The lounge experience is definitely improved by the new policy so I totally get why they did it. I agree service is pitched a bit below the very best in Tokyo, but I love the hard product of this hotel. The problem with the Forbes List is it's not clear what the divide between 4 and 5 star is meant to be - why is Capital Hotel Tokyu 5 star but Aman Tokyo and the Andaz are 4 star? Makes it difficult to say if this hotel should be 4 or 5 star. I think of this hotel as pretty similar to the Andaz generally, so would say both should really be the same rating.

Sad to have not stayed here for a year now...