Review: 1 Hotel Tokyo

Located on floors 38 through 43 of Tokyo’s Akasaka Trust Tower, 1 Hotel Tokyo seems paradoxical at first.

On one hand, it’s clear that Starwood Hotels aimed to capitalize on the boundless and ever-changing Tokyo skyline with its first 1 Hotels property in Japan. On the other hand, the 1 Hotels brand ethos is all about nature — seemingly at odds with Tokyo’s bright lights and bustling city life.

Launched in 2015 by Starwood Hotels & Resorts founder Barry Sternlicht, 1 Hotels debuted with a South Beach Miami property focused on celebrating nature, eco-friendliness and low-impact architecture. Now, all 1 Hotels’ properties feature abundant plant life, no paper or plastic in guestrooms, a morning farm stand in lobbies, nature- and wellness-focused activities and freshly sourced, seasonal fare.

1 Hotel Tokyo just opened this March, and I was excited to experience the brand for the first time. Tokyo’s Akasaka district is heavy on office space, so I was initially struck by the property’s biophilic design — a welcome change from the staid glass-and-steel duo of contemporary city properties. Here’s what else to expect at the property.

The Main Lobby and Wellness Facilities

It seems to be a trend in Japan to set upscale hotel receptions in loftier spaces. Instead of the usual check-in formalities on the ground level, guests take an elevator to floor 38 to enter 1 Hotel Tokyo’s main lobby, an airy venue with sunlight pouring in.

Despite being perched atop a commercial building, the lobby feels open and peaceful, with flowers and vines augmenting the environment. The center of the space offers a sitting area, which at night doubles as gin bar Spotted Stone. Neighbors Cafe — a grab-and-go concept with drinks, snacks and sandwiches — is also located on this floor, as are all dining options.

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The 38th floor is also where clients will find Bamford Wellness Spa, which touts an indoor pool, a lavender relaxation lounge and a hammam, in addition to massage, facial and body treatments. There's also The Field House Gym, open 24 hours, and an indoor pool with intervals for adults-only swimming.

Check-in was the only place I encountered an issue during my stay (albeit a minor one). After swiping my credit card for incidentals, I was told there was an issue with the printer; fortunately, a staff member was able to email me the deposit slip. From there, I finished my welcome drink (a refreshing hibiscus juice) and headed to my room on the 43rd floor.

Tower King Room

The 211-key 1 Hotel Tokyo features 24 suites, three of which are penthouses. I stayed in a Tower King room, which displayed bird’s-eye views of the nearly 1,100-foot-tall Tokyo Tower and surrounding cityscape. Chuffed with my room’s choice vista, I thought fondly about my visit to the Tokyo Tower observation deck 26 years ago during my first trip to Japan.

Although the hotel had only been operating for about one month when I visited, it still felt as clean and untarnished as if I were the first-ever guest. The room had ample space and three different areas in which to kick back (bed, couch and sitting area by the window); I only wish I’d had more time to relax in it.

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Properties under the 1 Hotels flag feature eco-conscious guestroom elements that distinguish the accommodations from standard-issue hotel rooms. As mentioned above, there are no single-use plastics, and many items are made from recycled materials — in fact, an in-room water cooler comes with glasses made from upcycled wine bottles, and a reclaimed chalkboard serves as a notepad. Showers have an hourglass timer, subtly reminding clients to be aware of their water usage.

The classic “do not disturb” room sign is substituted with an actual rock, with “now” and “not now” painted or engraved on either side; guests place it on a wooden shelf outside the room. And many provisions, from building materials and furniture to on-site restaurant ingredients, come from small-batch, local producers. Sustainable body care brand Bamford supplies organic, plant-based bath amenities.

Of course, this is a five-star hotel, so high-end clients can still expect the usual comforts in their room, including plush robes, luxe cotton bedding, slippers, a large soaking tub with separate walk-in rain shower, an HD smart television, a Nespresso machine and a minibar.

Dining at 1 Hotel Tokyo

In addition to the quick bites at Neighbors Cafe, there are two prominent dine-in options at 1 Hotel Tokyo.

In the center of the lobby, Spotted Stone opens at 2 p.m. on weekdays and 12 p.m. on weekends. It’s known for its craft gin and botanical cocktails, as well as for hosting local DJs on Fridays and Saturdays. When it’s not a bar or lobby seating, the multipurpose space serves as the farm stand, where oranges, kumquats and other fresh fruits beckon early risers.

Intertwining Mediterranean French influences with seasonal Japanese ingredients, NiNi is 1 Hotel Tokyo’s signature restaurant. The eatery’s name comes from “ni,” the Japanese word for “two,” and signifies the harmony between two coasts and two cultures. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea and weekend brunch — and I recommend any (or all) of those options.

NiNi's chefs aim to source much of their raw materials from regional farmers, growers and entrepreneurs, so clients may actually get to enjoy something grown and/or raised right in Tokyo. For breakfast, I had an excellent mushroom tartine, sliced prosciutto, a ginger-orange juice and mixed greens from various Tokyo growers.

Dinner at NiNi was also memorable. Standouts included the wild boar cavatelli, Michinoku chicken confit and Dassai sake, crafted from togai rice, which is a brewing byproduct normally discarded for being out-of-grade. (In keeping with the hotel's ethos, the Dassai brewery focuses on sustainable rice sourcing and ethical production practices.)

Even as luxury hotel options proliferate in Japan’s capital, I’d definitely recommend suggesting 1 Hotel Tokyo to clients. The property's unique aesthetic and nature-centeredness are what drew me in, but the coziness of the rooms and quality of the food are what have me planning a subsequent visit.