Bulgari Hotel Tokyo

On the top floors of a glass skyscraper overlooking Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace gardens, Bulgari Hotel Tokyo offers a winning combination of Japanese sense and Italian sensibility.

• The wellness and fitness areas (especially the pool deck and large fitness center with outdoor access)
• The Afternoon Tea, so popular with Tokyo locals that the hotel expanded its hours into early evening
• The rooms themselves, with gorgeous Italian and Japanese detailing and views over Tokyo

Simply put, Bulgari Hotel Tokyo is glossy. Onyx, black marble and diamond jewels (it is Bulgari after all) showcase Italian glamour at its highest level, polished to perfection. But there is substance beneath the style, and service here is uniquely Japanese, showcasing a commitment to excellence and heartfelt hospitality.

Like other Bulgari properties, Milan-based architectural studio Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel is responsible for the hotel’s oh-so-sleek designs. Private elevators whisk guests up to the 40th floor, where a dramatic hallway opens to the lobby via double-height sliding doors. Adjacent to the lobby, the Bulgari Lounge serves as a central meeting point throughout the day, and hosts an afternoon tea that’s become extremely popular with stylish locals. It leads into Il Ristorante, the hotel’s main restaurant, which serves excellent Italian cuisine (as well as breakfast) against a chic backdrop of tangerine and midnight-blue walls. During nice weather, both the lounge and restaurant offer terrace seating. Hidden off the lounge as well is Sushi Hōseki, an eight-seater omakase tasting counter for lunch and dinner. There is also Bulgari Dolci, a gourmet pasticceria. And on the 45th floor, Bulgari Bar serves comfort Italian food either in its swanky dining room lounge or the impressive rooftop terrace.

Bulgari Hotel Tokyo’s 98 rooms are spread across floors 41-44 of the building, and all come with showers and tubs, Italian and Japanese furnishings and décor that mainly comprises prints of vintage Bulgari ads. Apart from a few top-tier suites, all rooms feature a pleasant color palette of pale woods and various shades of ochre (including more tangerine). Detail-oriented guests will notice that none of the walls are painted, but rather covered in various textiles or wood. Or glass, of course: the star of these rooms is Tokyo itself, as seen through floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows. For many visitors, the most coveted view is probably over Tokyo Station and towards the Imperial Palace just beyond, although at this height and in this city, every angle is interesting. The main perk of upgrading to larger suite categories is extra space—separate living rooms and more spacious bathrooms. Some suites however, including the eight Deluxe Suites, have corner views, doubling the wow factor when looking out across the city.

Another property highlight: the 19,000 square-feet of wellness facilities, all located on the 40th floor and reached via an express elevator (eliminating the need to walk through the lobby with a robe on). The 82-foot lap pool and oversized hot tub are indoors, but the pool deck itself opens to a terrace. Likewise, the sun-lit fitness center, which is open 24/7 and has Technogym equipment, has an outdoor deck, perfect for stretching, yoga and abs routines. The spa has mens and womens hydrotherapy areas, as well as nine treatment rooms.

Bulgari Hotel loyalists, or anyone looking for a serious, sophisticated glam factor.