My Tokyo Getaway at the Peninsula

An Excellent Location

You couldn’t ask for a better location! The Peninsula is situated in heart of the Marunouchi commercial district, and its proximity to the Ginza district where luxury boutiques and gourmet restaurants abound make it perfect for travelers. The hotel sits across from the Imperial Palace, which you can admire from one of the Peninsula’s 314 rooms and suites. Another great feature: the building is connected to the subway, a must for getting around Tokyo quickly.

As we step out of our taxi, we take a few minutes to observe this 24-floor building, which architect Kazukiyo Sato designed to resemble a traditional Japanese lantern. Once we’re through the revolving door, we’re greeted by an enormous lobby. The height of refinement, the lobby includes a tremendous chandelier and a gorgeous sculpture to remind us of the establishment’s prestige. We even take advantage of the stylish ambiance to enjoy a delicious and elegant afternoon tea in the adjacent restaurant.

Where Tradition Meets Technology

Just like in its Bangkok counterpart, the rooms here are super spacious! I stayed in a Deluxe Room (the first category) which already offers 54 m², a true luxury in a city like Tokyo where property prices are through the roof. The design is both subtle and chic, with careful attention to detail, and featuring fine materials like wood, stone, and lacquer. As for Japanese inspiration, you can see it in the calligraphy decorating the walls.

What’s more, the huge walk-in closet and dressing table and the marble bathroom make the experience ever more luxurious. I also fell in love with the range of high-tech appliances at my disposal! It’s rare to find a hotel with so many technological amenities on offer. There’s even a nail polish dryer on the dressing table!

A Trip to the Spa

Now it’s time to check out the spa: spread over 900 m², it includes a 20-meter heated pool and a well-being center with nine treatment rooms. After a quick swim and a moment spent reading on one of the nearby deckchairs, I head to a room for my facial. This is where I learn about the famous brand Margy’s Monte Carlo and its high-quality anti-age cosmetics. I decide to get the “Super Lift Haute Couture Facial”: for 80 minutes, this treatment combines a face massage with the products’ active ingredients, including collagen, hyaluronic acid, and vitamins A and E, to best distribute their anti-aging effects. Just like the hotel’s entire staff, the spa therapists are very professional and welcoming, and I leave the wellness center feeling both relaxed and completely enchanted.

Dinner at Peter, the Restaurant

To satisfy our insatiable appetites, we make our way to the restaurant “Peter.” We begin with a drink at the bar, where we admire the view of the city from the 24th floor. Then we head over to the restaurant section, where the menu selection centers on grilled fish and meat. First impression: I absolutely adore the atmosphere! The decoration is very modern, and the subdued ambiance and careful lighting make it a very romantic evening.

We opt for the four-course set menu accompanied by a glass of Deutz rose champagne. The meal begins with an entrée featuring lobster and foie gras, followed by seafood and caviar pasta. Then there’s a flavorful main course of beef, and finally a rich dessert which takes us back to our childhood: strawberry marshmallow with chocolate ice cream. In short, a dinner for two that won’t fail to please!

A Dim Sum Lunch

Ever since I began traveling in Asia, and especially after my two-and-a-half month stay in Singapore, I’ve become an unconditional fan of dim sum. I can’t resist the desire to have lunch at the Hei Fung Terrace, the Peninsula’s Cantonese restaurant. Just like at Peter the night before, I literally melt when I see the restaurant’s decoration: the ambiance is designed to look like a exotic garden in Suzhou, a city in Eastern China, and the result is very impressive.

For lunch, we choose the dim sum menu. The bite-size dumplings are delicious and terribly addictive! Then we enjoy a soup then noodles with shrimp and marinated octopus. We end our lunch on a high note with a chilled mango soup, a light and exotic dessert.

Rise and Shine

In the morning, we decide to take our breakfast in our room. We of course could head down to the lobby, but with a two-person table, the space is designed to make the most of room service. As you might notice, we’re eating light this morning! It’s possible to enjoy a Japanese breakfast if you’d like (which I’ve told you about in my article on the 10 experiences you can’t miss in Japan), which I recommend trying at least once during your stay.

The Verdict

If I had to summarize my stay at this luxury hotel in one word, it would be: SERVICE! When the excellent standards of a brand like the Peninsula meet the famous hospitality culture of Japan, the service reaches new heights! From the moment that we walked through the door until our departure, it was impeccable! The hotel’s location is also a major asset: considering that Tokyo is a very spread-out city, it’s essential to have a strategic home base! In terms of relaxation, the spa is fantastic for winding down after a day of discovering the city. And if you don’t feel like going out for dinner, there are several options on offer in the building, helping you to enjoy an excellent evening.

I loved:

I disliked:

Practical information

Thank you to the Peninsula Tokyo for the invitation to explore their establishment. Of course, the content of this blogpost was left entirely up to me!