Conrad Tokyo Japan Hotel Review

Hotel Overview:

Conrad Tokyo is a 290 room, sleek and upscale high-rise hotel with panoramic views over Hamarikyu Gardens and Tokyo Bay, and part of an ultra-modern office and shopping complex. Since its opening in 2005, its winning combination of modern contemporary design, award winning cuisine and attentive service has ensured the Conrad has remained one of the most vibrant and successful luxury hotels in Tokyo, and a consistent favorite among business travelers and families alike.

Ambiance & Vibe:

Arriving at the reception area on the ground floor, a glossy lipstick-red lacquer sculpture sets a dramatic modern tone in the ground-floor reception lobby, from where an elevator zips you up to the 28th-floor check-in lobby, a double-height space that looks out onto Tokyo Bay. The dramatic lobby soars with bold, black lines which are warmed with light boxes dangling from the ceiling and the adjacent lounge bar Twenty-Eight, buzzes with a smart crowd and live music, against the backdrop of attention grabbing views over Tokyo Bay.

Design & Style:

The décor of the hotel is modern contemporary but seductive with warm and traditional touches, such as glowing lightboxes and floor-to-ceiling wood paneling. There is distinct note of Japanese influence in the design, with lacquered wood complemented by cherry blossom-print fabrics. The lobby and common areas are peppered with bold sculptures and paintings created by 23 Japanese artists. A deluxe version of Japanese minimalism permeates the décor of the 290 guestrooms, four restaurants and lounge areas.

Accommodation:

Rooms are spacious and modern, with a clean palette of muted colors, lacquered woods and traditional Japanese cherry blossom motifs and lantern-inspired lighting. The rooms are divided into either bay view or city view, although either is fantastic in its own way. With twin and king size options in both, as well as deluxe and executive categories, and suites on higher floors, there is a large variety to choose from. The views from the rooms are impressive, with either vistas of the neon lit city or the lush Hamariku Gardens which frame the view of Tokyo Bay through floor-to-ceiling windows. You can even soak up the vistas from the bath, which is partitioned off from the bedroom by a pane of glass (wooden blinds can be lowered for privacy).

We loved our King Bay View room, 48sqm, with its expansive views of Tokyo Bay and bathroom with bright white modern fixtures, massive circular mirror with thick embedded light, dual sinks, free standing tub and best of all, the Japanese high-tech toilet.

Dining:

The Conrad boasts four fine dining restaurants and a lounge bar, serving sushi, teppanyaki, kaiseki, Chinese and western cuisine.

Cerise – is the casual all-day dining venue where the breakfast buffet is served, which includes Asian and European options, and a la carte menu of favorites such as eggs benedict. During the afternoon and evening, it is perfect for lighter meals.

Cerise Restaurant

Kazuhana – offers epic views of the Shiodome skyline overlooking Tokyo Bay and the Rainbow Bridge while kimono-clad staff serve exquisitely presented modern Japanese-style banquets. Alternatively, you can sit at the counter to watch the chefs at work. The menu spans traditional dishes from kaiseki (an elaborate multi-course meal) to Edomae sushi (the classic nigiri stemming from Tokyo). Outfitted with two steel grills for separate tableside entertainment, the intimate setting seats a total of nine guests helmed by a teppan grill master at each counter.

Kazahana Teppanayaki Counter

Kazahana restaurant

Twenty-Eight Bar & Lounge – is well known for its lavish afternoon tea offerings and during the evenings, its huge cocktail selection is popular with well-heeled locals and hotel guests. This stylish lounge really comes to life in the evenings, when live music permeates the elegant bar area, with the smart set downing 18 year old Yamazaki whisky while gazing out at the melodramatic views over the Hamarikyu Gardens, the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Bay.

TwentyEight Lounge Bar

TwentyEight Bar

Collage – at this award winning French eatery, diners are spoilt with contemporary Japanese interpretations of modern French cuisine alongside skyscraper views. The lofty space is decorated in sophisticated beige and brown tones, with additional glamour from lots of mirror paneling and chandeliers that reflect the glittery city and bay views. There’s sofa seating all along the corners of the restaurant providing plenty of cozy tables. The menu at Collage is really a cultural and stylistic mélange; part French, part British, with elements of molecular gastronomy, tapas, and kaiseki cuisine. There’s also an innovative “bread pairing” concept, which is to serve special kinds of bread with unique shapes, flavors and texture to complement the food.

Collage restaurant at night

China Blue – the first thing that strikes you as you walk through the restaurant is the elegance; blue velvet booths sitting proudly underneath Chinese hanging lanterns of the same color. The setting is opulent, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows designed to bring Shiodome’s neon skyline right into the restaurant. Smart staff serve up avant-garde award winning Chinese cuisine with an innovative twist at China Blue, against a dramatic décor of tiered blue lamps and a dramatic skyline view through floor-to-ceiling windows. Pair your dishes with the perfect wine from the 8-meter walk-in cellar. For larger families, or corporate outings, choose from three private dining rooms for a memorable dinner as you overlook Hamarikyu Garden and Tokyo Bay.

China Blue restaurant

Executive Club Lounge: the elegant club lounge offers a great spread of complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails (with canapes) – of course with the stunning bay views.

Executive Lounge Bay View

The array of gastronomic dining options at the Conrad Tokyo:

Service:

During our stay, we used the Club Lounge, and ate at the Kazuhana restaurant and had drinks at Twenty-Eight, and found the food and service at all locations to be polished and efficient. Many of staff speak good English so you can communicate exactly what you want and more importantly what you don’t want to eat. Our experience while checking in and out was also very efficient, which was a surprise for such a busy hotel during Sakura season. An invaluable resource to us was the very knowledgeable and friendly concierge team, which are no doubt among the busiest and best in Tokyo. We witnessed the concierge team juggle wide ranging requests from multiple guests at the same time, and they managed to process all requests with speed and aplomb. We used the concierge service extensively, from recommendations for the best walks, food tours, cultural attractions, restaurant reservations, directions, subway instructions to planning day tours to see the famous snow monkeys near Nagano and to ski resorts by Shinkansen.

Facilities & Activities:

Facilities: Guests can relax at the serene Mizuki spa and take a swim in the high-altitude, elegant 25 meter lap pool, which is perfect to wind down after a long day of sightseeing. Mizuki Spa sports an extensive menu ranging from jetlag-zapping aromatherapy massages and restorative bamboo body treatments to soaks in a Japanese cypress wood bathtub. There’s also a fully equipped fitness center, complete with sauna and steam room.

Activities: Tokyo, the largest megalopolis in the world, mixes the ultramodern and the traditional, from neon-lit skyscrapers and the world’s busiest pedestrian intersection in Shibuya to the ancient Senso-ji Buddhist temple located in the historic Asakusa neighborhood. Must see attractions include the opulent Meiji Shinto Shrine which is known for its towering gate and surrounding woods and the imposing Imperial Palace with its huge public gardens. The hotel’s ace concierge team will help you plan your itinerary and transportation to see the city’s many cultural attractions, public parks, as well as organize food tours, cooking classes, bookings for sumo wrestling, fine dining restaurants, nightclubs as well as day trips to Mt. Fuji and nearby ski resorts or onsens. The concierge desk has many preset sightseeing options to choose from as well, handily arranged by your interests and how much time you have available.

Location:

The hotel is part of an ultra modern office complex in the Shiodome district south of downtown Tokyo and overlooks the Tokyo Bay and green oasis of Hamarikyu Garden. The glitzy shops of upmarket Ginza are also a short walk away, while the Imperial Palace is a taxi hop. The hotel is above Shimbashi Station, with underground pedestrian access to the two major subway lines of Shiodome and Shimbashi, which connect to the rest of the city. It’s an 80-minute drive from Narita International Airport and 25-minutes from Haneda Airport. Tokyo Station is just 10-minutes away. The hotel is also a 10-minute walk from the very popular Tsukiji Fish Market, a top tourist destination, provided you are willing to get up at 5:30 a.m to check out the auctions and grab some fresh sushi.

Hamarikyu Garden and Tokyo Bay

What We Love:

Very sleek and elegant lobby bar with live music and several award winning fine dining options.
Stunning and expansive views of Tokyo Bay, Hamarikyu Gardens and Rainbow Bridge from the Bay View rooms, lobby and all the fine dining restaurants.
Expansive spa facilities to unwind after a day of sightseeing, including a nice 25 meter lap pool.
Super knowledgeable and efficient concierge staff who can direct you to the best of what Tokyo has to offer.

If only…

The location of the hotel, while it offers panoramic views, is part of a modern office complex near Tokyo Bay, which is not in the vicinity of the most popular tourist districts in Tokyo and not very lively at night. However, the hotel is well connected with the two major Tokyo subway lines and is walking distance from the glitzy Ginza shopping district.

Best Time to Visit:

The best time to visit Tokyo is during the very popular Sakura season, between March and April, and again from September to November. Autumn ushers in colorful foliage and comfortable temperatures. Spring brings in much of the same, but instead of vibrant fall hues, the foliage you’ll see here are cherry blossom trees in full bloom. Sightseeing, outdoor activities, parks and gardens are at their best during the Spring and Autumn seasons.