Kid-Friendly Japan Private Tour

The 24-story Peninsula has the best luxury hotel location in Tokyo, directly across from the lovely Hibiya Park (think 5K run!), Imperial grounds, and adjacent to the amazing Ginza shopping district. Envisioned by architect Kuzukiyo Sato to look like a giant Japanese stone lantern, the freestanding Peninsula combines subtle Japanese hospitality with the Peninsula tradition of understated luxury. The rooms are among the largest in Tokyo, starting at 544 sq. feet. Cool amenities range from bedside consoles that control the drapes to Lavazza espresso machines. The rooms even offer the ladies a personal nail dryer! For our jogging friends, the Peninsula offers a nice 5K start to your day. Beginning across the street on the Imperial Palace’s grounds, a full 5K jog runs through the grounds and back through Hibiya Park. Zen rates the hot chocolate and the Peninsula’s amazing “vitality” pool as the best in all of Japan!

The 24-story Peninsula has the best luxury hotel location in Tokyo, directly across from the lovely Hibiya Park (think 5K run!), Imperial grounds, and adjacent to the amazing Ginza shopping district. Envisioned by architect Kuzukiyo Sato to look like a giant Japanese stone lantern, the freestanding Peninsula combines subtle Japanese hospitality with the Peninsula tradition of understated luxury. The rooms are among the largest in Tokyo, starting at 544 sq. feet. Cool amenities range from bedside consoles that control the drapes to Lavazza espresso machines. The rooms even offer the ladies a personal nail dryer! For our jogging friends, the Peninsula offers a nice 5K start to your day. Beginning across the street on the Imperial Palace’s grounds, a full 5K jog runs through the grounds and back through Hibiya Park. Zen rates the hot chocolate and the Peninsula’s amazing “vitality” pool as the best in all of Japan!

Gōra Kadan is a superb ryokan (traditional inn) that has managed to compromise gracefully with the modern Western world. Proprietress Mikawako, the third generation of Fujimotos to run Gōra Kadan, has blended traditional Japanese ryokan hospitality with modern Western design in creating a luxurious ryokan spa experience. The Gōra Kadan’s original building dates back 300 years and was the summer home of the Kan’in-No-Miya imperial family. With its airy east-west fusion aesthetic, its wonderful (Kaiseki) food service, and total relaxation spa, Gōra Kadan is definitely on our A-list for high-touch ryokans in Japan!

Gōra Kadan is a superb ryokan (traditional inn) that has managed to compromise gracefully with the modern Western world. Proprietress Mikawako, the third generation of Fujimotos to run Gōra Kadan, has blended traditional Japanese ryokan hospitality with modern Western design in creating a luxurious ryokan spa experience. The Gōra Kadan’s original building dates back 300 years and was the summer home of the Kan’in-No-Miya imperial family. With its airy east-west fusion aesthetic, its wonderful (Kaiseki) food service, and total relaxation spa, Gōra Kadan is definitely on our A-list for high-touch ryokans in Japan!

We feel the 134-room luxury Ritz-Carlton Kyoto to be our favorite Western 5-star property in Kyoto. Though we are not always fans of The Ritz-Carlton brand (typically preferring a less fancy, simpler/clean architectural design), the property’s rectangular, low-slung property has definitely piqued our interest. Ideally situated along the Kamogawa River, The Ritz features glass floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Higashiyama Mountains. The property was built on a site adored by 17^th century Japanese nobility and replicates the aesthetics of a traditional Meiji House, making its design quite impressive (including a French Haute Patisserie!). Amenities and facilities include four onsite restaurants and bars (including Michelin-starred Tempura Mizuki!), a sleek indoor pool, a serene stone and bamboo pathway, a sweets shop, and a spa offering traditional Japanese wellness treatments as well as Western facial and body massage treatments. Make sure to check out the 409 modern Japanese art pieces displayed around the hotel and take in the peaceful essence of the bonsai tree and garden!

With the Hyatt Regency Kyoto having been the only western 5-star luxury hotel in Kyoto for quite some time, we were excited about the February 2014 opening of the 134-room The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto. Living in a Mies van der Rohe high-rise in Chicago, we feel a particular affinity to the Hyatt Regency’s simple, clean, architectural design. Nevertheless, The Ritz-Carlton’s rectangular, low-slung property ideally situated in the Kamogawa River has definitely piqued our interest. Replicating the aesthetics of a traditional Meiji House, the design and amenities of The Ritz are quite impressive (including a French Haute Patisserie!). Though we are not big fans of the Ritz global brand (prefer AMAN/Peninsula/Mandarin/Four Seasons), we feel the Ritz to be currently the highest quality luxury “western” hotel in Kyoto.

Though we are big fans of Aman in China and Southeast Asia, we initially felt a bit ambivalent about the 84-room Aman in a noisy, urban environment like Tokyo. Located in the 40-story Otemachi Tower, within walking distance of Ginza shopping and dining and the Otemachi Forest (Marunouchi’s Naki-Dori tree-lined avenue), perhaps the most impressive sight of the Aman Tokyo is its magnificent 33rd-floor lobby entrance featuring huge floor to ceiling windows with a view of the Imperial Palace grounds and even Mt. Fuji on clear days! The Shoji-lanterned area is centered on a large garden and a washi-like ceiling that gives the area a Zen-like Japanese feel. Many clients feel the views from the lap-pool to be among the best in the world! Unlike Aman’s in most parts of the world that ban TV’s in the rooms, the Aman Tokyo includes a flat-screen TV for those of us that need a daily BBC fix!

Though we are big fans of Aman in China and Southeast Asia, we initially felt a bit ambivalent about the 84-room Aman in a noisy, urban environment like Tokyo. Located in the 40-story Otemachi Tower, within walking distance of Ginza shopping and dining and the Otemachi Forest (Marunouchi’s Naki-Dori tree-lined avenue), perhaps the most impressive sight of the Aman Tokyo is its magnificent 33rd-floor lobby entrance featuring huge floor to ceiling windows with a view of the Imperial Palace grounds and even Mt. Fuji on clear days! The Shoji-lanterned area is centered on a large garden and a washi-like ceiling that gives the area a Zen-like Japanese feel. Many clients feel the views from the lap-pool to be among the best in the world! Unlike Aman’s in most parts of the world that ban TV’s in the rooms, the Aman Tokyo includes a flat-screen TV for those of us that need a daily BBC fix!

With Kyoto being our favorite city in Asia, we are most excited about the 24-room Aman Kyoto, opened back in November 2019. The 80-acre site includes 72 acres of native forest and eight acres of traditional Japanese gardens. We are particularly impressed with the property’s location in the Takagamine district, walking distance to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Temple)! The property features spacious and light-filled interiors, similar to traditional ryokans; natural hot springs; and spectacular dining celebrating the unique culinary traditions of Japan using the finest local produce. With large floor-to-ceiling windows, the outside is brought in, allowing for a complete escape in total luxury.

With Kyoto being our favorite city in Asia, we are most excited about the 24-room Aman Kyoto, opened back in November 2019. The 80-acre site includes 72 acres of native forest and eight acres of traditional Japanese gardens. We are particularly impressed with the property’s location in the Takagamine district, walking distance to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Temple)! The property features spacious and light-filled interiors, similar to traditional ryokans; natural hot springs; and spectacular dining celebrating the unique culinary traditions of Japan using the finest local produce. With large floor-to-ceiling windows, the outside is brought in, allowing for a complete escape in total luxury.

Receiving five stars in the Forbes Travel Guide, the Palace Hotel Tokyo is quickly emerging as one of the best luxury properties in Tokyo. Just five minutes from The Peninsula Tokyo (!), the Palace is located directly in front of the Imperial Palace and gardens, “Otemon Gate,” neighborhood of Aman, perfect for quick excursions, shopping, sight-seeing, and night-walking. While we prefer the quiet serenity of properties with less than 200 rooms total, the Palace features 266 rooms and 18 suites that make up for its busyness with spacious contemporary designs and balconies with breathtaking views of the Imperial Palace. Additional amenities include ten (!) in-house restaurants and bars, a sizeable pool, and wellness center with fitness and gym options. Don’t forget to visit the alpine-inspired evian SPA, which features a giant private pool with floor-to-ceiling views of Tokyo (with Mt. Fuji in the distance!), daily yoga sessions, and a variety of facial, body, and ritualistic massage treatments.