Arrival/Check-in: I took the airport limousine bus to the central station and took a taxi from there. I’ve learned this is the most comfortable and economical way from the airport to downtown Tokyo, as it’s a one-hourplus trip and traveling by taxi could cost more than $150. The cab driver didn’t speak English, but I had the name and address of the hotel written in Japanese and he found it without a hitch. (I made sure to carry the name with me wherever I went since the hotel is quite new and cab drivers might not recognize the name but they will sure know the address.) At the entrance, a female porter took my luggage while I was escorted to the lobby 38 stories above street level. (19/20)

Guest Quarters: Mandarin’s rooms are the largest in Tokyo and no detail was missed, or overlooked. My Mandarin Deluxe room had beautiful bamboo floors, a 45- inch flat-screen TV, and a chaise lounge beside the floorto- ceiling window so I could relax and admire the view of Mt. Fuji. The bathroom was a room-within-a-room that I would like in my own apartment. A sliding door closed it off from the room, and within was a walk-in shower (with three shower choices) and a stand-al one sunken bathtub. The spacious desk had all of the plugs and adaptors built in and hidden — convenient to use, yet unobtrusive. High-speed wireless Internet access was available.(15/15)

Services/Amenities: Finding a toothbrush at 10 p.m.,express dry-cleaning and assistance in locating an old friend living in Tokyo with only a last name and old address: The professional, English-speaking staff helped me with all three with amazing efficiency.

At the hotel’s nine restaurants and bars, I found a range of international food. (Make reservations as tables fill up quickly with guests and locals alike.) At the Mandarin Spa, I had my first-ever hot stone massage, and after the treatment was done I sipped a cup of tea in the glass-enclosed spa lounge — one of the best viewpoints in the city.
(43/45)

The Experience: The hotel, which opened about a year ago, is located 10 minutes walking distance from Tokyo’s famous Ginza shopping district — an excellent location for business and for high-end shopping. A “Woods and Water” décor scheme brings natural elements into the guestrooms and public areas, creating a sense of refined tranquility throughout the hotel. A peaceful environment combined with a staff that aims to please in every way make this a calming paradise in one of the world’s busiest cities.
(19/20)

Total Score: 96/100

MANDARIN ORIENTAL TOKYO
2-1-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi
Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8328
tel 81 3 3270 8800
http://www.mandarinoriental.com/tokyo/