Heading to Tokyo? Here are some of the city's hottest new draws just in time for cherry blossom season
From Michelin-starred restaurants to a night out at some of the hippest bars in Tokyo, Japan.
Janu Tokyo is a sister brand to Aman and sits in the same space as the Aman Residences in Azabudai Hills. (Photo: Janu Tokyo)
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Japan has rightly always been a prime destination for discerning travellers, but the last couple of years have seen visitor numbers skyrocket. According to the Japan National Tourism Organisation, in 2023, more than 25 million visitors fell under the country’s unique spell.
With such an influx of fans, the Land of the Rising Sun has to provide new experiences, hotels, dining, bars and more, especially with the hugely-popular arrival of Sakura cherry blossom season, recently announced as starting in Tokyo from Mar 23.
Happily there’s no shortage of brilliant new ways to enjoy Japan in all its glory, so we’ve chosen six of the very best in Tokyo for Hanami ̶ and beyond.
SUSTAINABLE STAYS AT PALACE HOTEL TOKYO
One of Tokyo’s most historic and iconic hotels, Palace Hotel Tokyo sits on arguably the city’s most exclusive real estate with panoramic views overlooking the Imperial Palace gardens, including the famed hectares of cherry blossom.
For more than half a century, they have welcomed the world’s most discerning global travellers, drawn by the country’s only Evian spa and 10 distinctive restaurants and bars, including one Michelin-starred Esterre by Alain Ducasse.
Their new Sustainable Tokyo package is a timely addition for travellers looking to minimise their footprint while discovering some of Japan’s remarkable cultural treasures. Local produce and fair-trade drinks, a tour of the Imperial Palace gardens, a private kayaking discovery of the Sumida River and a two-hour introduction to kintsugi – the ultimate in elegant, sustainable upcycling as broken pottery is mended with lacquer based on powdered gold.
THE TOKYO EDITION, GINZA
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and Ian Schrager have combined their substantial design forces in the tree-lined streets of swanky Ginza, resulting in the The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza. Following the success of the first EDITION Toranomon, the brand new 14-storey boutique hotel promises to bring a stylish edge to one of Tokyo’s most desirable destinations.
They’ve taken the EDITION brand’s avant-garde feel and added more than a dash of Japanese culture, imbuing the property’s 86 rooms and suites – which are impressively spacious by Tokyo standards – which hide cleverly behind the tower’s exterior which is covered in a vertical garden.
Multiple dining and drinking concepts are sure to draw in a chic local crowd, especially at Ginza’s first bar dedicated to natural wines, a cocktail bar specialising in punch and a modern brasserie called Sophie where local produce is emphasised in dishes like Tokyo miso chicken paillard or a decadent strawberries and cream layer cake.
TOKYO CONFIDENTIAL
From Ginza to Tokyo’s Azabujuban neighbourhood, home to a recently-opened bar with an impressive pedigree and knockout views of Tokyo Tower. But if you’re expecting a classic Japanese bar - then think again. British owner Holly Graham encourages guests to "celebrate delightful chaos" in a space inspired by hedonistic house parties which carry on long into the night.
The space at Tokyo Confidential centres around a stunning free-form bar made from 300-year-old pine reclaimed from a shrine, where cocktail creations include Destroy All Monsters with miso brown butter-washed gin, manzanilla sherry, bianco vermouth and ponzu. There’s a wide selection of champagnes by the glass and bar lockers for guests to house their premium Japanese whiskies and other spirits.
JANU TOKYO
Another new property in the capital comes in the form of the launch of Janu Tokyo ̶ Janu means ‘soul’ in Sanskrit ̶ the sister brand of the famed Aman Resorts. It sits in the same space as the Aman Residences in Azabudai Hills, a burgeoning new design district which will feature the country’s tallest skyscraper and more than 150 luxury retail and dining outlets.
Guests can choose from 122 rooms and work off breakfast in Japan’s largest spa and wellness centre which comes in at an impressive 4,000 sqm and features a 25m lap pool, lounge pool and two private Spa Houses with cold and hot plunge pools.
Eight restaurants and bars include elevated Cantonese at Hu Jing and stylish Italian at Janu Mercato, a sumibiyaki grill and Janu Bar for late night mixology. With starchitecht Jean-Michel Gathy overseeing the interior design, those checking in after the March opening can expect sublime light-filled spaces to contrast with the always-on city on the doorstep. Corner and Tower View suites will doubtless prove popular thanks to dual-aspect views, while The Janu Suite offers a cool 284 sqm of space.
LE PRISTINE TOKYO AT HOTEL TORANOMON HILLS
Hotel Toranomon Hills recently opened as the first Tokyo property from Hyatt’s The Unbound Collection and one of its top draws is an exciting new addition to the city’s legendary dining scene. Michelin-starred Dutch chef Sergio Herman is bringing his culinary expertise to the capital in the form of Le Pristine, a new fine-dining restaurant and cafe.
Herman opened Le Pristine in Antwerp in 2020 to much acclaim and in Tokyo he will serve contemporary European cuisine with Japanese twists, using fresh, seasonal ingredients from both regions. On the menu, that may mean Salad ‘Le Pristine’ with pumpkin, grapefruit, taleggio, endive and hazelnut, or ‘Orecchiette Zeelandaise’ featuring ingredients from The Netherlands’ Zeeland region.
Interiors by Space Copenhagen feature works by Dutch and Belgian artists, while diners can choose to eat in the restaurant with its open kitchen or on the more laid-back outdoor terrace. Regardless of your table, high quality gastronomy and elegant Japanese hospitality should combine in style.
BELLUSTAR TOKYO
Finally, to the buzzing, neon-lit district of Shinjuku and a debut from Singapore brand Pan Pacific in the form of the 97-room Bellustar Tokyo. Towering high above the city from the 39th to 47th floors guarantees knockout views, nowhere more so than from their five penthouses.
Tori is one of them and measures almost 2,000 sq ft, featuring a spacious living decked in furniture from Karimoku Case and a warm feel of typically understated Japanese elegance. The bedroom is on a separate level to the living room, making it perfect for families seeking flexibility and privacy.
