LOUNGE /
TRAVEL
June 28, 2021
Series Part 3: Tokyo High-Rise Staycation – Mesm Tokyo, Autograph Collection in Takeshiba | TRAVEL
TRAVEL | MESM TOKYO, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION
Choose your own check-in time for a full 24-hour reward stay.
MESM TOKYO, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION is a luxury hotel located in the upper floors (16th-26th) of the tower building within WATERS takeshiba, a complex facility that opened in Takeshiba in 2020. It features 265 guest rooms, including 8 suites. It's the perfect fit for our "Tokyo High-Rise Staycation" series.
Text by HASEGAWA Aya | Edit by TSUCHIDA Takashi
Feeling the dawn breeze on your balcony as Tokyo awakens
Opened in April 2020 in Tokyo's Takeshiba area, MESM TOKYO, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION (hereafter "MESM TOKYO") is a hotel that stands out amongst recent Tokyo openings. It's a collaboration between JR East Group's Nihon Hotel Co., Ltd. and Marriott International.
MESM TOKYO is offering a special plan called "Solo Activity Support! Cocooning 24-Hour Guaranteed Stay" (hereafter "Solo Activity Plan") until the end of August, allowing for a 24-hour stay perfect for solo travelers. Seizing this opportunity, I decided to immerse myself in the MESM TOKYO world for a full 24 hours.
What's remarkable about this plan is the flexibility to check in anytime between 6 AM and midnight. You can stay for a full 24 hours from your chosen check-in time. While other hotels offer plans with "up to 24 hours" or "up to 36 hours," the ability to choose your own check-in time is truly impressive. Well done, MESM TOKYO.
From the moment I arrived at the entrance, the hotel's unique atmosphere was palpable. It evoked the same sense of exhilaration as visiting a theme park.
MESM TOKYO's original uniforms, designed by "Y's BANG ON!". To maintain the fashion-forward aesthetic, regular makeup lessons are offered by professional makeup artists.
At the entrance, staff members, dressed in chic, gender-neutral all-black uniforms by Yohji Yamamoto's "Y's BANG ON!" line, greet you with a unique gesture. They place one hand on their chest, a gesture signifying "from the heart." It might be surprising at first, but you'll quickly get used to it. I found myself returning the gesture by the end of my stay.
There are four main types of room views: Garden View, overlooking Hamarikyu Gardens and Tokyo Skytree; views towards Shibaura and the Rainbow Bridge; views towards Shiodome; and views towards the Tokyo Bay Gate Bridge. Each has its own charm, but for a first stay, I'd recommend a balcony room with a Garden View, offering a simultaneous vista of the greenery of Hamarikyu Gardens and Tokyo's waterfront, with the cityscape and Tokyo Skytree beyond. It's rare to experience such an urban resort feel. And the balcony is spacious! I found myself stepping out onto it whenever I could. While not included in the "Solo Activity Plan," upgrades are possible (from ¥10,000, subject to availability).
At MESM TOKYO, stays are envisioned as chapters in life, hence the guest room categories are referred to as "Chapters." Even the standard "Chapter 1" rooms offer a generous 40 square meters, a luxurious space for a hotel in Minato Ward.
I had planned to stay in my room, catch up on work, and just relax during this staycation. However, this room offers so many things to do and experience that it's surprisingly busy...
I believe MESM TOKYO is unique, not just in Japan but globally, for equipping every room with a CASIO "Privia" digital piano. Even if you haven't touched a piano since elementary school, I urge you to try it (perhaps reluctantly?). The tablet in the room features lesson videos that will have you playing "Sakura Sakura" by checkout. Be warned, however, that practicing can easily consume an hour or two. The piano also doubles as a Bluetooth speaker, so be sure to bring your favorite music.
After finishing urgent work, why not indulge in the decadent pleasure of a nap on the Simmons bed with the balcony door open? Allow yourself this forbidden luxury, if only for today. After waking, it's time for a bath while it's still light. The bathroom itself is quite something – spacious enough to stretch out, and with a glass wall for an open feel.
Thirsty? The minibar is stocked with Heartland, one of Japan's finest beers. All drinks in the fridge (water, orange juice, Heartland) are complimentary. They really want you to enjoy yourself, don't they? I appreciate that.
The hotel's original blend, created by Tokyo-based specialty coffee roaster "Sarutahiko Coffee," is also popular online. Be sure to try it with a hand drip!
Exploring the room, checking emails, napping, bathing, a little bit of work (just a little!) – and suddenly it's evening. The magic hour, as day turns to night, is best enjoyed on the balcony. Sipping the hotel's original Sarutahiko Coffee blend, brewed by hand drip, is pure bliss – the true essence of staying at MESM TOKYO. How to brew it? Just ask the tablet in your room (laughs).
And this tablet is surprisingly useful. It controls the air conditioning and lighting, and even offers access to magazines and newspapers. Plus, the TV comes equipped with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. Honestly, 24 hours is nowhere near enough. I decided right then and there: I would spend my time here indulging my every whim.
The room service hamburger, made with a 100% beef patty, was satisfyingly chewy and packed with juice.
For dinner, I used the hotel credit included in the plan for in-room dining. I asked the talent (!) for recommendations and, after some deliberation on their part, received some valuable insights. Executive Chef Konomi Kumamoto trained under Katsuhiro Nakamura, the first Japanese chef to earn a Michelin star in Paris during his time at Hotel Metropolitan Edmont. Nakamura's influence is evident in the curry available via in-room dining. It's bound to be delicious. However, after much deliberation, I opted for the hotel's signature hamburger, made with a 100% beef patty. It was juicy, generously sized, and paired perfectly with a drink.
The next morning, I had set an alarm to wake before sunrise, but thanks to an early night and the exhilaration of being in a different world, I woke up easily before the alarm even sounded. I immediately went out onto the balcony to watch Tokyo awaken from the best possible vantage point.
Breakfast is the "Mesm Breakfast" (separate charge; ¥5,100 for guests including tax) at the 16th-floor restaurant "Chef's Theater." The breakfast, embodying the hotel's concept, is exciting and elegant – a true reflection of MESM TOKYO. The five "Five Senses Drinks" served first are enough to elevate your mood. They're highly photogenic and, despite the substantial portions, each dish is a carefully crafted masterpiece. Be sure to save room for the homemade pastries.
Eating, sleeping, listening to music, working, bathing – the cycle repeated, and 24 hours passed in the blink of an eye. I have no regrets; in fact, I feel a sense of accomplishment. After checking out and stepping outside, I felt a surge of energy. My mind felt clear, as if cleansed of distractions. It was a staycation that felt like transcending time and space, even while in Tokyo. I'll linger in this afterglow for a while.
MESM TOKYO, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION
- Address | 1-10-30 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo Waters Takeshiba Tower Building 1F, 4F, and 16F-26F
- Number of Rooms | 265 (Guest room floors 17F-26F)
- Facilities | Restaurant "Chef's Theater," Bar & Lounge "Whisk," Banquet Hall "The Banquet," Private Salon "Club Mesm," Fitness
- Rates | From ¥65,527 (per night, per room, for 2 guests with breakfast, tax and service charge included)
- Access | 6-minute walk from JR Yamanote Line / Keihin-Tohoku Line / Monorail Hamamatsucho Station, 3-minute walk from New Transit Yurikamome Line Takeshiba Station
Solo Activity Support! Cocooning 24-Hour Guaranteed Stay
- Reservations accepted until | August 29, 2021 (Sunday) 3:00 PM
- Stay period | Until August 31, 2021 (Tuesday) check-in
- Rate | ¥39,900 (tax and service charge included)
- Eligible room type | Chapter 1 (40㎡)
- Plan benefits | 24-hour stay from check-in anytime between 6:00 AM and 12:00 AM (midnight), ¥5,000 hotel credit for in-room dining (per stay), one complimentary mixology cocktail (18 types available, including non-alcoholic) at Bar & Lounge "Whisk"
- Plan-exclusive activity | Coffee brewing workshop led by hotel staff (choose from 11:00 AM or 4:00 PM)
Inquiries
MESM TOKYO, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION
Tel. 03-5777-1111
https://www.mesm.jp