for us to bring home.
The bathroom was equally impressive, featuring a deep soaking bath, separate rainfall shower, double vanity, our own sauna (very convenient especially after a long day), all among beautifully finished stone surfaces.
The bathroom amenities were exceptionally generous and elevated the experience far beyond what we typically expect, even by Japanese luxury hotel standards. Alongside Bamford bath amenities, we were also provided full sized Izu Kuromoji amenities, a distinctly Japanese touch featuring aromatic extracts from the native kuromoji tree, long valued for its calming fragrance and gentle skincare properties.
Waiting at the vanity were complete skincare sets by Japanese brand THREE. One of our favourite discoveries was the Kiso Hinoki gel toothpaste, made using extracts from Japanese hinoki cypress sourced from the Kiso region. Known for its naturally refreshing, woody aroma and traditionally associated with purification and wellness, it was our favourite amenity and when we mentioned it to the housekeeping staff, they prepared several extra tubes for us to bring home!
Imperial Suite
During our stay, we were fortunate to be given a tour of the Imperial Suite, the crown jewel of The Okura Tokyo and widely regarded as the largest hotel suite in Japan. Spanning an extraordinary 730 square metres, the suite was clearly more like a private residence suspended above Tokyo.
The suite features expansive living and dining spaces, multiple reception rooms, a private kitchen, dedicated spa and wellness areas, a gym, sauna, treatment room and beautifully appointed bedrooms designed to host heads of state and dignitaries. Floor to ceiling windows frame sweeping city views, while traditional Japanese craftsmanship appears throughout in subtle ways rather than spectacle.
The bathroom is finished in exquisite stone with warm natural textures, featuring around two oversized soaking baths. Separate his and hers vanities, expansive dressing areas and beautifully integrated lighting create an atmosphere that feels serene.
What struck us most was not simply the scale, but the atmosphere. Despite its size and prestige, the Imperial Suite still feels cosy, restrained and unmistakably Japanese.
Presidential Suite
We also toured the Presidential Suite, which offered a fascinating glimpse into another side of The Okura Tokyo’s luxury offering. While more intimate than the Imperial Suite, at approximately 210 square metres it still feels exceptionally spacious by Tokyo standards and is designed to balance grandeur with residential comfort.
The suite features expansive living and dining areas, a separate bedroom, beautifully integrated work and entertaining spaces, and floor to ceiling windows that frame sweeping views across Tokyo. Interiors continue The Okura’s signature approach - warm timber finishes, subtle references to traditional Japanese design and an atmosphere that feels calm and understated.
The bathroom was particularly memorable and was designed as a private wellness retreat, complete with a deep soaking bath, separate rainfall shower, generous vanity areas, a private wet and dry sauna and beautifully finished stone surfaces.
What impressed us most was how liveable the suite felt. Despite being created for VIP guests and special occasions, nothing felt excessive or intimidating. Instead, it captured The Okura’s philosophy perfectly, delivered through thoughtful design, space and an exceptional attention to detail.
Welcome Amenities, Minibar and Turndown Service
The welcome amenities struck the perfect balance between generous and understated. Waiting in our room was a beautifully presented arrangement of seasonal fruit, delicate macarons, artisan biscuits and a handwritten welcome card, thoughtful touches that immediately made the room feel personal.
One of the most impressive inclusions was the minibar, which is completely complimentary and replenished daily. Rather than the usual token offering, it was exceptionally well stocked with alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks alongside high quality international and Japanese snacks. It encouraged us to slow down and enjoy the room, especially in the evenings when we lounged in the balcony!
Turndown service was similarly thoughtful and quietly executed. Each evening, we returned to a room that had been carefully reset for the night with fresh water, neatly prepared sleepwear and subtle bedside touches like origami cranes. Nothing felt performative or excessive. Guests frequently describe this attention to detail as one of the hotel’s defining strengths and we completely understood why.
Breakfast
Breakfast became one of the unexpected highlights of our stay and one of the privileges that makes staying in the Heritage Wing feel especially rewarding. Rather than being limited to a single venue, Heritage Wing guests can choose to have breakfast across several of The Okura Tokyo’s signature restaurants. Over the course of our stay, we made it a point to try each option.
The French restaurant, Nouvelle Epoque, offered an elegant start to the day with beautifully plated dishes, refined pastries and attentive service in a calm, sophisticated setting. It didn't feel like a hotel breakfast but a genuine French fine dining experience.
The Japanese breakfast at Yamazato was equally memorable and perhaps the most distinctive, showcasing seasonal ingredients and traditional morning dishes presented with the precision and quiet ceremony that Japanese hospitality does so well.
For variety, we also visited the buffet restaurant, which delivered an impressive breakfast spread, though was quite crowded, especially when compared to the previous two restaurants.
Having the freedom to choose a different breakfast experience each morning added a sense of occasion to each day and was something we looked forward to daily!
Dining
Dinner at Sazanka ended up being not only our favourite meal at The Okura Tokyo, but genuinely one of the best dining experiences we have had anywhere in Japan. That is not a statement made lightly, especially having dined at internationally recognised wagyu restaurants and some of Japan’s most celebrated beef destinations. Yet somehow, this meal stayed with us more than any of them.
Located high above the city, Sazanka combines the theatre of teppanyaki with restraint and precision. From our seats around the grill, every course unfolded with quiet confidence. We chose a spectacular seafood and beef selection featuring live lobster, crab, abalone and scallops alongside Kobe beef.
Watching the ingredients prepared moments before reaching the plate created a real sense of occasion, but never felt performative. The abalone and shellfish retained an incredible freshness and sweetness, while each ingredient was cooked with remarkable precision to preserve its natural flavour.
Then came the Kobe beef and this was the moment that completely exceeded expectations. Beautifully marbled and impossibly tender, it had all the richness you expect from great wagyu but with an elegance and balance that prevented it from becoming overwhelming.
Every element around it was restrained and intentional, allowing the quality of the ingredients to speak for themselves. Combined with exceptional service, panoramic Tokyo views, and the intimacy of the counter experience, it became one of those rare meals where everything simply aligned.
Long after the details of individual dishes fade, Sazanka is the meal we still talk about. In a country known for extraordinary dining, that says everything.
Hotel Facilities and Spa
The wellness facilities are centred around the Club Lounge and fitness floors and include a stunning heated indoor swimming pool with floor to ceiling windows, a fully equipped gym, movement and exercise studios, sauna facilities and dedicated relaxation spaces. The hotel also offers The Okura Fitness & Spa, featuring treatment rooms and wellness experiences designed around restoration and balance. We didn't take any photos as we did not want to get any guests in the picture but this is what it looks like!
We particularly appreciated how peaceful everything felt. Even during busy periods, the pool and wellness areas never felt overcrowded and maintained the same calm atmosphere found throughout the hotel. The gym is exceptionally well equipped for a hotel and benefits from natural light and generous space, while the pool area feels closer to a private members club than a typical city hotel facility.
Club Lounge
The club lounge offered a very different atmosphere to the rest of the hotel as a place of retreat. Perched high above Tokyo, the panoramic city views were exceptional and created a sense of calm above the energy of the city below.
Access included breakfast options, refreshments throughout the day, afternoon tea, evening cocktails and a thoughtfully curated selection of light dishes and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. My favourite, though, was one of the simplest offerings, the dashi station. Warm, deeply savoury, and incredibly comforting, it became something I returned to repeatedly! .
The only drawback was that the lounge could become noticeably busy at peak periods, particularly during evening service, which occasionally took away from the otherwise serene atmosphere.
Departure
Departure felt much like the rest of the stay, seamless, calm, and quiet. Check out was handled efficiently with none of the unnecessary waiting or formality that can sometimes interrupt the final moments of a hotel experience. After settling the bill, staff proactively took our Uber car driver's details and our luggages, gesturing for us to relax at the lounge one more time before our car arrived.
Conclusion
Room: 9/10
Beautifully designed and exceptionally spacious, with thoughtful Japanese details throughout. The complimentary minibar, generous amenities and peaceful atmosphere made it easy to relax. The huge balcony overlooking the garden was especially appreciated. The sheer size of the bathroom detracted some space from the bedroom which made it slightly cramped with 3 of us in the room.
Breakfast: 10/10
One of Tokyo’s finest hotel breakfasts. Elegant without being overwhelming, with exceptional quality across both Japanese and Western offerings and service that made each morning feel like an occasion. I personally think its genius to offer Heritage wing guests the option to dine at any of its fine dining restaurants in addition to the club lounge and usual buffet dining area as each restaurant felt distinctly unique and very successfully showcased each of their strengths. I would stay at Okura Tokyo again just for the breakfast!
Dining: 10/10
Not much of an explanation needed here, the teppanyaki was the best restaurant we had dined at in Japan and we have visited top ranking wagyu restaurants which have been recognised globally. The Kobe beef here along with the freshest seafood made for quite literally, a perfect meal.
Lounge: 8/10
A calm and refined space to retreat to throughout the day. Service was excellent, although the food and beverage selection felt slightly more restrained compared to some other leading luxury club lounges. Views were 10/10, but given how crowded the lounge was, gave us no opportunity to sit by the windows and felt slightly noisy at some times.
General Areas: 9.5/10
The Heritage Wing and recreated lobby spaces are stunning and carry a genuine sense of history and quiet grandeur. Every area feels intentional, serene and unmistakably Okura. The dedicated lobbies for each of the Heritage and Prestige wings were very effective in providing each wing its private and unique feel to each arrival. Beautiful Ikebana (Japanese flower arrangements) at the Prestige lobby was a favourite feature of ours too! The Prestige lobby can get quite busy and crowded at peak times however.
Facilities: 9/10
Excellent facilities that balance wellness and functionality without feeling oversized. Beautifully maintained and seamlessly integrated into the hotel experience. The wellness area is particularly impressive, featuring a beautifully designed pool, gym and spa facilities.
Service: 10/10
Impeccable in every interaction. Warm, intuitive and deeply professional, embodying Japanese omotenashi in a way that feels sincere rather than formal. Housekeeping staff were a standout in particular.
Value: 10/10
For the level of service, room quality, historical significance and overall experience, The Okura Tokyo offers remarkable value within Tokyo’s luxury hotel market and delivers far more than simply a place to stay.
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