Arrival/Check-in: Check-in at The Peninsula Tokyo was fast and efficient, as almost everything is in this sprawling but well-engineered city. Several employees at the lobby’s revolving front door, young men and women dressed in tailored dark suits, knew my name even before I approached the reception desk. How do some 5-star hotels do this? A registration card and room key were presented immediately, and within minutes I was on my way to my room, perfect timing after the long trans-Pacific flight. (30/30)

Guest Quarters: Although my first instinct was to fight jetlag by jumping into the large glass shower stall with the dinner-plate-sized rain showerhead, I first had to inspect all the “master control” consoles embedded within the walls of the room and bathroom. There were dozens of buttons and switches for privacy, ceiling lighting, room lamps, headboard reading spots, mood lighting, room curtains, TV, Internet radio channels, air conditioning, room humidity, valet and in-room music. Little LCD screens showed the outside temperature. Even the walk-in clothes closet, the size of a child’s room, had a mood lighting button, as well as a valet box for morning newspaper delivery, shoe polishing service and guest laundry. A 42-inch, flat-panel plasma TV with lots of cable channels faced the king-sized bed, and a 15-inch TV was embedded in the bathroom mirror. The toilet room, enclosed within frosted glass panels, had its own master control console with numerous buttons controlling so many toilet functions it is almost too embarrassing to mention. A large work desk, with FAX and printer, faced floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Imperial Palace and Tokyo’s financial district. (30/30)

Service/Amenities: Peter is the fine-dining restaurant on the 24th floor, adjacent to a companion lounge and bar, all with sweeping views of the neon-lit Ginza district. Hei Fung Terrace is the hotel’s Michelin-star Cantonese restaurant, and The Lobby restaurant serves Western and Japanese breakfasts. The Peninsula Spa by ESPA includes a 20-meter heated indoor swimming pool, treatment rooms and exercise equipment. More than 1,000 pieces of art, paintings and sculptures by local and international artists are displayed throughout the property. The hotel maintains a fleet of Rolls-Royces and BMWs for complimentary one-way transportation within a radius of two kilometers (1.2 miles). (38/40)

The Experience: With only nine hotel properties worldwide, the Peninsula organization is meticulous about delivering luxurious comfort, extraordinary dining options and personalized service at each of its hotels. This is certainly true at the relatively new (2007) Peninsula Tokyo.

Total Score: 98/100

The Peninsula Tokyo
1-8-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100-0006, Japan
tel 81 3 6270 2888
The Peninsula Tokyo