The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon

With breathtaking views of Tokyo Tower from the lobby, an outstanding ground floor cocktail lounge and truly impeccable service, the Tokyo Edition, Toranomon, is a standout luxury lodging option for your next extended visit to the Japanese capital. Open since 2021, the hotel occupies the 31st through 36th floors of the Tokyo World Gate building. Located in a fairly business-oriented district, it offers the same blend of downright stunning interior design and first-rate dining and drinking options that have become synonymous with the Edition brand around the world.

During my weeklong winter visit to Tokyo, I was able to visit both the Tokyo Edition, Toranomon and the Tokyo Edition, Ginza – and despite the latter’s better dining options and a ritzier, slightly more tourist-friendly locale, the Toranomon property manages to outshine its younger sibling with an on-site spa, an indoor swimming pool with jacuzzi and a properly outfitted gym, among other superior perks and amenities. 

Why stay at the Tokyo Edition, Toranomon?

For the same luxury price point as its sibling in Ginza, the Tokyo Edition, Toranomon, offers extra square footage, better health and wellness facilities, a noteworthy art collection, a lobby worthy of entertaining guests in and – in my humble opinion as a former Time Out food and drink editor – a better on-site cocktail lounge in the form of Gold Bar. While the location isn’t quite as convenient for world-class dining and shopping, the streets of Ginza and Shinbashi are just a short taxi, train ride or walk away.

Both Edition properties boast the same Le Labo toiletries and design by critically acclaimed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, but Toranomon allows you more room to stretch out, quite literally, plus a bit more remove from the city’s endless hustle and bustle. The five-star hospitality extends to interactions with staff, who are more than happy to call you a taxi, provide recommendations, supply lost toiletries and assist with luggage forwarding.

What are the rooms like at the Tokyo Edition, Toranomon?

Across 206 rooms and suites, expect the same calming, ultra-chic palate of neutrals and pale woods common to all Edition properties. While some of the rooms feature outdoor terraces, I stayed in a Deluxe Room. Having stayed at the West Hollywood Edition in Los Angeles before, the one detail that stuck out to me about both Tokyo Edition properties was the inclusion of a Japanese-style wet room – aka a combination bathtub and rainfall shower – and a pair of machine-operated sheer and blackout drapes that automatically opened as I entered the room. All rooms include a 65-inch television, plush robes and slippers and a complimentary kit of commonly forgotten toiletry items including a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Which are the best food and drink options at the Tokyo Edition, Toranomon?

The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon, offers four on-site food and drink options: the Blue Room, Gold Bar at Edition, the Lobby Bar and the Jade Room + Garden Terrace, though the outdoor terrace portion of the latter was closed during my February stay. Located on the ground floor of the hotel, the Gold Bar was the highlight of my stay at the property, with an all-around stunning illustrated cocktail menu – half of which is only visible under blacklight – and a sleek all-black lounge interior shot through with elements of gold that feels like a superhero villain’s evil lair (I mean this in a positive light).

The Garden Terrace portion was closed for the winter, but I also tried the dinner tasting menu offered at the Jade Room, which serves seasonal Japanese-inflected fare developed on a quarterly basis by the critically acclaimed British chef Tom Aikens. For an impressive client dinner or a quiet night in, it’s an excellent on-site dining option.

Although I only experienced it in the morning, the Blue Room was the weakest offering of the four, with a fairly no-frills Japanese breakfast set and a continental breakfast buffet that paled in comparison to the one offered at the Tokyo Edition, Ginza. I wasn’t able to experience the Lobby Bar firsthand, but the strawberry-themed afternoon tea offered during my stay looked enticing indeed.

What is the service like at the Tokyo Edition, Toranomon?

With twice-daily housekeeping and warm, efficient front desk staff, the Tokyo Edition offers unmatched hospitality, even by Japanese standards. The concierge handled questions and my luggage retrieval with ease, and both check-in and check-out were practically seamless. Staff will likely direct you to sit in the verdant, greenery-filled lounge area while you wait – an excellent way to pass the time.

What are the gym and pool like at the Tokyo Edition, Toranomon?

The on-site gym is large and well-equipped with free weights, treadmills and ellipticals, and unlike most Tokyo hotels there’s also an indoor pool and jacuzzi, available by advance reservation. The pool is ideal for a few laps. The jacuzzi was out of order during my stay but looked larger than average and quite comfortable.

What’s the area like around the Tokyo Edition, Toranomon?

Though home to a few major family-friendly attractions like teamLab Borderless, the Minato Science Museum and the Toranomon Hills mixed-use shopping complex, the area is fairly quiet and business-oriented. The Tokyo World Gate building also offers an on-site convenience store for any last-minute snacking or travel needs. Twenty-odd minutes on foot will get you to the busy, restaurant-filled streets of Shinbashi, while the fairly tony neighbourhoods of Ginza, Azabudai and Roppongi are only a short transit ride away. Other major attractions include Tokyo Tower – should you want a closer-up view than the excellent views of it from the lobby – and nearby Shiba Park.

Why should you book a stay at the Tokyo Edition, Toranomon?

The ultra-convenient location, beautifully appointed lobby with jaw-dropping views of the skyline and destination-worthy cocktail bar all ensure that the Tokyo Edition, Toranomon, is worth keeping in mind for your next bucket-list or splurge-y trip to Japan. While the hotel’s design flourishes leave you feeling inspired and refreshed, it’s not enough to distract from the appeal of the dizzying array of sights and sounds located just a short taxi ride or transit journey from the hotel.

Address: 4-1-1 Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo 105-0001, Japan

Price per night: Rooms start at $957 per night, midweek.

Book now: https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/the-tokyo-edition-toranomon.html