Review: The Andaz Hotel, Tokyo, Japan || Total Happiness…

The Andaz? In Tokyo? We tried to fault the place, we really did…

High rise, skyline defining hotels with elevated prices create very lofty guest expectations. It’s only natural. So when entering the Andaz Tokyo, perched high above the city of Tokyo, with Imperial Palace and Tokyo Tower views- expectations are quite literally throughout the very 52 floor roof.

With impeccable service, captivating design and views not soon forgotten, the hotel soars through expectations, while creating a remarkable sense of place.

Location, location. The Andaz is in a fantastic, upscale location- perfect for a first or fiftieth visit to Tokyo. The hotel is within walking distance to refined local areas, while remaining accessible to many worthy tourist favorites, such as the Imperial Palace Gardens.

Upon arrival at the 52 story Toranomon Tower building, guests can’t help but feel instantly awe inspired, in a neighborhood free of the busyness often portrayed in Tokyo. Ground floor clerks welcome guests with a distinct politeness only found in Japan, before dispersing with bags and directing patrons to the 51st floor for check in.

But arrival on the 51st floor is a marvel in itself. Brand new- three years old like the rest of the hotel, the guest lounge and lobby exudes character, with one of a kind, large format Japanese art, stained wood, diffused light, greenery and of course- a staff always on their game.

The hotel breaths Japanese character and a remarkable sense of place. It’s not “just’ a Hyatt- it’s a hotel where you instantly feel as if you can be nowhere else in the world- you’re undoubtedly in Japan.

There are no check in desks, instead, a quirky laptop “round table” of sorts is where hotel staff corral. But before we could reach the mothership of laptops, we were warmly greeted and diverted to the sleek, adjacent guest lounge.

We were promptly offered a welcome drink while standard formalities were carried out across the hall. Our check in agent was far from standard, taking personal pride in offering an informative run down on the services and amenities on offer, such as the complimentary wine and sake hours from 6-8pm. Good to know.

The room, in three words: reverse engineered home. Rooms at the Andaz are large for Japan and everything seems to make some sort of futuristic sense. There are electrically controlled, floor to ceiling black out blinds, state of the art toilets- which by the way will warm your back side, and analog buttons to control everything from the bedside. It’s the layout that wins however.

Seating areas by the windows, comfortable desk tops, showers out of the greatest “don’t wake me up” dreams and televisions on a swivel make the place feel more like a studio apartment you’d like to rent than a hotel room for an undefined stay. Throw in the complimentary non alcoholic mini bar and the Nespresso machine and it’s quite a cozy place to stay all day, not that you’d want to in Tokyo.

Oh, and of course, there is a complimentary phone to take with you- allowing guests to browse and chat without worry, throughout the city. It’s this “what do the guests want from a room” rather than “what do we want to put in their room” that separates this world class hotel.

Amenities. For $500+ (or 25,000 points) per night, guests demand more than just lovely rooms and dynamic lounge areas. Here, they get it. The hotel features the very best hotel gym and pool we’ve ever seen. The fitness equipment is state of the art, with an active duty team member on hand to ensure things run smoothly, cleanly and efficiently.

Plus- the gym and pool offer floor to ceiling views high above the Tokyo skyline. An inspiring way to work out. For those in search of a healthy dose of pampering, the spa is no exception- with private massage rooms also featuring panoramic views, some even with a balcony.

If by now you’re scrolling in hopes of learning about food, you’ve come to the right juncture. The hotel offers a lobby bar, an a la carte restaurant in the adjacent space and a renowned sushi joint, aptly dubbed “The Sushi” on the 52nd floor roof top, featuring just 8 seats.

But you’ll struggle in the best and most spoiled of ways after breakfast. Breakfast is an international feast of made to order omelettes, delicacies from the sea, fresh juices, fruits and truly the best pastries we’ve had anywhere- including Paris.

Which leads us to the ultimate tip at the Andaz Tokyo. You must, and we do mean MUST- eat at least one meal or snack from the hotels ground floor Patisserie. In a group of four well traveled souls, we’ve never had better eclair.

This author spent ample time attempting to nitpick this hotel- and failed. For any stay, truly any stay, the hotel, in our opinion, caters to all fresh tastes, with tasteful, modern and thoughtful rooms, bountiful amenities and a location amongst the very best.

Throw in the creature comforts of a world class gym, outstanding complimentary evening food and wine offerings for all guests, robust concierge services and it’s a place we’d happily call home.

Off to Tokyo, and to the Andaz you go. And here’s what you need to know before visiting Japan.