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September 21, 2021
Directly connected to Otemachi Station. The Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi was a culinary paradise with Imperial Palace views! | TRAVEL
TRAVEL | Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi
Series Vol. 5: Tokyo High-Rise Staycation at Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi
In September 2020, the "Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi" opened as the third Four Seasons hotel in Japan. With the Olympics originally planned, many hotels have opened in the past year or two, even amidst the pandemic, but I personally believe the "Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi" is one of the most successful among these numerous new openings.
Text by HASEGAWA Aya | Edit by TSUCHIDA Takashi
An Escape Above the Clouds, Directly Connected to Otemachi Station
So, this time, I decided to have a workcation at this favorite hotel. Traveling far still feels a bit daunting. How about spending some exciting time at an urban resort that's easily accessible by train or taxi?
This is a hotel I personally love. It's close to my home, living along the Chiyoda Line, and since its opening, I've lost count of how many times I've visited for stays, meals, tea, spa treatments, or just coffee. The other day, when a friend asked, "My child has summer vacation, but we can't go far. I want to stay at a hotel in Tokyo, relax, and maybe swim in the pool. Where do you recommend?" This was the first place I suggested.
What's so great about it? First, the location. Situated on the 34th to 39th floors of the 200-meter-high "Otemachi One Tower," adjacent to Otemachi Station on the subway, most guest rooms offer Imperial Palace views. It's exhilarating. The aquatic facilities, including the pool, are excellent, and all four restaurants and bars are equally superb.
Let me introduce the hotel. The lobby and dining facilities are located on the 39th floor. On this floor, where natural light streams through large windows, creating part of the interior, a sense of openness unfolds, as if you can gain energy just by being there. The moment the elevator doors open, you're filled with exhilaration. Before you stretches the cityscape unique to Tokyo, with its towering skyscrapers. And the greenery of the Imperial Palace area... Floors 30 and 40 are not excessively high, yet they offer a perfect vantage point to feel the pulse of the city. If this isn't an urban resort, what is? (laughs)
I'd love to take you to the guest rooms now, but before check-in, there's somewhere I need to go: "THE SPA." The signature treatment here uses oil extracted from Yakusugi cedar trees, some of which are over 1,000 years old. They also offer excellent short treatments for those who want to relax without much time. Options like "Vitality Recharge" (30 minutes, ¥20,240), focusing on the muscles of the back, neck, and shoulders, or "Head & Foot Release" (45 minutes, ¥26,565), which eases blood flow in the head, can transport you to a blissful state even in a short time.
Now, let's head to the guest rooms. The Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi has a total of 190 rooms spread across the 34th to 38th floors, all measuring 49 square meters or larger. I chose the "Deluxe Room, Imperial Palace Garden View" for this stay. Personally, I feel this room category best showcases the hotel's unique character. Beyond the Imperial Palace Outer Garden's greenery, you see Tokyo's dynamic skyscrapers... The rooms are not only highly designed but also exceptionally comfortable. With features like shoji-style doors made of Japanese paper, they truly live up to the reputation of architect and designer Jean-Michel Gathy, who has designed many luxury hotels.
The daybed by the window is also a great feature. While it's nice to lie down and watch movies or dramas, surprisingly, it's also conducive to work (laughs). As expected of a modern hotel, it's equipped with plenty of power outlets and USB ports, making it perfect for a workcation. Time flies by here as if it were a palace in the sea! It's dangerous, dangerous!
And the highlight of this room, without a doubt, is the bathtub with an Imperial Palace view (I declare)! On the Imperial Palace side of the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi, there are no buildings directly in front. Well, technically there are, but they are quite distant. So, you can even bathe while gazing at the panoramic view that fills the large window, without closing the curtains (laughs).
I've bathed while enjoying the magnificent view several times, but my personal recommendation is the brief moment when night transitions into morning, with Tokyo bathed in a purplish hue (depending on the weather and season). Gazing at the beauty of Tokyo and how this city changes its expression moment by moment, isn't that the ultimate entertainment? The hotel's original cypress bath salts are also wonderful! And the choice of shower modes was a nice touch.
Access to the spa area on the 39th floor is via a private elevator. The 20-meter-long pool, with its aluminum bottom, sparkled as it caught the light. You'll instantly feel transported to a luxurious overseas resort. The mist chairs are fun, and the jacuzzi is also quite nice.
The gender-separated changing rooms also feature Japanese-style baths and saunas. I'm so excited, I feel like I could grow wings! You can see the Skytree from the window. It's also lovely at night, when it's illuminated and sparkles even more.
I'm starting to get hungry. The four restaurants and bars mentioned earlier are all located on the 39th floor. They are all excellent. Each dining venue is so impressive that it could warrant its own article. In fact, the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi is also a culinary paradise!
"est," offering contemporary French cuisine by Michelin-starred chef Guillaume Bracaval, is characterized by its "gentle" French dishes that use minimal butter. The desserts, which use tofu instead of cheese, are constantly evolving. The combination of ingredients sourced from all over Japan and innovative, contemporary French cuisine is exceptional.
"PIGNETO" is an Italian restaurant famous for its pizzas, baked in a special oven using flour imported from Italy by a pizzaiolo from Naples. Don't miss the "Monthly Italian Journey Menu" by Chef Katsuhiro Kikawa, which features course meals and special pizzas themed around a different Italian region each month. For September 2021, the theme was Tuscany, recreating authentic Tuscan flavors with autumn ingredients like truffles and porcini mushrooms. From April to October, the rooftop terrace, spanning 108 square meters, is open. Please experience its scale, which is rare in the city center. Ah, it would be fantastic to have a drink here, but will it be ready in time this year?
The bar "VIRTÙ" is helmed by head bartender Joshua Perez, who has led the cutting-edge cocktail scene in New York. As the name "Virtue" suggests, the menu features original cocktails inspired by the seven virtues derived from Bushido, such as "Jin" (benevolence), "Gi" (righteousness), and "Makoto" (sincerity). I could probably write about 5,000 characters just about the bar, but this is a workcation article (laughs). Please forgive me. However, I must tell you that the cocktail combining cognac and champagne was incredibly good (in a delicious way). You can also see the Tokyo Skytree from the window!
At "THE LOUNGE," which has a tea sommelier, the afternoon tea and sweets by Yusuke Aoki, a pastry chef known as the "pastry magician," are very popular. The tea pairing by the tea sommelier is also a unique offering of this hotel. This is also my go-to spot for working. Honestly, I didn't really want to write about it (laughs).
Oh, and I should also mention that the pajamas, with their waffle-like lining, are exceptionally comfortable. I felt like wearing them the entire stay. So, for breakfast, I opted for in-room dining and enjoyed it with the unique view from here! I had a hard time choosing between Western and Japanese breakfast, but the Japanese breakfast was also delicious. It was hearty, and the simmered dishes, infused with dashi, were exquisite!
And, the best recommendation for the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi is that the prices are surprisingly reasonable. They offer attractive plans such as a 27-hour stay package and a "stay three nights, get one free" offer, so be sure to check them out. Furthermore, until September 30th (Thursday), they are offering a "Celebration Plan" to commemorate their first anniversary. The "1st Anniversary Celebration Special Accommodation Plan" (valid for stays until December 31st, 2021) includes breakfast (for up to two people daily), champagne (one bottle per stay), and a ¥10,000 prepaid card.
https://www.fourseasons.com/jp/otemachi/landing-pages/property/first-anniversary/Additionally, if you purchase ¥50,000 in prepaid cards usable within the hotel, you'll receive an extra ¥10,000 for the month of September. They are also offering special celebration menus at the hotel's restaurants and lounges.
The Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi, celebrating its first anniversary, must be enveloped in an even happier atmosphere. Why not discover it for yourself? With the concept of "experiencing the extraordinary above the clouds," the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi is directly connected to Otemachi Station on the subway. You can visit as soon as the mood strikes.
Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi
- Address: 1-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- Number of Rooms: 190 rooms in total
- Room Rate: Deluxe Room Imperial Palace Garden View starts from ¥81,160 per room (including tax, service charge, and ¥200 accommodation tax)
