The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon

Rooms and decor

The Tokyo Tower View room on floor 34 runs $490 a night and measures 40 sqm, with a minimalist look that stays understated rather than flashy — warm, natural-toned walls, oak and real wood floors, no fuss, all about open space and light. The King bed (200x200 cm) sits very firm and plush under a leather-upholstered headboard, with a clean wood desk alongside. The 7 sqm marble bathroom has a tub, a rain shower and a Toto Washlet, plus Le Labo Santal 33 toiletries — the scent EDITION uses worldwide. The highlight is the floor-to-ceiling window: Tokyo Tower stands tall in orange, and reviewers say you can watch it from the bed all night.

Food and amenities

Evenings start at the Lobby Bar, set in that green lobby with live music — a signature cocktail runs about $15 and you sip it looking out at Tokyo Tower through the glass. From there it's a few steps to the Gold Bar, a cocktail room walled entirely in gold, dim and luxe, and one of Tokyo's most famous. Cocktails here are around $19. The main restaurant leans contemporary Japanese, with mains in the $40-68 range. The next morning there's the minimalist, softly lit indoor pool, plus a spa and fitness; the breakfast buffet is about $39 for well-made, nicely plated food.

Location and getting there

The Tokyo EDITION sits inside the Toranomon Hills Business Tower, with a direct link to Toranomon Hills station on the Hibiya Line right under the building, so you skip the umbrella in the rain. From here the Hibiya Line is 2 stops to Roppongi (or a 12-minute walk), and it's 6 minutes on foot to Kamiyacho station, 5 minutes to The Okura and 7 minutes to Andaz — Toranomon's hotels are clustered close together. Tokyo Tower is a 9-minute walk, and the Hibiya Line runs straight to Ginza in 5 minutes and Ebisu in 8. Below the tower, Toranomon Hills holds a mall and a good spread of restaurants.

Things to know before booking

Rates start around $485 a night — this is a 5-star design hotel, so price it in. There are only three restaurants and bars; the EDITION is lifestyle-focused rather than a full grand hotel, so if you want a big in-house dining lineup, look elsewhere. And the pared-back minimalist style — all open space and light — can feel a little empty if your taste runs to a more decorated, traditional room. The flip side is the Gold Bar and Lobby Bar, which carry plenty of the evening energy on their own.

Our take

The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon is the pick for design-minded travelers who want boutique luxury with real character — Ian Schrager's signature, a deep-green minimalist lobby that works as an urban oasis, the Lobby Bar and Gold Bar, and a room with a full Tokyo Tower view. It scores 9.0/10, and from about $485 a night it comes in slightly under Andaz for a comparable design hotel. We'd send couples and anyone who values tasteful design, an understated-luxe mood and a city-level bar to end the night.