Like a time capsule of 2000s Tokyo, the Peninsula feels rather retro, in a good way

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Location

With the fashionable shopping district of Ginza just a few minutes' walk away, and a view of the rolling Imperial Palace grounds practically on the doorstep, the Peninsula in Tokyo has an unparalleled location.

A short walk or metro ride in any direction takes guests to the city’s most iconic attractions. Hibiya Park is mere steps from the front door, and Tokyo Station is a 10-minute walk away.

Take the subway directly from the hotel at Hibiya Station to Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, Tsukiji Market, and more, all less than a 10-minute ride away. It’s also 30 minutes from Haneda airport on the underground.

Read more: This Tokyo hotel has rooms with some of the best views of the city

The vibe

Art is central to the design of the Peninsula Tokyo. As you enter the lobby, a soaring crystal chandelier representing fireworks and an abstract dragon sculpture on the far wall greet you. Another striking piece is The Void, a series of 24 glowing sculptures soaring up the 230-foot atrium, visible from the corridors on each floor. Looking up or down feels like staring into outer space.

Beyond the striking pieces, the hotel decor feels classic, bordering on retro, with heavy use of oranges, browns, and light wood. The hotel has not had a significant renovation since opening in 2007. As of August 2026, the hotel, along with the Hong Kong flagship, has been approved for renovations totalling more than $268 million USD across both hotels. I’m excited to see what that will look like, but I also appreciated the time-capsule feel, which is rare in this forward-looking city.

Service

Peninsula hotels consistently deliver top-class service. Expect a warm greeting upon entering and leaving the property; knowledgeable, accommodating bar and restaurant staff; and spotlessly clean rooms. Despite a heaving breakfast service on both mornings of our stay, staff remained calm, efficient, and attentive.

Bed and bath

The hotel has 302 rooms and suites, ranging from the enormous Peninsula Suite, which offers breathtaking (and somewhat vertigo-inducing) views across the city. Guests staying here receive extra benefits, including a one-way airport transfer, daily breakfast, “Peninsula Time” (check-in from 6am, check-out up to 10pm) and $100 USD room credit.

Even the entry-level rooms include the luxury bed-and-bath amenities Peninsula hotels are known for, from spa mode in the bathrooms (low lighting and relaxing music at the touch of a button) to bedside light and curtain controls and “PenChat”, the 24-hour concierge service.

Rooms at Peninsula Tokyo lean on Japanese design, with paper lantern-esque lighting, motifs of traditional flora and fauna native to the country, and dark wood and lacquer set against softer white and cream furnishings.

I stayed in a Deluxe Suite, which has a living and dining area with floor-to-ceiling windows across two full walls. Floral, orange-hued carpets and dated technology signal a need for renovation, though I found it quite charming. The separate dressing room leads to the primary bathroom and bedroom, which feels luxurious and private when closed off from the rest of the suite.

The bathrooms feature luxurious marble floors, a walk-in shower, and a toilet flanking the main attraction: the bathtub. Bath products are scented in collaboration with local artisans, no matter which Peninsula you visit; Tokyo’s is a citrus-forward scent with subtle floral and peppery notes from master perfumer Satori Osawa.

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Food and drink

Breakfast at Peninsula Tokyo costs extra unless it’s included in your room package. This includes the Peninsula breakfast: a Western-style a la carte menu with a choice of Eggs Benedict, French toast, pancakes, and other classics, plus fruit, granola, bircher muesli, and yoghurt to order. There is also a Japanese traditional breakfast of fish, rice, vegetables, and miso soup or a Chinese breakfast with seafood congee, dim sum, noodles and a tea-boiled egg on offer.

The hotel has five restaurants plus two cafes. Three restaurants focus on Japanese cuisine, one on Cantonese, and there is a modern French restaurant called Peter on the 24th floor.

In the evening, grab a seat by the window and watch the bustle of nighttime Tokyo from the bar, where the cocktail menu explains the origin of its ingredients. The restaurant fuses Japanese ingredients with French cuisine for a fine-dining menu of sophisticated small plates, including torched tuna with ponzu sauce, beef from Kumamoto with confit beetroot and chestnut puree, or truffled camembert with walnuts.

Facilities

A bright, airy 20-metre lap pool offers more of those stunning Imperial Palace views, alongside a heated hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam room, and fitness centre equipped with premium Technogym Artis machines, with personal training sessions available on request.

The Peninsula’s fleet of cars is available across the hotel portfolio and can be used by guests upon request. Some airport transfers are included in the upper-tier rooms; otherwise, they are charged.

Read more: I found the peaceful heart of Japan less than two hours away from Tokyo

Family-friendly?

The Peninsula is proudly child-friendly, welcoming kids aged 2 to 11 with gifts, bathrobes, slippers, and special bath amenities available on request. The Peninsula Academy offers family-friendly activities, including pastry chef-led chocolate classes and more. Kids are welcome in the pool from 9am to 6pm on weekdays and 9am to 8pm on weekends.

The hotel offers connecting room options for families, children’s menus at all eateries, and often packages that include cultural events and daily breakfast.

Pet policy

Dogs up to 15kg are welcome (one per room) for ¥15,000 (£71) per night, with pampered pet packages. The hotel has a strict pets policy, which you can read here before booking.

Accessibility

Wheelchair-accessible rooms include the Deluxe Suite Accessible category, with adapted bathrooms, step-free access between bathrooms and bedrooms, and audio/visual alarms for hard-of-sight/hearing guests, vibration clocks, and more.

The street-level entrances are step-free, and the hotel restaurants and fitness facilities are wheelchair accessible. Lifts have accessible-height buttons, and major facilities have accessible public toilets. Assistance dogs are welcomed.

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Check-in/check-out

Standard check-in is at 3pm; check-out is at 12pm.

At a glance

Best thing: The panoramic views across Tokyo

Perfect for: A city centre stay with fast access to Tokyo’s biggest landmarks

Not right for: Those wanting an ultra-modern stay

Instagram from: The Peter bar at night

Address: 1 Chome-8-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0006, Japan

Phone: +81 3-6270-2888

Website: peninsula.com/en/tokyo/5-star-luxury-hotel-ginza

Samuel was a guest at The Peninsula Tokyo

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