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In the middle of the bustling, high-end neighbourhood of Ginza – whose name is synonymous with luxury around the world – lies the Tokyo Edition, Ginza. What this slimly built 14-storey oasis of beauty and calm lacks in city views and square footage it makes up for in the service and dining departments, including the Punch Room, a second-floor cocktail lounge featured on Asia’s 50 Best Bars.
Your stay will begin with an invitation to relax on one of the sleek white chaise lounges and a complimentary flute of champagne, and the white-glove approach to hospitality only becomes more apparent from there. To be honest, I slightly preferred the property’s larger sibling – the Tokyo Edition, Toranomon – but I believe the Tokyo Edition, Ginza is still a worthy splurge for a certain type of visitor. Proximity to some of the best shopping and dining in the world, as well as the city’s famed Toyosu Market, renders this an ideal five-star hotel for the high net worth or business traveller intent on spending several days experiencing all that the ritzy Tokyo neighbourhood has to offer.
Why stay at the Tokyo Edition, Ginza?
The luxury hotel is close to major shopping attractions like the 12-storey Uniqlo flagship and Ginza Six, a luxury shopping mall with foreign imports like Blue Bottle and Eataly. The historic Kabukiza Theatre is just a short walk away. With the aforementioned proximity to Toyosu Market, dozens of Michelin-starred restaurants are also nearby – and staff will be more than happy to assist with snagging any last-minute reservations.
After you’ve shopped until you’ve dropped and had your fill of the world-class dining, the modestly sized but well-appointed rooms offer peace and respite from the nonstop activity on the streets below. It’s worth noting that the location makes it a bit of a trek to visit other major neighbourhoods like Shinjuku and Shibuya, so I wouldn’t recommend this hotel (or neighbourhood, for that matter) for someone who wants to spend more time on the city’s western side.
What are the rooms like at the Tokyo Edition, Ginza?
While still spacious by Japanese hotel standards, the 86 guest rooms spread out over 14 floors can feel more cramped than the rooms at the other Tokyo Edition in Toranomon despite the fact they’re of similar square footage and, per the hotel’s press release, ‘the largest standard rooms’ in the entire district of Ginza. Part of this likely has to do with the lack of views from many of the rooms, and the general narrowness of the building as a whole.
During my two-night stay in a Deluxe Room, I kept the window shades drawn for privacy. That being said, the more premium Superior and Premier rooms offer more square footage and larger seating options. All lodging types come with a Japanese-style wet room (combination bath and shower), plus Le Labo toiletries and other complimentary bath amenities. The neutral colour palette includes walnut wood accents and cream-coloured leather, plus a striking green marble countertop in the bathroom and the Edition’s signature faux-fur throw blankets.
Which are the best dishes and drinks at the Tokyo Edition, Ginza?
The 14th-floor hotel restaurant, Sophie at Edition, was one of the best restaurants I visited during my weeklong stay in Japan, with impeccable dishes available from morning to night in an airy dining room full of lime green accents. Dinner begins with a complimentary bread course that includes a standout milk bread, plus a saffron-spiked bouillabaisse that makes a serious case for diverging from more traditional Japanese fare. The French-leaning dinner menu includes toothsome fries dusted with shavings of mimolette cheese and venison sourced from Hokkaido. The cocktails were equally marvellous – I particularly enjoyed the not-too-sweet Milky Pear Martini and Coffee & Banana Manhattan. In the morning, Sophie’s Japanese breakfast set was among the most impressive of the four different hotels and ryokans I visited during this particular trip to Japan, with over a dozen unique dishes available during my stay.
Unfortunately, the Roof was closed for the winter during my February visit, so I wasn’t able to review that. However, I was able to try the Punch Room, the second-storey cocktail bar modelled after private clubs in 19th-century London. Despite the stellar service and atmosphere, I didn’t especially like any of the drinks, which was a sharp contrast from my experience with the drinks at Sophie. I also perused the daytime pastry and coffee offerings of the Lobby Bar, which consists of a few tables and chairs towards the back of the hotel’s lobby.
What is the service like at the Tokyo Edition, Ginza?
Speaking as an American, the staff here goes above and beyond. The concierge helped me with an omakase booking I later decided to cancel, and courteously thought to send an email to explain the lack of housekeeping – my travelling companion had decided to switch on the ‘privacy’ button in the panel by the bed.
What is the gym like at the Tokyo Edition, Ginza?
To put it nicely, quite limited. The gym facilities at the Tokyo Edition, Ginza consist of a converted hotel room with a few machines for weightlifting and cardio inside. Guests are also able to use the larger facilities at the Tokyo Edition, Toranomon, if they wish, but it’s a short cab ride or twenty-minute commute on public transit away, which makes this latter option a little inconvenient.
What’s the area like around the Tokyo Edition, Ginza?
While Roppongi and Azabu are also considered ritzy neighbourhoods, Ginza feels like the much grander Tokyo equivalent of Beverly Hills. There are flagship stores from the world’s most famous fashion labels, a handful of high-end department stores and plenty of secondhand luxury shopping. You’ll also find speciality coffee and tea shops, plus the aforementioned Michelin-starred dining options and more affordable restaurants geared toward local salarymen and employees.
Why should you book a stay at the Tokyo Edition, Ginza?
While it’s an excellent option for those who hope to build an itinerary centred on Ginza – with perhaps an early morning visit to nearby Toyosu and the adjacent teamLab Planets exhibit – I would not exactly say that Ginza, as a neighbourhood, is particularly centrally located for those who are visiting Tokyo as part of a longer, multi-city tour of Japan or a more in-depth exploration of the capital. That being said, the location is unparalleled for high-end shopping and dining, and the swoon-worthy design and impeccable service justifies the five-star room price.
Address: 2-8-13 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
Price per night: Rooms start at $957 per night, midweek.
Book now: https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/the-tokyo-edition-sm-ginza.html