A review of the brand-new Tokyo Edition, Ginza: Intimate glamour in the heart of Japan’s capital

What is The Tokyo Edition, Ginza?

The Tokyo Edition, Ginza is a recently constructed hotel located just off Chuo Street in the center of one of the most vibrant areas of Tokyo. Ginza is famous for its luxury shopping, high-end restaurants and various entertainment venues, so you’ll find shops like Chanel, Bulgari and Moncler within a five-minute walk from the hotel.

How to book The Tokyo Edition, Ginza

Rooms at The Tokyo Edition, Ginza are stylish and modern

Rooms at The Tokyo Edition, Ginza are large and chic. All the rooms, including the suites, sport Edition’s signature pared-down aesthetic headlined by walnut hardwood floors, blond wood walls and white textiles.

I was assigned Room 1107, which was a Superior Double with two beds. It was positively palatial by Japanese room size standards — nearly 500 square feet. That was enough not just for both beds but also a sitting area with a comfortable armchair and ottoman, and a long, slim desk under the wall-mounted flat-screen TV.

While there was a large 64-inch flat-screen television, there were very few English-language channels, including CNN and BBC. Fortunately, there was also Chromecast streaming, where you scan a QR code and connect your device. The room’s one large window looked out on an Adidas store but provided a lot of natural light.

I loved the standard Edition faux-fur throw artfully dropped on one of the comfortable queen-size beds. The crisp, white, 300-thread-count bedding provided a luxurious backdrop for a restful sleep.

The Tokyo Edition, Ginza provides Nespresso machines in every room, and mine was kept well stocked with plenty of pods during my stay. There was also a tea set with sachets from Harney & Sons and a local brand called Sayuri, as well as a selection of spirits including craft Japanese gin and vodka by Nanbu Bijin.

The minifridge was well stocked with more beverages, including a variety of juices, sodas and even Krug Champagne. There was an Edition-scented candle for sale, too, but at $80, I took a pass.

A series of drawers under the minibar held glassware, salty and savory snacks, and the room safe.

The closet held kimono-style robes, slippers, an iron and ironing board, and had enough space to unpack for a few days, though if you’re bringing larger suitcases, you might be strapped for room.

The bathroom, just off the entry foyer, contained a single sink embedded in a dramatic, green-veined marble slab. Along with a scale, the hotel provided a few basic toiletries in case you left any of your own at home and some fluffy Canasin towels.

The water closet held a top-of-the-line Toto toilet with a heated seat and a bidet function, among other operations.

Behind a glass wall, an Asian-style spa suite held both the walk-in shower and a bathtub, which is common in Japanese luxury hotels. There were both handheld and overhead showerheads, and it was stocked with Edition’s exclusive black tea Le Labo toiletries, with their distinctively woodsy scent.

While at the hotel, I also got a quick tour of some of the other rooms, including the Penthouse Suite, with a swanky living room setup along with a minimalist dining area and a separate bedroom with its own little sitting area.

The restaurant and bars are lively

While you won’t find a ton of dining options at The Tokyo Edition, Ginza, the ones the hotel does offer are stellar and worth a visit even if you aren’t a guest. You’ll find the Lobby Bar on the street level, the Punch Room on the second floor and an all-day, full-service restaurant called Sophie on the 14th (top) floor.

Sophie has a European flair

Sophie serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and it’s worth a visit for all three. For breakfast, you’ll find Western classics and a nice selection of pastries laid out on the restaurant’s large bar.

There are lots of options, including fresh fruit, yogurt, muesli, pain au chocolat and croissants.

But you’ll also find a variety of Japanese dishes including various fish selections and pickled vegetables.

Amenities are limited, but you can access the sister property

The Tokyo Edition, Ginza doesn’t have a ton of other on-site amenities, but there is a great option for those who want access to facilities like a spa and a swimming pool. Guests at the Ginza Edition can use the facilities at The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon. You’ll need to make a reservation for what you want to do, though, so ask the concierge for help.

There is no shuttle, unfortunately, but a taxi ride is only about 12 minutes, or you can take the subway and get there in about 20 minutes. It’s worth the trek. I enjoyed a massage at the spa and some time in the pool and hot tub. Stay for a meal at the Blue Room and take in the sweeping views of Tokyo.

The gym is small but has wow-factor restrooms

The Tokyo Edition, Ginza has a small gym on the third floor that is open 24 hours a day. You simply use your keycard to enter any time of the day or night, and it is stocked with complimentary Edition-branded boxed water, headphones and a bowl of apples.

The space takes up the footprint of a standard room at the hotel, so it’s fairly small, but there is enough Technogym equipment that you should be able to get in a good workout. There are two stationary bicycles and a rowing machine.

There are also two workout benches with built-in straps and free weights, along with various weights of medicine balls.

The best part of the little gym was the two amazing restrooms, both with Toto toilets as well as another toilet for babies or children, two sinks and a baby highchair that was built into the wall.

Reasons The Tokyo Edition, Ginza might not be for you

The Tokyo Edition, Ginza is a great hotel that I’d return to without reservation, but there are a couple of drawbacks to consider before you stay.

• With a tiny footprint, there are few guest amenities. The dining outlets are limited, the gym is small and there’s no spa.
• The views of the nearby shops of Ginza, including an Adidas store and the Matsuya Ginza department store, as well as a cluster of office buildings, were not exciting.
• This hotel is expensive, with rates regularly topping $1,000 a night. This might make using Marriott Bonvoy points an especially good option.

Accessibility

The Tokyo Edition, Ginza impressed this visitor with its accessibility features. New construction allowed the hotel to include features fully compliant with current accessibility laws, and the entrances to the public areas, the gym and restaurants are fully wheelchair accessible.

There are graded curbs around the hotel, and the lobby entrance is flat and smooth and easily maneuverable with wheelchairs. The hotel also has two rooms that are fully accessible with wide doorways, grab bars and roll-in showers. Hearing-accessible kits are also available for guests.

The hotel features wide hallways and two elevators wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair, and their buttons have Braille labeling.

In fact, one is an elevator specially designed for people who are mobility-challenged. You’ll find separate call buttons for the accessible elevator, which has low grab bars and a horizontal set of buttons for easy access.

Several of the restrooms in the hotel are accessible as well, with grab bars near the toilets, including one restroom in the lobby and another in the gym. There are emergency cords in public restrooms throughout the hotel in case someone needs assistance.

Even rooms that aren’t technically accessible might be considered for those in mobility-assistance devices, as beds are low to the ground and desks are a height where someone might be able to use a wheelchair underneath.

Alternatives to The Tokyo Edition, Ginza

If The Tokyo Edition, Ginza doesn’t sound like the right fit for you, there are plenty of other choices in Tokyo, including dozens of points hotels.

Checking out

After a three-night stay at the new Tokyo Edition, Ginza, I didn’t want to leave. Service was impeccable, and I loved the intimacy of this 86-key property where it felt almost like I was a resident. The hotel’s affiliation with Marriott means you can earn and redeem Bonvoy points here, and the central location means the whole of Tokyo (and Japan, for that matter) is at your doorstep. While the hotel doesn’t have all the amenities of some other high-end Tokyo properties, the comfortable rooms, luxurious bedding and central location have me eager to return.

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