Located in the heart of Tokyo’s Marunouchi district, AMAN Tokyo occupies the top 6 floors of the 38 story Otemachi Tower. Currently, AMAN Tokyo is 1 of 2 urban hotels operated by AMAN Hotels & Resorts. As an ultra luxury hotel the property has caught the eyes of luxury travelers and Tokyoites alike. Let’s take a look at how AMAN Tokyo stands out from the hundreds of other luxury hotels in the Tokyo area and whether or not it’s the best for your upcoming visit to Japan’s capital city.
My AMAN experience began upon my arrival at the hotel at 2:45pm. I arrived in Tokyo via bullet train and chose to walk to the hotel from Tokyo Station. If you’re traveling with lots of luggage or with family, AMAN offers a pickup service from Tokyo Station for an extra charge or for free if staying in select suite rooms. A couple days prior to your arrival, AMAN staff will reach out to you via email and confirm your stay details and to see if there is anything special they can do for your stay.
I was greeted on the 1st floor by front desk staff and quickly escorted to elevators taking me to the main lobby on the 33rd floor. I was greeted again and asked to sit until 3:00 pm while they gathered all my stay details. While waiting, staff delivered a welcome drink and a refreshing towel. There was also a beautiful Japanese lady dressed in traditional attire playing the koto. You could hear the instrument throughout the lobby and it was very peaceful. Right at 3:00 pm, my room was ready and I was escorted up to the 36th floor by one of the AMAN staff. She emanated a very friendly demeanor, whilst staying professional. While discussing our favorite places to visit in Japan, she told me that she is originally from Nagasaki and that she wishes more people would visit as she finds it very beautiful. After a nice room tour, she departed and I was left to explore the room.
ROOM REVIEW
As far as the room itself goes, this was the single best hotel room I have ever stayed in. I booked their entry level room, referred to as a Deluxe Suite. At 71 sq m. or roughly 764 sq ft. it is the largest entry level room in all of Tokyo. The room was plenty big enough for my partner and I. It could easily fit a couple plus 1 child but if your traveling with 3 adults or a medium to large sized family/group, you’re going to be looking to book a larger level suite. I absolutely loved the wood and stone design that was implemented. Situated 36 floors above the hustle and bustle of the world’s most populated city, the room’s minimalist and tranquil vibe was very luxurious. It was the perfect oasis to escape the nonstop events happening below. The views were phenomenal! You can easily see the majority of Tokyo’s skyline including popular areas such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, Minato, as well as Tokyo Tower and even Mt. Fuji in the distance if the weather permits.
The room had 2 large closets, plenty big enough to fully unpack your belongings, store your suitcases, souvenirs, and anything else you choose to bring with you. The king bed is situated right in the center of the room with a large desk behind it looking towards the floor to ceiling windows with excellent views of the city. The bed area is separated from the living/lounge area by a small set of stairs as well as a centered counter top. The counter can act as a table and it also stores the TV that can be operated via remote control. The lounge area boasts a table with 2 chairs as well as a long day bed where you can soak up the amazing views. For Tokyo standards, the bathroom was absolutely massive and absolutely beautiful. It had a dual sink set up with more towels than you’d ever need (seems to be a staple at luxury hotels). The shower and bath are seperated and the stone design felt very luxurious. The japanese “onsen” style bath and amenities were amazing. The bath was plenty big enough for 2 people and provided even more breathtaking views to enjoy whilst enjoying your time in the tub ;)
hotel amenities
The fitness facilities at AMAN Tokyo are very good. While the pool is phenomenal, the gym is pretty average when compared to other luxury hotel gyms. Similar to the bathrooms in the guest rooms, the pool has a beautiful stone design and is such a cool experience. Even if you don’t enjoy swimming, they have nice lounge chairs where you can just relax, read a book, or do whatever else you feel like doing poolside.
restaurants
The hotel has 5 food outlets, 3 within the actual hotel and the other 2 located outside. La Pâtisserie is located in the basement of Otemachi Tower and The Café is located at ground level, outside the main entrance to the hotel. My partner and I decided to give Musashi a try. It’s Tokyo’s most expensive sushi restaurant and is definitely a very unique experience. The total was ¥75,000 ($500 USD) for 2 people. I wanted to treat my partner to a one of a kind dinner experience in Tokyo and on that end it was worth every penny. However, I am not a foodie. I don’t know enough about the culinary arts to appreciate the ingredients and expertise the chef had for his craft. The head chef was very serious and definitely had a love for the food he was preparing. Before each dish was served, he would tell us how each ingredient was acquired from all across Japan as well as the highlights of each dish and the best ways to consume it. We were the only guests in the restaurant for the first 45 minutes of our dinner and the restaurant staff were very attentive. Their attention to detail was absolutely phenomenal! After the first dish was served, one team member noticed that I was left handed so when we were finished and our plates were collected, he immediately switched my utensils to my left side without me saying a word. It was such a small detail but it truly impressed me and showed the staffs care for their job. My partner is from Japan and she said it was the best dinner experience she’s ever had, both the food and experience in general. With all that said, my honest opinion is that it was not worth the $500. I feel i’m not enough of a foodie to appreciate the quality of the ingredients for what they are. I’m just looking for something that tastes delicious. Also, I still had an appetite at the end and wished it was more filling. It was a fantastic meal though and definitely something that i’m grateful to have been fortunate enough to experience. Truly a one of a kind dinner in Tokyo!
Airport transfer
Whether your landing at Narita or Haneda airport, getting to AMAN Tokyo is quite simple and you have many options to choose from. AMAN offers a private roundtrip transfer service for an added fee:
Roundtrip to/from Haneda Airport is ¥48,000 ($320) and to/from Narita Airport is ¥75,000 ($500). I you want to save money and use alternative public transportation, you are in great hands as Tokyo has some of, if not the best public transportation in the entire world. If you’re coming into Haneda you can take the Keikyu Airport Line for only ¥510 ($3.40)! and arrive at the hotel within 30-40 minutes (including 1 transfer). For travelers coming into Narita Airport, I always recommend taking the Keisei Skyliner. It costs ¥2,570 ($17) and takes you to Ueno Station in 40 minutes. From there you can get to Tokyo Station in a couple of minutes via the Yamanote Line or you can grab a taxi outside.
comparison w/other luxury hotels
My 1N stay was on a Friday w/ a Saturday checkout and I ended up paying ¥253,400.00 or about $1,900 USD with all taxes included. Currently, with the weak Japanese yen, this same room will cost you about $1,682 USD ($218 less!). For simplicity’s sake, I will be using the former price to compare AMAN Tokyo to other popular luxury hotels in the city.
Note: Prices shown are for entry level rooms at each hotel and are current rates gathered for July 2024.
As you can see from the table above, AMAN Tokyo, along with the new Bulgari hotel are Tokyo’s most expensive properties. The famous Palace Hotel is located only a 7-minute walk from AMAN and only costs a third of the price. AMAN’s goal is to deliver a one of a kind experience to all of its guests. The hotel only has 84 guest rooms compared to the 200+ at the other luxury hotels mentioned. Guests are paying a premium for better privacy, exclusivity, and personalized service. While that alone does not justify the price tag for everyone, the quality of the hotel’s amenities is also another thing to consider in addition to what you’re getting for the room. Because of the far fewer number of guestrooms, the pool at AMAN Tokyo was completely empty when we decided to drop in. Having the pool to ourselves made us feel like royalty and it was the perfect times to take photos.
distance from
Imperial Palace: 10 minute walk
Tokyo Station: 4 minute walk
Tokyo Tower: 13 minute taxi ride or 23 minute train ride
Shibuya: 14 minute taxi ride or 21 minute train ride
Senso-ji Temple: 17 minute taxi ride or 33 minute train ride