Hotel Review: Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills (Andaz King Room) - Impressive View of Tokyo Skyline
The Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills is one of the most highly-rated Andaz properties amongst luxury travellers that I know - everyone that has been there has nothing but good things to say about this property. On my recent trip to Tokyo, I checked out Japan Airlines' SKY SUITE III Business Class product from Singapore to Haneda which was actually alright but probably great value if you think about it from a money standpoint. The actual flight duration from Singapore Changi Airport to Haneda Airport is slightly under six hours and it actually arrived early at 5:32AM.
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Getting through the immigration was fairly painless but you do need to remember to complete one of those pesky arrival forms. After getting through immigration, customs and collecting my luggage, I decided to walk around the airport for food - there are quite a number of restaurants that are open 24/7 so do not worry about having nothing to eat. The first airport limousine bus that leaves for Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills (it will literally take you right to the doorstep of the hotel) is scheduled for a 7:40AM departure and I had some time to kill in between. One of the perks of taking the first bus is that it generally does not stop at the other terminals which cuts the total bus duration by a little bit. The bus ride from Haneda Airport costs ¥ 1130 (SGD 14) each-way for an Adult and since I managed to make it for the first bus, I got to the property at approximately 8:10AM.
As soon as I got off the bus, my luggage was quickly being taken care of before I was swiftly escorted to the lift which took me directly to level 51 of the Toranomon Hills building where the main hotel lobby is located on. The Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills occupies the top six floors of the Toranomon Hills building and it offers impressive views of the city - some of the rooms and suites have direct views of the Tokyo Tower but expect to pay a premium for these. I was ushered in to the Andaz Lounge for checking-in as I sipped on a cup of freshly-extracted espresso on the stunning Hokkaido walnut tree commune table. Since it was way ahead of the official check-in time and the room was not yet ready, I decided to leave my personal belongings with the hotel before taking a walk outside.
Tokyo was surprisingly cold when I visited (even though it was already February) and to my surprise, it started snowing as I was walking - I was completely caught off guard since I did not wish to dig through my luggage for warmer clothing (at least not in the lobby) before leaving the hotel. There is something special and romantic about snow (even though the locals will probably disagree) especially when you come from a tropical country like Singapore. I dropped by Toranomon Koffee (which is located in the same building as the hotel) for my fourth cup of joe before making my way back up to the hotel for some much-needed warmth - I got the keys to my room at approximately 11:00AM.
There are 164 spacious guestrooms and suites here at Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills and they are all located on levels 47 to 50. The lead-in category room type, the Andaz King Room, comes with 50 sqm of space which is massive according to the average room size here in Tokyo. As a form of comparison, the Hilton Tokyo and the Conrad Tokyo offers 30 sqm and 48 sqm of space respectively. The Andaz King Room comes with either a king bed or double bed configuration and it features an amazing view of the city. If you prefer to enjoy views of the Tokyo Bay, Tokyo Tower or the Imperial Palace and Skytree, you will have to book yourself into the next room category (or hope you get upgraded!).
The first thing you will notice as you step into the Andaz King Room is the bathroom which is sleek, masculine and dark (in a good way). Incorporating plenty of wood and earthly colours, the bathroom is quite possibly one of the nicest ones that I have ever been in to. It is also connected to a walk-in wardrobe and in the event that you need to partition the bathroom off from the rest of the room, there are doors that have been carefully hidden away to help you do so.
Behind the sink is where the actual bath area is and it is also where you will find a massive circular bathtub which is inspired by the Japanese bath culture. To its side is a separate rain-shower with excellent water pressure. Since these are located next to each other, you will never have to worry about making the bathroom floor wet since it is technically in the 'wet area' of the bathroom.
A toilet with another door for privacy can also be found directly in front of the sink and it comes with all the conveniences that you would expect from a modern Japanese toilet (e.g. heated toilet seat, a washlet and a control panel by the side).
Bath amenities in Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills are provided by local Japanese brand Pelican, in collaboration with the hotel itself. From my understanding, there are four different scents that the property uses and this changes with the season. Since I visited in early February when it was technically still winter (hey, it was still snowing earlier on), I got to enjoy a range of yuzu-scented amenities. In fact, I realised that a lot of what I found in Andaz Singapore was probably inspired by this legendary property - the amenity kits were all carefully fitted together in individual boxes.
Since it was snowing quite heavily on the day that I arrived, I was not able to get a clear shot of the spectacular view that you would have gotten if the weather was better. Having 50 sqm of space meant that the bedroom was as spacious as the bathroom. There is a huge table located by the window where you will also find two chairs - this doubles as a work desk and there are power outlets located on the other side (near where the TV is at).
The Andaz King rooms here at the Andaz Tokyo also feature a 42" flat-screen TV (which comes with a huge range of cable and satellite channels) that is mounted on a wall mount which you can adjust depending on where you decide to watch the TV from. If you prefer to watch your shows in complete darkness, the sheer and blinds can be controlled easily via a switch by the side of the bed.
All of the power outlets here in the Andaz King Room are universal so you do not need to fiddle with a universal adapter of any sort. There is also a Bose SoundLink Mini bluetooth speaker located by the side of the bed for you to stream your music or enjoy movies on your laptop easily. The bed itself is on the firmer side and it provides excellent back support (which is a blessing after spending the previous night on the plane).
Consistent to Andaz brand standards, guests here at Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills (regardless of room type) enjoy complimentary minibar which includes the non-alcoholic beverages and snacks that are placed in the room. You will find two packets of rice crackers, a red bean snack as well as a box of chocolates here in the room - these have been replenished every day as well.
Non-alcoholic beverages in the Andaz King Rooms include bottled water, canned drinks, orange juice as well as the well-known mixed vegetable juice that Japan is famous for. Similar to the snacks in the minibar, these are also replenished during evening turndown and in the morning without fail. Like all other Andaz properties, alcoholic drinks are chargeable but they are priced fairly reasonably:
- Beer: ¥800++
- Plum Wine: ¥1,500++
- Spirits: ¥3,000++
- Whiskey: ¥5,000++
All of the guestrooms and suites here at Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills also comes with at least one Nespresso coffee machine (complimentary coffee pods are provided in the room and they are replenished throughout your stay). Even though I am typically a coffee drinker, I really do like the teabags provided here at Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills - the houjicha (roasted green tea) in particular is a personal favourite. Other teabags (which include Earl Grey and English Breakfast) are provided by JING Tea.
As part of my welcome amenity, I received a handwritten note as well as a selection of mini eclairs (which the hotel are apparently famous for!) on the side. I really enjoyed the yuzu and coffee flavoured ones and I will definitely be going back for more when I revisit Tokyo in a few months.
Guests staying in Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills will also benefit from having a handy smartphone which you can bring out - this mobile phone comes with unlimited local calls as well as international calls to certain destinations (make sure you check which countries are included!). I had to make a phone call to a local number during my stay as I had to arrange for a number of flight changes for a client and this actually came in handy (no pun intended).
All guests staying on property will also have access to the Andaz Lounge which provides complimentary snacks as well as non-alcoholic beverage service 24/7 - this is also the area you walk through before taking the lifts down to your room or suite. In some ways, the constant passing through of this area makes it feel like a living room which is somewhat extended from your actual room. In the evening, complimentary alcoholic beverages as well as canapes are also served in the Andaz Lounge. While this is typically known as the evening cocktail hour amongst frequent travellers, it is termed as 'evening omotenashi' here in this property.
After grabbing a quick glass of wine at the Andaz Lounge, I decided to check out the much talked-about Rooftop Bar here at Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills. The bar is located on the 52nd floor and it consists of two main sections - the indoor area and the open-air outdoor terrace (which is covered). Since I really wanted to check out the view of the Tokyo skyline from the bar, I decided to brave the cold and settle down on a sofa seat by the window. Electric blankets are also provided for your comfort but if you are afraid of the cold (especially during the winter months), I would highly recommend bringing your jacket along.
The Rooftop Bar features unique cocktails that you cannot typically find in other bars - the seasonal fruit and tea cocktails in particular are popular amongst bar-goers. I started off with a simple glass of Ki-No-Bi gin (a Japanese gin made in Kyoto) and tonic before moving on to one of the signature cocktails here - the Gin Rose Hip Cosmo which is made with Monkey 47 gin, smoked rose hip syrup, lime juice, cranberry juice and ginger liqueur. If you are feeling peckish after a few drinks, hop over to the SUSHI where you will find an omakase-style menu in this intimate sushi restaurant that is located adjacent to the Rooftop Bar. However if you are too comfortable to move from your seat, the Rooftop Bar does have a snack menu that you can order from - I went for the Nigiri Sushi (5 pieces) as well as the Katsu Sandwich (which I definitely recommend!).
Even if you are not staying at the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills, the Rooftop Bar here is probably a place you should not miss if you are looking for a solid bar. Located on the top floor of the Toranomon Hills building, the Rooftop Bar here has an amazing view to offer - just make sure you come right before sunset for the perfect experience!
If your room rate comes inclusive with breakfast, it is served at the Andaz Tavern where you will be able to enjoy a selection of Japanese and Western items from the buffet. Located on the same level as the Andaz Lounge, the Andaz Tavern quite possibly offers the best breakfast that I have ever had in Tokyo - the Japanese section in particular is outstanding!
Since the restaurant is located on level 51, you will be able to enjoy the amazing view of the Tokyo skyline while savouring on the selection of carefully-prepared items here.
Unlike the Park Hyatt Tokyo, registered guests staying in the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills will have complimentary access to the spa and fitness facility which is located on Level 37 - this is also where you will find the AO Spa and Club where you will be able to book yourself in for a treatment (at an additional charge).
The indoor swimming pool which overlooks the famous Imperial Palace is 20-meter long and it is stunning! In fact, I would highly recommend spending some time here to check out the unique carbonated and whirlpool bath here as well. If you are not a hotel guest and you are here for a spa treatment, you may purchase a day pass to use the fitness center and pool for JPY 10,000 (SGD 123).
The Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills is a Category 6 hotel and if you are thinking about using your World of Hyatt points here, it will cost you 25,000 points a night for an Andaz King Room. Points + Cash rates are also very reasonable here if you can find availability since since a room night will only cost you 12,500 World of Hyatt points + USD 150 (SGD 197).
Now for the longest time I have been hearing nothing but good things for this property (even from people who have been to both the Park Hyatt Tokyo and the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills) and I guess after spending a couple of nights here, it is safe to say that the hotel lives up to its expectations. I love how everything feels effortlessly brilliant here at the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills and the quality of food served in the property is something worth coming back for (even if you are not staying). Now the higher room rates here may put some travellers off but if you are looking for a hotel that will leave a great impression, you simply cannot go wrong with this beautiful property.
Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills
1 Chome-23-4 Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo 105-0001, Japan
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The Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara offers an excellent Club Millésime experience with comfortable rooms and well-maintained facilities, catering to both business and leisure travelers. The newly-opened Pavilion Damansara Heights Mall adds a variety of dining and entertainment options nearby, perfect for those who prefer not to venture too far from the hotel.