Imperial Hotel Tokyo

I’ve stayed in hotels all over the world, even places with much lower ratings, and I’ve never had staff speak to me like this. I almost never write a negative review, but this was my first bad experience of this kind. I’d ordered Uber Eats because I planned to work that evening. The driver couldn’t wait and said he’d leave the food at the entrance. I didn’t realize he’d put it on the ground outside. When I went down to collect it and headed toward the stairs, a doorman came over and loudly told me in front of other guests that food couldn’t be left in front of the hotel, that next time I should take it directly from the driver, and asked if I knew it was a hotel. I was shocked and embarrassed. I hadn’t left the order there intentionally, and the issue could have been explained calmly. The way it was handled put me in a terrible mood, and I couldn’t enjoy my meal afterward. I also stayed at Hotel New Otani Tokyo during this trip and had an excellent experience, which made this all the more disappointing. Japan is known for hospitality and politeness, particularly at luxury hotels, so I didn’t expect this. I hope the staff member reflects on how guests are treated and handles situations with more professionalism and respect.

I was there on a business trip from June 7th to June 9th, 2026, and the staff made me feel like royalty. The hotel really lives up to its name, Imperial Hotel Tokyo, almost like staying in a castle. Everyone was friendly and smiling. The location is very convenient. Tokyo Station is close, Hibiya Station is within walking distance, and you can take an airport bus directly to the hotel. There are nearby parks for a morning walk and malls around the Ginza area for shopping. I hope I get to visit again!

The flower display at reception was beautiful, and otherwise everything was perfect. The hotel is right by the palace, with a magnificent view. It has an old-school feel and not the latest technology, but I liked the balance of Eastern and Western hospitality. One odd moment: a cleaning lady came into my room while I was changing. She was going to leave a notice about glass cleaning that day, and somehow didn’t realize I was inside.

The service is what made this feel like a five-star stay. Japan can wear you out with so much to do, and by then your luggage has grown and you’re getting cranky. It was lovely to come back somewhere with such accommodating, thoughtful people. We stayed here twice during our two weeks in Japan, and I was glad we returned. The hotel is very dated, but the art deco charm has its own appeal. It was the cleanest five-star hotel we stayed in, with spotless bathrooms and even the areas under the bed and above the headboards impeccably cleaned. Updating the TV, lighting, and power points would make the room much more comfortable, though I’m not sure how easy that is in such an old building. The room was also larger than is typical for Tokyo given the location and price, and my child loved having a bathtub. A taxi from Tokyo station cost $1000 to $1500. We first booked two nights, then my partner wanted to change our last night back in Tokyo to Tokyo station hotel because of the dated building. We were returning from Nara on the Shinkansen, but decided to stay here again.