Remember that to-die-for hotel in Lost in Translation? The one where Bill Murray is completely pampered, sipping Suntory whiskey in that swanky jazz bar, rendezvousing with Scarlett Johansson at the sky pool, or gazing out his wall of windows from 45 floors above Asia’s most sophisticated metropolis…this is the Park Hyatt Tokyo, and it’s even better than Hollywood portrays. We spent a few unforgettable nights here basking in the chic interiors, dining like royalty, and feeling like starlets ourselves.
Modern Architectural Marvel
Set in the 52-story Shinjuku Park Tower, the Park Hyatt Tokyo begins on the 14th floor with a dramatic glass atrium and lobby, but for the ultimate en-suite views, the rooms start on the 41st floor. We walked into architect Kenzo Tange’s modern marvel and knew we were in for a treat.
Park Hyatt Rooms
We beamed up to our room and were wooed by its beauty and calming effect. The spacious room’s soft palette, lovely furnishings, fine art, and views of Mount Fuji felt worlds above the city street.
Champagne Over Mt. Fuji
The Park Hyatt team surprised us with a honeymoon bottle of champagne. We love this pouring photo…it’s like Mt. Fuji is erupting with Veuve Clicquot!
Cocktails at New York Bar
Even with a bubbly under our belt, we couldn’t miss pre-dinner cocktails at the legendary New York Bar. We ordered their signature New York cocktail (Maker’s Mark, pomegranate, and lime…yum!) and soaked up the sultry sounds of live jazz vocalist Karen Jones. Anne’s dad is a big-time Jazz fan, who also spent years living and working in Japan, so he was quite jealous!
Dinner at Kozue
Dinner at New York is said to be one of the best American restaurants in all of Tokyo, but we decided to branch out and indulge in something a bit more exotic at Kozue, the Park Hyatt’s creative contemporary Japanese restaurant. We ordered the five-course Shun meal, starting with assorted seasonal delicacies, followed by sashimi of sweet prawn, prime tuna, and yellowtail, accompanied by a selection of sake. The best part was that with each round, our server would bring over a tray of sake glasses—from William Yeoward crystal to handcrafted pottery to whichever suited our mood.
Eating Shabu Shabu
Shabu Shabu, Japanese-style hot pot, is a delicacy we were dying to try. Dipping the Yonezawa beef sirloin and vegetables into boiling broth was as fun as it was delicious… and the view wasn’t bad either.
Honeymoon Surprise at the Park Hyatt
We got back to our room feeling over the moon from our romantic evening….and it just got better. A bouquet of flowers, chocolate truffles, and a handwritten note were there to wish us a very good night. The Park Hyatt’s attention to detail never ceased to amaze!
Early Morning Swim at the Sky Pool
Not much can motivate us to get up before dawn, but when you have a near-Olympic-sized floating over the city lights, early morning laps suddenly sound like a fine idea. The sky pool was one of the many features at the spa, including seven different treatment rooms, a workout space, and an array of classes (hula dancing included).
Room Service for Breakfast
We got back to our room, and room service arrived just on time. Omelets, fresh fruit, and croissants from their very own French pastry chef were all delicious…and everything always tastes better from the comforts of a honeymoon suite.
If you are looking for the crème de la crème of contemporary Tokyo accommodations, the Park Hyatt Tokyo is the only place to stay.
Note: The Park Hyatt Tokyo invited us to be their guest; however, all opinions are our own
Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
