MikeFromTokyo

evergrn

Sorry if this has already been covered already (I didn't see this discussed in the past 4-5 pages). I'd be interested to hear see people's list of top 10 Tokyo luxury hotels... either ranked or unranked or grouped into 2-3 sub-tiers.

I'm completely ignorant when it comes to the highest echelon of Tokyo hotels. Everywhere I've stayed at has been like 4-star, except Conrad which is the only 5-star I've stayed at within the past 5 years in Tokyo. But I've got some Hyatt points to burn and am thinking about Park Hyatt or Andaz. I've also stayed at Four Seasons, but that was a while ago. Have never stayed at places like Palace, Aman, Ritz, Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental, Park Hyatt, Andaz (I've eaten at some of those places, though). Where does Park Hyatt rank? Is it better than Andaz (PH requires more pts)? I wonder if Conrad even ranks amongst Tokyo's top 10. I'm also curious as to where Mandarin Oriental and Shangri-la rank in your opinion.

Aventine

PH is much more formal than Andaz. An older traditional style hotel where Andaz is like the young fun loving cousin. I think PH would be worth the additional 5000 points for the concierge, room service breakfast (if Hyatt Globalist) and spacious rooms.

My favorite Tokyo list (in no particular order).

Shangrila
Andaz
RC
MO
Prince Gallery Kioicho (some amazing deals to be had when combined with Stariott status)
.
.
PH (I used to have a very high opinion of this place but their totally unprofessional response to their own food error to my severe peanut allergy put me off them).
.
.
Aman - amazing hardware but nothing else.

FlyerEC

evergrn

So would you say that these 7 hotels are amongst what you think are the top 10 hotels in Tokyo?
In addition to this, I'm sure Palace and Peninsula would come before Conrad. So that's 9.

Do you think Conrad might barely crack top 10?

With regards to Andaz vs PH... I don't have any status (only Discoverist), and my priorities would be 1).breakfast buffet; 2).opulence of bathroom; 3).view; 4).pool; 5).family-friendliness. Should I go with PH?

RichardInSF

I'm hampered because I've only stayed at the PH, not the Andaz. But I'd be surprised if the PH wasn't top in bathroom, view, and pool. at least. Even the view from the pool is amazing.

evergrn

Okay thanks, well then I should go with PH. Will be sometime next year.

Aventine

Pensinula would be at the bottom of most people's Tokyo luxury lists for a myriad of reasons. Conrad too considering this is the Luxury Forum.

Andaz vs. PH
Breakfast buffet- Could be a tie. I don't know because I only had it once at Andaz and never at PH.

Bathroom opulence - PH by a hair for marble over Andaz wood. Just don't like that there's no overhead shower there. If you want a nice bathroom then you should go with Aman or Shangrila.

View - I like both of them but prefer seeing the tower everyday than a speck of Fuji on a clear day.

Pool - PH. Still a heck of a pool.

Family friendliness - I think both hotels will treat your kids just fine.

flapland

I can only compare the Conrad to the Shangrila. Although the Conrad is very nice especially the suit rooms the Shangrila is a couple of notches above that. The service is far more personable, the room hardware better quality especially the lovely beds. The bathroom is also lovely although the larger Conrad suite bathroom just shades it due to the walk in wardrobe.

Back in Tokyo in three weeks but can't stretch to the top level this time so going to try the Tokyo Station Hotel and Club level and the ANA IC unless a last minute rate drip appears at the MO or Shangrila.

Pickles

Breakfast buffet: I'll take the Andaz over the PH nowadays. For a long time, the PH breakfast buffet was the gold standard, but no more. Slow service, crowded, janky selection.

Bathroom: A tie, although the Andaz has better water pressure with the overhead showers. If you get a corner room or a suite, you'll get the Argan shmaltz, which is as nice as the Aesop junk but it comes in bigger bottles, so more to steal.

View: I like both but I prefer the Andaz as the four sides have more interesting stuff going on, although the Mt. Fuji view is slowly getting blocked by new skyscrapers. It may be gone at some point soon.

Pool: PH. Let us repeat. Still one heck of a pool.

Family friendliness: Probably both the same, which is unfortunate, as I can't stand kids. Would be nice if both hotels treated them badly and this was a well-known fact. Ban them altogether would be my preference.

Location: I'll take the Andaz any day over the PH. There, I said it. I used to stay at the PH assiduously, but since the Andaz opened, I've only stayed at the Andaz. But I do miss the PH pool and the atrium lobby.

DSI

I wonder if there's an interesting story behind these feelings?

You may want to call Hyatt at 1-888-344-9288 and share your thoughts with them.

Pickles

No, it's generalized. I just don't like children, at a Hyatt or pretty much anywhere else within my vision or aural range.

gengar

Conrad is my value luxury choice in Tokyo; it's usually a good deal on points and paying for suites is often a steal relative to other lux Tokyo properties, especially with a night off via FHR. The hard product is very good and concierge excellent IME. The big weakness is on-property F&B, but even then the breakfast buffet is very good. I'm not sure why it isn't better-regarded on here; discussing just Tokyo lux properties I've stayed at, it has better hard product IMO than the RC, far better concierge IME than the MO (I actually canceled my MO stay b/c of horrid pre-arrival experience with the concierge), and doesn't have the noise problems of FS:M. (And it's better than the Pen, but that is a property that is, fairly, nearly-universally maligned on here.) I had a great stay at the Palace recently, but the Conrad is my clear go-to if I need to be in that area of Tokyo or if the Palace is not available.

I haven't stayed at the PH but have a points booking coming up at the Andaz, although I'll switch over to Palace if space opens up.

All that said, I do think it's important to factor location into your decision.

helvetic

I can assure you that's not the case. Prince Gallery and Andaz bathrooms are both better than PH. Prince Gallery has super modern bathrooms with views. Andaz has gorgeous massive wooden bathrooms with soaking tubs and bathrooms.

My favorites hotels in tokyo, starting from #1 :

1. Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho
2. Andaz Toranomon Hills
3. Park Hyatt
4. Conrad

Those are the only 5* I've really enjoyed. The rest (Sheraton, HR, Grand Hyatt, various non-Western) were all mediocre.

I have not tried Aman / Pen / MO / Shangri-La.

bhrubin