Set on the top floors of a 52-story building with spectacular views of Tokyo’s neon lights, Park Hyatt Tokyo is the city’s best-known luxury hotel thanks to its starring role in the 2003 film Lost in Translation. The Shinjuku location can’t be beat: It’s got easy access to cool ramen restaurants and izakaya bars, Shinjuku Station (which connects to Narita airport), and nearby neighborhoods like Kabukicho (a legendary nightlife zone). But get there fast if you want to view the sleek interiors that Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson helped make famous, from the swimming pool surrounded by soaring glass walls to the glittering New York Grill (which sources 3% of the world’s Wagyu beef). Since May 2024, the property has been shut down for a top-to-bottom transformation led by Paris-based design firm Jouin Manku. Details for the renovation are still under wraps, but the acclaimed agency promises a fresh take on the original design philosophy. From $1,194 per night.
Editor’s Note: The Park Hyatt Tokyo is currently undergoing renovations and will welcome guests again in autumn 2025.
Perks: Skyline views, Michelin-starred restaurant, Bvlgari spa
It’s Italy by way of Japan at the Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo, which just opened its doors in central Tokyo right across from Tokyo Station, a transport hub with access to locations like Kyoto and Osaka on the shinkansen (the bullet train). Like many of Tokyo’s five-star hotels, the Bvlgari is set on the upper floors of a business tower with views stretching to Tokyo Bay. The design fuses Italian and Japanese accents, from the venetian glass pool (which sits beneath a gold ceiling hand-painted by local artisans) to a terrace planted with lemon and yuzu trees. The hotel cuisine is as delicious as the space is beautiful. Three Michelin-starred Italian chef Niko Romito is the force behind Il Ristorante, which serves up a contemporary spin on his native home cooking, while sushi master Kenji Gyoten—who…