Peninsula Hotel – Tokyo, Japan: As class and style go, there cannot be a better place in all of Tokyo, let alone Japan, than the ultra classy, ultra chic and ultra modern Peninsula Hotel Tokyo. Open for just over a year, the Peninsula is a great addition to the Tokyo luxury hotel market. Ideally located near commercial centers and the Marunouchi business district, The Pen in Tokyo is the best choice for experiencing Tokyo in true class and luxury whether for business or for leisure.

First Impression/Lobby: As is customary whenever we stay at a Peninsula Hotel, we requested for the Rolls Royce airport transfer. Nothing says class and style more than being greeted at the airport by a sharply dressed, white-gloved, uniformed driver and being escorted out to your waiting Rolls.

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The drive from the Tokyo airport (NRT) to the Peninsula hotel took about 45 minutes. Inside the luxurious and spacious Rolls, however, time flew right by and before I knew it, we were walking into the glorious lobby of the hotel. The professional bellmen and doorman, all of which were dressed to the nines, simply added to the elegance and style of our arrival.

Designed by the famous Japanese architect Kazukiyo Sato, the 24-story building resembles a traditional Japanese lantern from the outside. Inside, the hotel interior (designed by Yukio Hashimoto) adopts a traditional Zen theme combined harmoniously with chic and contemporary elements including bamboo sculptures, cherry wood, cherry blossoms, local art works, and elaborate chandeliers that simply blew my mind away.

Reception: Since we had opted for the airport transfer, the reception staff was notified in advance of our arrival and was readily waiting for us when we got there. Immediately, we were escorted up to our suite where we were shown around the room and instructed how to use all the controls and buttons (there were many!), and also completed our registration. It was a perfect start to a bombastic stay.

The Suite: Not only was The Pen a new property, it was a new property that knew the meaning of luxury, warmth, class and style.

Our suite was fabulously large and decorated in a luxurious warm orange and natural wood. It had a spacious living room and a separate dining area cornered in two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out to breathtaking views of the imperial garden which was just blocks away. The bedroom was equipped with a king-sized bed with first-class luxurious sheets, built-in work desk, flat screen TV and mini bar.

The marbled bathroom had two vanity dressers, one on each side, giving each person ample space and privacy. It was also fitted with a full size, stand-alone shower and private toilet, complete with all the buttons and gadgets (auto open, close, flush, water spray, dry air) that make the Japanese toilets so famous. The huge deep soaking tub looked out to a perfect view of the city below and had a built in TV, both accessible with the touch of a button (the blinds were automated and the TV controls were built into the wall). All one needed to do was sit back and relax.

Room Service: Not only was Room Service on par with the best five-star luxury hotels in the world, the Pen Tokyo actually surpassed most all of them in this category. The menu, typical of any five-star hotel, offered all the standard fare—salad, meats, burgers, pizzas—as well as a good selection of authentic Asian fare. Prices, as in most of Tokyo, are high but for the service and quality you get, it is worth every Yen.

Housekeeping: Housekeeping was as you would expect from a hotel of this caliber, absolutely flawless and invisible.

Concierge: The concierge service was the one weak link at the otherwise perfect Peninsula Hotel. Getting good dinner suggestions from them was not as easy as it should have been. I got the impression that the young staff simply lacked the real world experience and the wherewithal needed to make a stellar concierge. After much back-and-forth inquiry and a lot of our own research, we were able to find some bombastic places but most of the effort was done by us, not the concierge staff. For making restaurant reservations and follow-up, however, their staff was competent and service-oriented.

Restaurant: There are several restaurants at the Pen including The Lobby, which offers all-day dining, buffet breakfast, afternoon tea, and live music. The more talked about dining option, however, is Peter, which serves European cuisine with an interesting high-tech ambiance and a gorgeous top-floor view.

Pool/Spa/Activities: Hotel activities and business facilities are somewhat limited at the Peninsula; however, they offer the standard fitness center with a pool, a spa, and some luxury boutiques.

Overall Impression From the gorgeous lobby to the warm and homey, yet ultra classy lobby, to the top-floor restaurant and bar, the hotel is close to absolute five-star luxury hotel perfection (aside from an inexperienced concierge staff). Tokyo is lucky to have the Peninsula on its list of luxury hotels. Fantastic Bombastic!
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