Our Tokyo Accommodations: Two Tokyo Hotels That Will Enhance Your Japan Travel Experience
Choosing where to stay in Tokyo is overwhelming. The city is massive. Every neighborhood offers something different. Every hotel promises comfort and top notch hospitality.
You really can’t go wrong….
But there are a couple unique accommodations that can actually shape your experience.
On our recent Japan Travel Adventure, we stayed at two sister properties in Tokyo: Shiba Park Hotel at the beginning of our journey and Park Hotel Tokyo at the end. Together, they created a beautiful full-circle Tokyo travel experience.
The yellow markings on the map above indicate where both hotels are located.
One grounded us when we arrived. The other allowed us reflect from a Birdseye view above the city before we left.
If you’re planning your first trip to Tokyo, these are two hotels are my top recommendations for a wonderful 4-Star, boutique experience.
Shiba Park Hotel
After 20+ hours of travel nothing feels better than walking into a space that offers you calm, ease, and safety.
When you’re traveling abroad, your accommodations have the power to shape your entire experience. It’s never “just the place you sleep.” It is where you land after a long day of exploring, where you reset, and where you spend the start of each day.
Fortunately, we stayed in a hotel that provided all of that: Shiba Park Hotel.
Shiba Park Hotel gave us that immediately. The atmosphere is so calming that you don’t even realize that your shoulders have been parallel to your ears and your jaw has been clenched until that first kind staff member reaches out to take your bags from you.
After a long day of delays and travel hiccups, we checked into Shiba Park Hotel around Midnight. From the moment we arrived, we could see that Shiba Park Hotel would be the perfect space to begin our journey in Japan. We were warmly welcomed into a quiet lobby by staff who were patiently awaiting our arrival.
When we walked into the lobby, the first thing I noticed was the books.
Thousands of them.
Shelves lined the walls along a circular staircase and reading nooks were tucked into corners. The entire hotel felt like a love letter to curiosity.
The property, known as Tokyo’s “library hotel,” boasts over 1,500 books that have been thoughtfully curated throughout the lobby and on every floor. The feel of the hotel almost instantly invites guests to slow down and interact with it before or after sightseeing.
As we looked around in awe of the bookshelves that lined the walls, and the decor that perfectly balanced both modern and traditional elements, we felt at ease.
Location
Tokyo is massive. Having a calm, centrally located home base made navigating the city and recovering between adventures feel effortless. Shiba Park Hotel offers proximity to major attractions while maintaining comfort, character, and quiet retreat.
Located in the Minato district and just a short walk from Tokyo Tower, this hotel sits on a quiet street that feels intentionally removed from Tokyo’s intensity. You’re still connected to everything. But you’re protected from the sensory overload that can hit you on your first day.
A perfect strategy for easing your way into the Tokyo experience!
Here’s what stood out to me about the location:
- 5-minute walk to Tokyo Tower
- 8-minute walk to Hamamatsucho Station (direct train access across Tokyo)
- Easy access to Shibuya, Ginza, and Asakusa (the bustling neighborhoods)
Breakfast at Shiba Park Hotel
I have to talk about the breakfast.
This wasn’t just breakfast. It was a spread!! Fresh ingredients. Warm dishes. Intentional presentation.
It was amazing! Not only were we offered champagne upon entry, but the buffet presentation invited us to embrace traditional Japanese breakfast alongside Western breakfast options. Each station was equipped with a sign that displayed various bits of information on Japanese – style breakfast that encouraged us to try something new or different.
The breakfast felt like an invitation to sit, enjoy our meal, linger, and chat with the staff before starting our day exploring Tokyo. This allowed us to feel comfortable, orient ourselves, and move into our day with clarity.
Our Kintsugi Workshop
One of the most meaningful experiences of our trip happened inside Shiba Park hotel itself. We participated in a Kintsugi workshop offered exclusively to guests.
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken objects with gold lacquer. Instead of hiding cracks, the repair highlights them. We sat quietly, repairing broken coasters piece by piece under the guidance of hotel staff.
This process also revealed something deeper about Japanese philosophy. Imperfection is not something to conceal. It is something to honor, and that lesson stayed with me long after we left.
In addition to this workshop, the Shiba Park Hotel also offers a tea ceremony presentation, free tours of temples nearby, and more.
A definite 10 out of 10 for me!
Park Hotel Tokyo
I. LOVED. THIS. HOTEL.
By the time we returned to Tokyo at the end of our trip, something had shifted.
We “knew” Japan. After being on several soft adventures where we figured out the train station, frolicked through the snow Nagano and the streets of Osaka, and ate tons of amazing food, we felt alive, changed, and proud of ourselves.
Consequently, an art-forward hotel brimming with creativity, elegance, and Japanese modernity was the perfect place to enjoy our final chapter in Japan.
The Park Hotel Tokyo (the sister hotel of Shiba Park Hotel) sits high above the city in the Shiodome Media Tower offering unreal skyline views. In any given room on any given floor, you can find yourself observing Tokyo from 25 to 34 stories high. Somehow, that Birdseye view makes the pace feels slower and more reflective.
Staying Inside a Living Art Gallery
Park Hotel Tokyo is more than a place to sleep. It’s a creative space that naturally awakes your own creativity. Its atmosphere pulls you in and pokes at your curiosity leaving you interested in all that the hotel has to offer.
The hallways are adorned with over 400 beautiful pieces from global artists. Every floor feels like walking through an art gallery or museum. And the best part, all of the art is available for purchase!
The rooms all boast large, picturesque window with gorgeous views, but it’s the Artist Rooms on the 31st and 34th floor that really blow you away. Each Artist Room is hand-painted by a local artist selected for Park Hotel Tokyo’s “Artist in Hotel” project.
No two rooms are the same. When you walk into an Artist Room, their unique artwork surrounds you instantly and completely. It’s a totally immersive escape that I absolutely loved! It made you feel creative and alive!
The Table-Style Tea Ceremony
Our final full day included a table-style tea ceremony inside the hotel.
We learned the history and purpose of a traditional tea ceremony along with how to whisk matcha properly, how to receive the tea, and how to appreciate stillness.
It was an extremely grounding experience.
After days of movement, trains, skiing, cooking classes, and exploration, this experience allowed us to pause.
It gave us closure.
Another 10/10 for me!
What I loved about both hotels…
Both properties feel like a perfect blend of modern Japanese culture and traditional Japanese culture. Neither hotel tries to overwhelm you with luxury. They both focus on creating a completely immersive experience that creates memories.
Which Hotel Should You Choose?
| Shiba Park Hotel | Park Hotel Tokyo |
|---|---|
| It’s your first time in Tokyo You want calm after long-haul travel You value quiet neighborhoods You enjoy literary environments | You want skyline views You appreciate art and design You’re ending your trip in Tokyo You want space to reflect before returning home |
Choose both if your itinerary allows it!
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