For years, the Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo in Nihonbashi has firmly been one of the city’s finest properties thanks to its luxurious rooms and suites, fantastic food and beverages, wellness facilities and world-class hospitality. James Wilkinson checks in and catches-up with Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo General Manager, David Collas, to look at what makes this hotel near Marunouchi one of Japan’s best.

David, what makes Mandarin Oriental one of Tokyo’s finest hotels?

Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, one of the city’s most iconic hotels, has long been recognised as the epitome of sophisticated luxury.

Located in Nihonbashi, the historic heart of the city and the symbolic birthplace of Tokyo it offers convenient access to many renowned attractions, the area remains calm and refined, home to numerous restaurants, museums, cultural experiences, and traditional shops.

Designed with a contemporary yet elegant aesthetic that captures the essence of Japanese style, our interiors are inspired by elements of nature, particularly wood and water.

Blending understated luxury with a sense of space, our rooms, suites, and public areas offer spectacular views of Tokyo Skytree, Mount Fuji, and Tokyo Bay.

Here, we embrace the spirit of Omotenashi. This concept is a deeply rooted Japanese tradition of wholehearted and anticipatory service, delivered with grace, sincerity, and attention to every detail.

All our employees are trained in the art of Omotenashi to ensure every guest enjoys an exceptional and unforgettable experience.

Tell us about the stylish rooms and suites on offer.

Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo offers 179 luxurious rooms and suites flooded with natural light spread over seven floors between the 30th and 36th floor of Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower.

Their expansive areas range from 50sqm for rooms and 90sqm for suites, offering spectacular views on the Mont Fuji or Tokyo Skytree.

Our 250 sqm Presidential Suite offers a beautiful residential aspect to its stunning design inspired by elements of nature, and a breathtaking panoramic view from the 36th floor.

David, tell us about the fantastic food and beverage on offer.

Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo is home to twelve exceptional dining venues, each with its own unique identity and culinary concept, from French Fine Dining to Omakase Pizza Bar and Sushi experiences.

They all share an uncompromising commitment to quality, creativity, and excellence in the service.

We carefully curate each experience to reflect both our Mandarin Oriental brand values and the rich cultural heritage of Japan.

This includes sourcing the finest ingredients, with particular emphasis on local and seasonal, and working with talented chefs who bring innovation and respect for tradition to their craft.

This approach allows us to deliver an elevated dining experience to both of our international and local guests.

What’s your x-factor at the hotel?

Our exceptional service and outstanding culinary portfolio.

What are some of your favourite things to do in the area?

Stroll through the Nihonbashi area by the Nihonbashi Bridge. There are many traditional experiences – like the Ozy Washi paper experience – and historical shops.

ESSENTIALS: GETTING TO TOKYO

The best way of getting to Tokyo in comfort and style.

Book a seat in ANA’s brilliant Business Class cabin

FLY ANA ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS

ANA (All Nippon Airways) flies to Tokyo from across the globe, including New York, London, Sydney and more global gateways. The author recommends flying in ANA’s Business Class cabin, which features lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration.

Each seat has direct access to the aisle, a spacious side table with a personal light, a large table that’s ideal for working and dining, storage space under the ottoman for a large item, plus a universal PC power port, USB port and an 18-inch touch-panel LCD wide-screen monitor with a fantastic selection of movies, TV shows and games.

Flights offer ANA’s WiFi service, which will soon become free for all travellers in the Business Class cabin, plus an expansive duty-free offering including premium Japanese Whisky and luxury goods.

Where ANA’s Business Class stands out is food, drinks and hospitality on offer. On the dining front, there is a choice of a western or Japanese meal set and the quality and taste is so impressive, you’ll already feel like you are dining in a top Tokyo restaurant while you’re in the air.

If you go for the Japanese option, you can expect some Zensai (including sushi and morsels), Kobachi (a salmon salad and simmered icefish) and Shusai (simmered beef in wild vegetables), alongside steamed rice, Miso soup and Japanese pickles.

On the Western front, there will be a selection of small appetisers (like citrus marinated shrimps and scallops), followed by a main dish (beef fillet steak with Madiera sauce or steamed golden bream).

Both meal options come with a delightful dessert offering, including strawberry mousse, cheese and fruits.

On the wine front, expect a fantastic selection of top drops from across the globe, spanning France to Australia, New Zealand, Spain and Argentina, alongside a tasty selection of Sake and Shochu.

When it comes to an after-dinner tipple, incredibly, ANA offers the Hibiki Blender’s Choice from the House of Suntory of Japan (a $400 retail whisky) and it’s very, very hard to go past a dram of that.

The service on board ANA is well known as being called ‘five-star’ but that genuinely is what you can expect in the air and the hospitality is one of the many highlights onboard this impressive Business Class cabin that’s nothing short of five stars.

LOUNGING AROUND

Before you depart from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, stop by the ANA Lounge where you’ll find views over the airfield, seats for working and relaxing, plus a noodle bar, buffet (don’t skip past a Japanese curry), self-service drinks station (offering sake, shochu and other alcoholic beverages like beers from automated pourers) and a dining area.

For the best prices, get your tickets at https://www.ana.co.jp/