By basing yourself in the Otemachi district, you’re close to the Imperial Palace Gardens, right by Tokyo Station and near an abundance of high-end boutiques and restaurants. Aman Tokyo is among the luxury hotels hidden within the towering skyscrapers here. This hotel takes up the top six floors of Otemachi Tower, giving you the feeling of being in a tranquil bubble above the lush Imperial Gardens and urban sprawl. 

Much of this tranquillity is down to the contemporary interiors, which are based on Japanese design principles. Soak up the serene ambience in the high-ceilinged lobby, panoramic restaurant and cocktail bar, and take in the views from the smart suites and impressive pool. The spa draws on the country’s wellness philosophy with traditional Japanese hot baths and treatments using natural Japanese ingredients. 

Located in adjacent neighbourhood Marunouchi, The Peninsula Tokyo also overlooks the Imperial Palace Gardens and busy streets. This hotel makes an instant impression with its dramatic lobby, featuring hanabi (fireworks) inspired chandelier, where afternoon tea is served. This space leads to equally captivating areas, including the 24th-floor restaurant and cocktail bar, Cantonese and sushi restaurants, boutique, cafe and The Peninsula Spa with 20-metre pool. Part of the Peninsula experience is exploring the surroundings whilst gaining insight into the local culture through The Peninsula Academy. In Tokyo, these experiences include sake brewing, contemporary art and food tours.

You’ll find this prestigious hotel in the business district of Nihonbashi, named after a famous canal bridge built in the 17th century. The hotel takes up the top nine floors of the towering Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower where panoramic views are afforded by high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass. Just like the other hotels in the Mandarin Oriental group, this property combines plush modern design with Asian accents. Indulge in Asian and Western inspired treatments in the spa. Then, dine at Sushi Shin by Miyakawa; French fine dining restaurant, Signature; Cantonese restaurant, Sense; the Tapas Molecular Bar; K’shiki Italian dining spot; or The Pizza Bar on 38th. Follow this with cocktails in the Oriental Lounge and Mandarin Bar. 

Palace Hotel Tokyo has a particularly privileged location. This property, which sits by the moat of the Imperial Palace Gardens, was originally home to the Forestry Office to the Imperial Household. It was first made into a hotel in the 1940s but, after a three-year rebuild, opened as the Palace Hotel Tokyo in 2012. Now, this property has an impressive 10 restaurants and bars, an Evian Spa, which fuses Asian wellness with Alpine influence, and stylish interiors incorporating more than 1,000 artworks. The hotel is described as a celebration of the Japanese hospitality philosophy, omotenashi, so you know you can expect flawless service.

Back in Marunouchi, Four Seasons offers a boutique retreat in the glimmering skyscraper Pacific Century Place. This hotel offers the service and style you would expect from the Canadian brand fused with elements representative of the location. The Michelin starred chef, Hiroshi Nakamichi, and head chef, Hiroyuki Asano, use flavours from Hokkaido in farm-to-table French cuisine at Motif, with a sake pairing option. Both traditional Japanese and European breakfasts are served in the dining room, with afternoon tea served in the Motif Social Salon. Be sure to try one of the hotel’s curated experiences, which range from a fishing trip in Tokyo Bay to an early morning market visit.

The Japanese hotel group Hoshinoya places much of its focus on design and cuisine. Hoshinoya Tokyo, which sits within the streets between Nihonbashi, the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Station and Kanda Myojin shrine, fuses Japanese modernity and tradition. You’re greeted by the tower’s modern exterior and contemporary Zen garden, but inside this property is best described as a modern ryokan. While you’re here, you can soak in an indoor hot spring bath, soak up traditional ryokan culture, and taste the culinary creations of internationally award-winning chef Noriyuki Hamada. Indulge in a treatment in the spa and sign up for experiences such as sake tasting and a scenic helicopter flight over Tokyo.

This hotel may only have one room but it’s certainly worth adding to the list. One of the most recent additions to the city’s hotel scene, Trunk (House) occupies a former geisha-training house. Since being transformed, it has been fitted with custom-made furniture and thoughtfully curated artwork. In addition to what is among the city’s most exclusive accommodation, the hotel encompasses a tea room and garden modelled on the same one that the salon's writers and philosophers once gathered in, and a restaurant featuring open kitchen. The house is located within Kagurazaka, the area of Tokyo known as Little Kyoto.