Amid Tokyo’s bright lights and dizzying skyscrapers, there’s a growing crop of small and stylish places to stay in the Japanese capital. From traditional ryokan to ultra-modern luxury hotels, check out the eight best boutique stays in the city.
Wired Hotel Asakusa prides itself on its links to the surrounding Taito neighbourhood, partnering with local Asakusa craftsmen for its bespoke furnishings and hosting regular community events in the first-floor café, Zakbaran. This boutique hotel contains 31 very modern rooms, a comfortable shared lounge, an in-house restaurant serving Japanese cuisine and free bikes to explore the city on two wheels. Wired Hotel Asakusa is also one of the best-value boutique stays in town.
Solaria Nishitetsu is a relaxing boutique stay in the heart of Tokyo, located a two-minute walk from Ginza metro station and even closer to the Higashi-ginza station. The 209 boutique rooms are thoughtfully decorated with colourful furnishings and contemporary wall art and the on-site restaurant, Furutoshi, plates up mouth-watering European fare.
The Imperial Hotel is utterly enormous – there are almost 1,000 guest rooms as well as 13 restaurants and three bars – but that doesn’t take away from the chic boutique vibe. This five-star property was the first Western-style hotel to open in Japan way back in 1890, occupying an entire block across the street from the manicured lawns of Tokyo’s Imperial Palace. Some of the rooms are almost as opulent as the palace itself, including the decadent suite usually reserved for royalty.
If Andon is a new-age ryokan, then Kamogawa Asakusa is definitely old-school. This traditional inn offers truly authentic Japanese accommodation, including tatami-mat flooring and futon bedding, a tea set in every room, massage services, a large public bath, tea rooms, plus Japanese breakfast and dinner. The location is another big plus, only a two-minute walk from Kaminarimon gateway and the Sensō-ji Temple.