We tested the Park Hotel Tokyo: our full review and rating (9.3/10)

There are hotels you remember for their service, others for their cuisine. Park Hotel Tokyo, however, is remembered for two things no one else offers in Tokyo: a room entirely hand-painted by an artist, and Tokyo Tower framing the view directly from the bed. We stayed in room 3408 and give it a rating of 9.3/10, alongside a few caveats worth knowing before booking.

1. A hotel perched atop a Shiodome tower

Park Hotel Tokyo does not occupy an entire building; it occupies the top of the Shiodome Media Tower in Higashi-Shimbashi, in the Minato ward. You cross an office lobby on the ground floor, take a lift, and the hotel begins on the 25th floor.

This 25th-floor lobby is the finest introduction we have seen in Tokyo: an atrium open to the full height of the building, artwork right from the doors, and the city appearing all at once behind the panoramic windows. The location is excellent for exploring different neighbourhoods: Shimbashi and Ginza are within walking distance, and Haneda Airport is direct.

2. Room 3408, hand-painted by Feebee

It is the hotel’s signature feature, and it is unique in Tokyo. The “Artist in Hotel” project entrusts entire rooms to Japanese artists, who come to paint the walls on site. Our room, 3408, is the work of Feebee, created in May 2022 over ten days of work.

Its theme: Hakutaku, a mythical nine-eyed beast from Japanese folklore, regarded during the Edo period as a protective talisman. The artist describes it as symbolic of the multiple perspectives on the world. The detail that changes everything: the nine eyes are hidden throughout the room, in various sizes and colours, and you spend your stay hunting for them. It is not just decor; it is a game.

The rest of the room follows a classic, efficient Japanese standard: compact, impeccably tidy, with a spotless bathroom and a purified water dispenser directly accessible.

3. The view of Tokyo Tower, the real reason to stay

Let us be frank: the view alone justifies the stay. Tokyo Tower, the “Japanese Eiffel Tower”, stands directly opposite, close enough for you to discern its structure, yet far enough to fit into the frame alongside the surrounding skyline.

The spectacle changes three times a day: crisp and red in full sunlight, golden at sunset, illuminated at night. Specifically request a Tokyo Tower-facing room when booking; it is the single parameter that truly matters here.

4. Two restaurants and a breakfast well above average

The Japanese restaurant Hanasanshou, on the 25th floor, uses iPad ordering, which overcomes the language barrier without compromising on quality. Impeccably fresh sashimi, expertly prepared Japanese beef, sesame desserts: we ate exceptionally well, with the city as a backdrop, in a style very different from OMO5 Kyoto Gion and its geisha district. The service, in particular, was remarkably attentive and warm.

Breakfast deserves a special mention. Extensive, featuring eggs Benedict cooked to order by the chef and a matcha machine dispensing excellent hot tea. It is the sort of detail that makes you head down earlier than planned.

5. What the hotel lacks, and what you should know before booking

This is the key point to double-check before clicking book. Park Hotel Tokyo has no spa, no onsen, and no gym. None. For an establishment of this standard in Japan, where bathing is a ritual and many comparable hotels offer at least a large communal bath, such as the KAI Kaga ryokan which we rated 9.7/10, this is a notable omission.

This is explained by its layout: the hotel occupies the upper floors of an office tower, lacking the technical space required for a spa or onsen. If wellness is part of your Tokyo itinerary, you will need to arrange it off-site or look into a property with a dedicated floor, such as OMO7 Osaka by Hoshino Resorts.

6. Our three reservations

They are real, yet all manageable, and none were enough to spoil the stay.

The corridors lack air conditioning. You step from a perfectly climate-controlled room into noticeably stuffier hallways, which comes as a surprise after a humid day in Tokyo.

The rooms retain a subtle smell of cigarette smoke. Slight, yet noticeable upon arrival. This is the classic legacy of Japanese hotels that maintained smoking floors for a long time.

There is no ambient fragrance. The lobby, corridors, and rooms lack any signature scent, even though every other aspect of the experience is meticulously crafted. It is the missing link for a hotel that otherwise boasts a very strong visual identity.

Our verdict: for the view of Tokyo Tower and these artist rooms alone, Park Hotel Tokyo is well worth the detour. It is a hotel chosen for the story it tells, not to tick off a list of amenities. If you are seeking a wellness break, look elsewhere. If you want a night to remember, book a Tokyo Tower-facing room and request an artist room. And if your travels take you further, the future Mitsui palace in Hakone promises precisely what is missing here: an onsen.

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