Why book?

This eco-conscious, laid-back luxury hotel group has made its first foray into Japan with 1 Hotel Tokyo. The towering 211-key property has all of the brand’s trademark touches—nature-inspired spaces, calming interiors, and a strong focus on wellbeing—combined with subtle local influences like revived Japanese materials. You won’t find tatami mats or shoji screens here. Instead, the five-star hotel’s bold offering includes a classy French-Japanese restaurant, a trendy Japanese craft-gin bar, and an organic wellness program.

Set the scene

Set over the 38th–43rd floors of the Akasaka Trust Tower in Japan’s capital city, 1 Hotel Tokyo is the calm above the (Tokyo) storm—they don’t call it the “sanctuary in the sky” for nothing. Here, new arrivals linger in the five-star hotel’s plant-filled check-in area dabbing brows with cold flannels and sipping ruby-colored glasses of chilled rose tea—it’s all part of the welcome ritual.

Just off the reception, Japanese and international creatives in preppy suits hunch over MacBooks slurping strawberry matcha lattes with Tokyo’s skyline forming their Zoom backdrop. By night, this nifty work area transforms into Spotted Stone, the hotel’s plush cocktail bar lounge. Expect lively, clubby vibes as local DJs pump out deep house and dance to soul and techno, depending on the mood. It’s the kind of place destined to become a go-to spot for artists, designers, influencers, and fashionistas.

In an area dominated by high-rise office buildings, embassies, and business hotels, 1 Hotel Tokyo is the soft power the district didn’t know it needed. Like other 1 Hotel properties, organic biophilic design principles lie at its heart—there are around 1,500 potted plants, 40 different species, and a full-time in-house botanist. Throughout the hotel, Brooklyn-based interior design studio, Crème, introduces run-your-hand-across-me textures like moss, reclaimed woods, and Oya stone—a building material favored by Frank Lloyd Wright in the design of Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel. These finishes are subtly blended with modernist furnishings and touches inspired by age-old (often forgotten) Japanese techniques like sakan, a form of plastering using straw, sand, lime, and clay to create an organic textured finish.

The backstory

American billionaire, private equity magnate, and hotel kingpin Barry Sternlicht is the brains behind the rapidly-growing 1 Hotels—a sustainability-informed, luxury hotel chain that now has 13 hotels spread across Asia and Europe, though mainly in North America. Sternlicht launched the then forward-looking W Hotel group in 1998 before selling to Marriott in 2016. He soon realized W Hotel regulars would grow up wanting something equally innovative—something rooted in heart, nature, and sustainability.

He launched 1 Hotels in 2015 and has grown the brand to 13 properties, with the support of experienced hotelier Raul Leal. All of the group’s hotels appeal to wellbeing-loving hedonists with a conscience—regular guests are predominantly female (around 60%). 1 Hotel Tokyo sees them leap into the Japanese market with the support of the Mori Trust, one of Japan’s leading real estate companies.

The rooms

Almost in direct juxtaposition to downtown Tokyo and its industrial, glass-fronted high rises and flickering neon lights, all of 1 Hotel Tokyo’s 211 hotel rooms and suites are nature-influenced, mollifying spaces with spa-like interiors, earthy, grounding hues, and minimalist touches. With wellbeing at the core, it’s not surprising to see a meditation bed overlooking the city’s iconic skyline. While interiors feel a little out of place (am I in Tokyo or Bali?), perhaps that’s the point: to provide guests with a calming, comfortable retreat away from the chaos on the streets below. There are nods to Japan via upcycled moss artwork and the use of Japanese crafting techniques to create finishes.

In keeping with the 1 Hotels mantra, thoughtful steps have been made to reduce waste. There are no single-use plastics anywhere and each room has a tap with filtered water, glasses made from recycled wine bottles, and coat hangers fashioned from old milk bottles. Even the napkins have a dual purpose, with instructions on how to use Nespresso coffee machines printed on the back. Showers have three-minute egg timers to encourage guests to be mindful of water consumption, though fret not if you prefer a soak—bathrooms also have deep baths with geranium essential oil-scented bath salts. Rainfall showers come with organic, medicinal toiletries by UK-based sustainable body care brand Bamford.

Aside from all the essentials expected of a five-star hotel (flatscreen TVs with streaming, well-stocked minibars, and pillowy mattresses) practical touches have been considered—USB and USB-C plug sockets and mood lighting controls are within easy-reach bedside. If I were to be hyper-critical, designated desks (there are small circular tables, not conducive to working) that make the most of far-reaching views and have plug sockets close by would be a nice addition. But maybe that goes against the mindful, relaxation-led ethos. The best rooms are southeast facing and boast stunning vistas over Tokyo Tower, the Rainbow Bridge, and Tokyo Bay.

Food and drink

All dining options are spread across the 1 Hotel Tokyo’s 38th floor. Beyond the reception area, Spotted Stone provides late-night cocktail bar vibes and is blessed with a photo-worthy, cloud-shaped backbar showcasing almost 100 Japanese craft gins that influencers love. The bar serves olives, Japanese charcuterie, and beef Wagyu sandwiches, which accompany elegant, well-balanced cocktails. Zero-proof options are also available—I’d recommend the fiery faux-whiskey-based Na Nashi.

Elsewhere, NiNi (meaning two, two), is the hotel’s main dining room: Picture a sprawling open-plan space with moss and sand-colored midcentury-inspired furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows framing lengthy city views. Breakfast is served here from 7 to 10:30 a.m.—a slightly later cut-off time would be a welcome improvement, at least on weekends. The breakfast buffet has all the classic items—cereals, fresh juices, pastries—plus the odd Japanese-inspired noodle dish. The à la carte breakfast menu features a collection of egg-based dishes, like Riviera Benedict (a French twist on the classic) plus buttermilk waffles, pancakes, and a Bento box option for good measure. The must-order dish, however, is the umami-rich mushroom tartine served with Comté cheese on fluffy handmade sourdough bread.

At the helm of NiNi’s sky kitchen is Canada-born Nikko Policarpio, who cut his teeth at award-winning restaurants like Tokyo’s two Michelin star-awarded Crony. The restaurant’s culinary language infuses Mediterranean (largely French Riviera flavors) inspired dishes and Japanese ingredients and cooking techniques—all with sustainability in mind. It’d be wise to head down to NiNi at dusk to dine as a honeyed hue is cast over a jungle of skyscrapers. Diners may wish to opt for something on the à la carte menu, though I’d advise trying the well-proportioned five-course tasting menu that starts with a fluffy homemade focaccia and includes an indulgent wild oar cavatelli and tender Japanese steak.

Finally, Neighbours, the hotel’s grab-and-go café, is the place to stop by for iced matcha or drip coffee fixes. It’s stocked with local confectionaries, ranging from kombucha to popcorn, all at reasonable-ish prices.

The spa

Wellness remains high on the list of 1 Hotel Tokyo’s biggest draws. The Bamford Wellness Spa, on the 38th floor, blends modern therapeutic practices with Japanese-influenced treatments—the 90-minute bamboo massage is an ideal post-flight remedy. It consists of skilled masseuses using Kyoto bamboo and green-tea infused oils to iron out knots. Always finish with a steamy session in the hammam and a dip in the 18-meter plant-ringed indoor pool, which has a decently-sized outside sun deck running off it. Just around the corner, the hotel’s compact fitness centre lures even the least fitness-enthusiastic guests, thanks to knockout treadmill views extending to the bay.

The neighborhood/area

Akasaka is one of the city’s main business districts—more sharp suites, salary men, and international diplomats than local hipsters and international fashionistas. Its skyline is dominated by corporate high-rises, business hotels, and diplomatic dwellings—the US ambassador’s house is a few minutes away. That said, a three-minute stroll in front of the hotel is a cluster of sushi bars, tempura restaurants, and international spots (even an Irish bar). The buzzy nightlife hotspot of Roppongi is only a 20-minute walk away, while Tameike-sannō Station metro station connects visitors easily to all the main places—Ginza is reachable in under 10 minutes and Shibuya is closer to 20. Tokyo’s Imperial Palace is under 15 minutes by bike from the hotel’s lobby, while Haneda Airport is around a 20-minute taxi ride away (Narita Airport is closer to an hour).

The service

The service style at 1 Hotel Tokyo is easygoing and never stuffy. It seems like team members, dressed in hip, minimalist Uniqlo-esque gear, have been briefed to keep their manner friendly, helpful, yet laid-back. Fixers rather than fluffers, they’re happy to help with issues like forgotten adaptors and are wary of overly smothering independent guests who prefer a less in-your-face service style. Activities and dining options are taken into consideration by concierge staff keen to point visitors in the direction of the best spots for yakitori or souvenir hunting nearby.

Eco effort

Sustainability isn’t an afterthought or a box-ticking CR exercise here, it’s at the forefront of 1 Hotels mission—and it shows. Aside from no-single-use plastics in rooms and the touches mentioned previously, 1 Hotels’ universal 1 Less Thing initiative encourages guests to leave an item of clothing behind that will be donated to a local charity.

Even the Spotted Stone bar gets in on the eco action, utilizing all ingredients and minimizing waste (lemon and lime skins are processed and used to make homemade syrups for cocktails, for example). The hotel also offers complimentary access to an Audi Electric Vehicle Experience—a fully electric Audi Q6 e-tron—to explore the city. 1 Hotel Tokyo has achieved a CASBEE certificate, the highest award in Japan’s green building metric.

Accessibility

1 Hotel Tokyo has five universal access rooms designed to cater to people with various accessibility needs. In these rooms, bathtubs and toilets have grab bars, doors are wheelchair-accessible and closets, minibars, and shelves are lowered. For those with hearing concerns, alert kits are available from reception.

Anything left to mention?

You’re in Tokyo, so expect to hear muffled street noise from your room (ambulance sirens, car horns, and road workers). It’s not uncomfortably loud but light sleepers would be advised to pack earplugs.