What kind of hotel is Shangri-La Tokyo?
On a weekend in late March, when Tokyo’s cherry blossoms were in full bloom, we stayed at this hotel adjacent to Tokyo Station. As it turns out, the view of the Tokyo Station area, the amazing art and interior design that unintentionally nailed it, and the club lounge that offers a wide variety of menus were unquestionably the best. In particular, the quality of the hotel’s club lounge was outstanding, even among the club lounges of luxury hotels in Tokyo.
We exited the Nihonbashi Exit of Tokyo Station and turned right, revealing the hotel’s entrance. We entered through the ground floor entrance, where BMW bicycles are located, and looked up to see a huge painting depicting an oasis in the mountains at the boundary between the outside world and the land ofShangri-La. It was a message to the guests, “This is where Shangri-La begins.”
Once we stepped inside, we were already in a different world. The air was quiet and graceful, as if the hustle and bustle of the big city was instantly forgotten, and the air was filled with a sweet and gorgeous fragrance reminiscent of an Asian resort. This fragrance made us feel that we had finally arrived at Shangri-La Tokyo! and it made us feel as if we had finally arrived at Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo.
We were also struck by the large artwork displayed behind the counter on the right near the entrance. The art was composed of about 800 thin “eggshell hand” porcelain tiles. The porcelain was lined with paintings of mountain scenes from the Qing Dynasty, and when viewed up close, the delicacy of the work was astonishing.
In addition, the ceiling of the first floor entrance was decorated with a large, sparkling chandelier. It was inspired by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s mark, which resembles a gingko leaf. The gingko leaves were all made by hand. It was easy to see from a distance how delicately they were made.
We then took the private elevator up to the lobby on the 28th floor. When we arrived at the lobby, we found an elegant sofas placed on a thick, Long-haired carpet, and on the wall was an embroidered artwork in the image of a pink magnolia flower. The elegant colors and dignified beauty of the artwork were unintentionally striking.
Then the chandelier that hung from the ceiling of the grand staircase connecting the 27th to the 29th floors was a striking feature of the hotel. This chandelier, which was designed to represent raindrops falling slowly from the clouds above illuminated by the moon, was approximately 10 meters long, and its power, splendor, and twinkling were breathtaking. There are more than 50 other chandeliers in the hotel, all made in the Czech Republic of the finest crystal glass.
Then, on the wall next to the huge chandelier, there was a huge panel artwork depicting a pine tree, which is believed to bring good luck. The large work, 11 meters long and 3 meters wide, was made of a mixture of animal glue and plaster, with gold and varadium alloys applied on top, and looked like silver or gold depending on the amount of sunlight streaming down from the large windows.
This time, we booked a room on the Horizon Club Floor, located on the top floor, so check-in was at the Horizon Club Lounge on the 37th floor. The Club Lounge’s large windows offered a panoramic view of the metropolis and a serene ambiance. In the center of the club lounge was a champagne gold plated chandelier paved with crystal glass, beneath which was a sophisticated floral arrangement. Also at the rear of the Club Lounge is a conference room, with a capacity of eight people, which can be used free of charge for up to two hours per day.
After checking in, a welcome drink of melon juice was brought to the table, bringing with it a fresh and sweet aroma. The melon juice is such a popular specialty that some guests come to the hotel just for this drink. We decided to relax in the Club Lounge since it was just time for afternoon tea. At the buffet counter, there were ham sandwiches, egg sandwiches, tomato sandwiches, scones, rice balls, bagels, strawberry mousse, chocolate cake, sesame cookies, chocolate cookies, financiers, green tea madeleines, fruit mousse, gold dusted pudding, etc.
Drinks included coffee, cappuccino, caffe latte, espresso, tea, herbal tea, cranberry juice, Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, ginger ale, tomato juice, orange juice, grape juice, milk, soy milk, and more. The Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo’s original blend of black tea was especially delicious. Alcoholic beverages were not available at the buffet counter for afternoon tea, but when we requested, champagne, white wine, red wine, beer, etc. were happily prepared for us.
After this, the staff escorted us to our room. This time we stayed in a Horizon Club Deluxe Imperial Garden View Room. We held up our card key and opened the door to enter. The bathroom was on my left, the closet on our right, a little further on, 2 twin beds on the left, a writing desk and chair on casters on the right, and a long ergonomically designed sofa along the window.
The large windows offered views of the Marunouchi business district, Tokyo Station building, and the Imperial Palace. Most interesting of all, looking directly down, one could see the busy traffic of many different types of Shinkansen and conventional trains, one after the other, coming and going in the massive Tokyo Station. More than 4,000 trains arrive and depart from Tokyo Station each day. It was a spectacular sight to see the trains coming and going every few seconds. Even if you are not a boy who loves trains, the view from here is special. There are not many places where you can enjoy an uplifting night view of the Marunouchi buildings, the Marunouchi Station building and the trains at the same time. There are two types of rooms: City View and Park View (Imperial Palace side), and we were glad we chose the park view, even if it was a bit more expensive.
When we realized that it was past 5:30, we decided to head to the Club Lounge again to enjoy evening cocktails. The evening cocktail offered such a full array of drinks and food that there was no need to go out to dinner separately. Once we were seated by the window, the staff lit the beautiful candles on our table. At the buffet counter were vegetable sticks and bagna cauda, octopus pinchos, four kinds of cheese, green pea soup, pumpkin mousse, quiche, spring rolls, creamed salmon, sautéed pork, poached sea bream, rice croquettes, French bread, foccacio, mango jelly, grapefruit jelly, cheesecake, etc.
Alcoholic beverages were ordered free of charge on a case-by-case basis by selecting from the menu. Champagne, white wine, red wine, brandy, beer, sake, Japanese sake, and many others were available. It was truly a heaven for drinkers like us. The champagne was Royer Cuvee de Reserve Brut, the sparkling rosé wine was Baron de Bourbin Brut Rosé, the white wines were Ensemble Moe, Aussières Chardonnay, and Momo Organic Sauvignon Brown, the red wine was Barone Ricasoli Borgheri Rosso, Coppola Rosso, Chateau Fleur de Jean Gay Reserve, brandy from Hennessy V.S.O.P Fines Champagne, Asahi Beer, Kirin Beer, Sapporo Beer, Guinness, Heineken, Taketsuru Whiskey, 4 kinds of Scotch, Umeshu, Japanese sake, 4 kinds of champagne cocktail, 14 kinds of cocktail, 3 non-alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, etc.
We enjoyed a variety of drinks and ended up with a cocktail called “Tokyo Horizon”. It was an easy to drink cocktail with a crisp sweetness based on white wine.
After this, we wanted to swim in the indoor pool, but we had had a little too much to drink, so we decided to return to our room to rest. Sitting on the sofa by the window, sipping tea and looking out the window, we were impressed by the dynamic night view of the trains coming and going in and out of Tokyo Station.
The next morning, we woke up around 5:30am. The park view rooms offer a great view, but since the hotel is located right next to Tokyo Station, the noise of the trains woke me up early in the morning. It is quiet from after 1:00 am to around 5:00 am when the trains are stopped, but if this bothers you, a city view room might be a better option.
We went to the fitness club on the 29th floor before breakfast. Guests staying at the hotel can use it for free. 20-meter indoor swimming pool, locker rooms, saunas, Jacuzzi, showers, gym were provided. Moreover, swimsuits, caps, goggles, sportswear, running shoes, etc. can be borrowed free of charge. Guests can enter by holding up their room keys at the entrance. The locker rooms are located at the back of the gym. Inside the lockers were bathrobes, towels, and bottled water, all of which could be used freely. From the indoor swimming pool, one could see the Tokyo Station building bathed in the morning sun, the Marunouchi business district, and the park in front of the Imperial Palace. The gym is not large, but it is equipped with a full range of training machines.
After this, we had breakfast at Piature, an Italian restaurant on the 28th floor. The main menu consisted of a choice of the following items, the rest of which were buffet style
Egg dishes (fried eggs, scrambled eggs, boiled eggs, poached eggs, omelets)
Eggs Benedict selection (5 kinds)
Pancake Selection (4 kinds)
Asian Selection
Healthy Selection (3 kinds)
At the buffet counter were croissants, pain au chocolat, croissants, damande tart, pain au lait, campagne, walnut bread, buckets, tsops, chocolate muffins, canele, Hong Kong chicken noodle, porridge, Hai Nan chicken, grilled pork loin, pumpkin soup, Smoked salmon, ham, salad, Gruyère cheese, cream cheese, fruit, etc.
The Egg Royal, with its large lobster, elegantly seasoned hollandaise sauce, and caviar, was a particularly fine dish. As a couple of bread lovers, we were also satisfied with the wide variety of Danish pastries.
After breakfast, we decided to borrow the BMW bicycles from the ground floor entrance and enjoy the refreshing spring breeze as we cycled around Marunouchi. Luckily, the cherry blossoms around the Imperial Palace were in full bloom during our stay.
Returning to the hotel, we again enjoyed the famous melon juice at the club lounge, checked out before midnight, and headed home. We live and work in Tokyo, but this was a completely different world from the one we usually see in Tokyo. It was truly the Shangri-La of Tokyo.
Check Availability and Pricing for the hotel on Agoda
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About the Horizon club lounge
| Check-in / Check-out | The Horizon Club Lounge on 37F |
|---|---|
| Open Time |
Opening Hours 10:30-22:00 Breakfast 7:00-10:30 Afternoon Time 14:30-16:30 Evening canapé 17:30-20:00 |
| Club Lounge Access | The Horizon Club Floors and Suite guests |
| Features | High quality alcohol and food, many varieties. |
Is the location easy to access?
JR Line: 2-minute walk from Yaesu North Exit of Tokyo Station
Alternatively, 1-minute walk from Nihonbashi Exit of Tokyo Station
Subway Marunouchi Line: 10-minute walk from Tokyo Station, Exit 2
Subway Tozai Line: 2-minute walk from Otemachi Station, Exit B7
Subway Ginza Line: 3-minute walk from Nihonbashi Station, Exit A3
The hotel reception is located on the 28th floor of Marunouchi Trust Tower Main Building. The porte-cochere and parking lot are located on B1.
How about toiletries & in-room amenities?
All of the amenities are taken care of including enough toiletries, pajamas, bathrobes, yukatas, a yoga mat, stationery, umbrellas, bath salts, bottled water, a Nespresso machine with capsules, English tea bags, snacks, welcome chocolate, and a green tea set, etc. There were L’Occitane skincare products and BVLGARI bath amenities in our bathroom. Turn-down service is available. The free wifi reception was good. Room service is available for 24H. There is a convenience store nearby.
Is this child-friendly?
Cribs, bed guards, baby baths, pajamas, teddy bears, toiletries, etc. are available upon advance request. One child under 11 years old per adult co-sleeps free of charge.
How about In-house Facilities?
There is a wonderful indoor swimming pool, saunas, jacuzzi, gym, locker rooms, etc. on the 29th floor. All of these can be used free of charge. The indoor swimming pool is open from 6:30 to 22:00. It is available for ages 4 and up.
The gym is open 24 hours. It is available for ages 18 and up.
Swimsuits, swim caps, goggles, sportswear, and shoes are available free of charge.
Then BMW bicycles are available for free. “First come, First served” You can go cycling around the Imperial Palace in good weather.
Then CHI Spa on 29F is wonderful. You need to make an appointment by e-mail at chi.slty@shangri-la.com if you have a spa treatment service. It’s open from 11:00-20:00.
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Then this hotel is dog-friendly. One small or medium-sized dog weighing 15 kg or less is allowed. Toys, beds, and pet litter sheets, etc. for dogs are also provided. Pets are not allowed in the Horizon Club Lounge. If you wish to stay with your pet, please contact this e-mail address: reservations.slty@shangri-la.com
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Then this is a perfect universal design hotel. There are some universal rooms. Wheelchairs are available for borrowing. If you bring someone with weak legs, you may want to inform the staff in advance as they can arrange a room near the lift.
Then you can use “Meet and Greet Service” free of charge when you have small children, people with weak legs, wheelchairs, or when you have a lot of luggage, etc. If you request it in advance, a staff member will wait for you at a Tokyo Station platform. They will then take you directly to the hotel. Tokyo Station is very large and many people come and go throughout the day. If you need any help, please contact this e-mail address: meetandgreet.slty@shangri-la.com
Have a nice trip! Welcome to receive any questions about Shangri-La Tokyo from the below space. Check Availability and Pricing for the hotel on Agoda
Info about Shangri-La Tokyo
| Style | Luxury City Hotel |
|---|---|
| Check-in and out times |
15:00/12:00 |
| Estimated Price | 90,000 JPY for 2 adults per room |
| Contact E-Mail Address |
tokyo@shangri-la.com |
| Internet Connection | Free Wifi in the hotel |
| Facility Information | Wheelchairs are available Pets are allowed The parking lot 3,000JPY per day The valet parking service JPY1,500 |
| Location | Shangri-La Tokyo’s MAP |
| Access | Refer to the above |
| Address and TEL | Tel +81 3 6739 7888 |
| Official Homepage | Shangri-La Tokyo’s HP |
*All information is as of the date that I posted on my blog.
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