In the land of Tokyo, The Ritz-Carlton takes luxury hotel experience to greater heights through appealing design, strategic location and excellent service.
Tokyo Midtown is a city within a city in the Roppongi district. The mixed-use development has everything including offices, apartments, shops, museums, and a luxury hotel that is The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo.
The five-star hotel opened the same year the Tokyo Midtown was completed which was in 2007. It occupies the top nine floors of the 53-storey Midtown Tower, the tallest of the six buildings within the neighbourhood.
Perching above the skyline, the hotel’s main selling point is the 360-degree panoramic view of Tokyo. It’s an ideal site for guests to enjoy the city’s famous landmarks such as the Olympic Stadium, Tokyo Tower and Mount Fuji.
American interior designer Frank Nicholson, a frequent collaborator of Ritz-Carlton, was in charge of handling the interiors of the hotel. What also makes the hotel stand out from the crowd is its lobby, which is located on the 45thfloor. Here, you can find the walls lined with anegre panelling, floors covered with limestone and granite.
Close to the elevators, you will not miss four abstract art panels by American painter Sam Francis. In the lobby lounge, standing in front of window panels, there are two sculptures by artist Munemi Yorigami titled “Re-Creation” that symbolises a mother and a child. Another piece of interesting artwork is a display of glass art in the lobby bar; it was designed by Nicholson himself and made by local artist Mari Noguchi.
The Ritz-Carlton,Tokyo boasts a total of 247 guest rooms, including 35 suites and The Ritz-Carlton Club Level rooms. Almost all of them feature east-meets-west interior style with soft colour palette, modern-minimalist furniture, Fretted linens and featherbeds, a large marble bathroom with a tub, rain-shower, double sinks and fancy bath amenities. If you want to splurge more, opt for the modern Japanese suite. Unlike other rooms, this one features Japanese aesthetic design all over, complete with a futon bed, two rooms with traditional tatami mats and shoji door.
The 46thfloor is where you will be greeted with a 2,000 sqm spa. The lighting is warm, and the design is sleek with intricate details. Guests can run on a treadmill in their 24-hour fitness centre with a view of Mount Fuji, or swim in the 20-metre indoor swimming pool with a Tokyo cityscape seen from the windows.
Down one floor is Michelin-starred French restaurant Azure 45 that has undergone a complete transformation, revealing a new look that draws from Japan’s rich textiles, warm woods and geometric patterns.
One highlight that you must not miss is The Ritz-Carlton Club Level dubbed a hotel within a hotel. Nestled on the 53rd floor, the Club Lounge is the main area, featuring four unique spaces reserved for exclusive guests: the reception, garden terrace, dining room and library lounge. Each has a different atmosphere for any time of the day. During morning time, it’s a great breakfast station to enjoy a variety of egg dishes. In the afternoon, the Club Lounge transforms into a relaxing sanctuary to escape the city’s hustle-bustle. As the sun sets, the lounge turns into a place for enjoying wine with family and friends while indulging in the panoramic view of the city.