Japan is home to some of Asia’s finest hotels and one of the leading stars in the nation is Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi, thanks to its stunning views of Tokyo Imperial Palace, immaculately appointed rooms, Michelin-starred dining and world-class hospitality. To find out what makes the luxurious hotel so unique, Wayfarer’s James Wilkinson sat down with Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi General Manager, Uday Rao.

Uday, the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi is popular on so many levels, from the location to the club lounge, design, rooms and food and beverage on offer. Tell us about your favourite things of the property.

I have a long list, but three always rise to the top. The first is the feeling of the hotel. It is intimate, elegant, and alive, with a warmth that makes it easy to settle in.

The second is where we sit in the city, beside the Imperial Palace gardens, right in the centre of Tokyo, with views that feel unmistakably Otemachi, and on clear days even Mount Fuji.

The third is food and drink. Virtù for cocktails and atmosphere, est for Michelin starred French, and Pigneto for the kind of Italian you can return to more than once in the same stay.

Tell us about the stylish rooms and suites on offer.

Tokyo hotels don’t always give you space to exhale. We do. Rooms start at 49 square metres, which already changes how you feel in the city, and the mood is calm, contemporary, and quietly Japanese in the details.

Suites build from there for longer stays and celebrations, all the way up to our Imperial Suite at 283 square metres.

Uday, tell us about the fantastic food and beverage on offer, which is some of the best in Tokyo.

We look at dining as a skyline-level experience here, not just because of the views, but because each venue is designed to stand on its own. est is contemporary French with a strong focus on local ingredients across Japan, it has earned a Michelin star for a reason.

Pigneto brings the lighter side of Tokyo, pizzas and pastas, terrace evenings with the Tokyo Tower view, and that easy rhythm where one course turns into three.

Then there is Virtù. It has become a global talking point, ranked #45 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 and #18 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025, recognised by Forbes Travel Guide as one of the Best Hotel Bars for 2025, and awarded Tatler Asia’s Best in Class for Best Service 2025, building on the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award.

What’s your x-factor at the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi?

It is quintessential Tokyo. Modern, confident, energetic, with that edge the city has. And then it is softened by what Four Seasons does best, service that is genuinely warm and caring, elevated even further by Japanese precision.

Uday, what are some of your favourite things to do in the local area?

I tell people to start with the Imperial Palace gardens, especially during cherry blossom season or autumn.

Even a simple walk in the gardens grounds resets you. Then exploring the Tokyo Station is a must. It’s a beautiful maze, and in many ways it sums up the city that is layered, busy, endlessly detailed, and somehow still functioning perfectly.

Finally, eat your way through the neighbourhood. From tiny, high-skill counters to legacy restaurants, you’re surrounded by extraordinary sushi, ramen, teppanyaki and tempura.

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/