When arriving somewhere at a late hour after a long flight from Australia, a transfer is always welcome. The car that awaits at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to ferry me to The Peninsula Tokyo is not the high-end hotel company’s usual Rolls Royce, but a Toyota Century. This is a Japan-only luxury limo, revered by auto geeks and favoured by the emperor himself – and it nonchalantly features lace curtains that come standard.
In a world that loves the new, the Peninsula Tokyo has not changed decor-wise in the 16 years it’s been in operation. The hotel doesn’t look dated, but it is not trendy. Size, especially in a country renowned for tiny lodgings, is the most obvious of those. The 314 rooms start at 54 square metres. Also obvious; the location. In a purpose-built standalone building , The Peninsula Tokyo is in the Marunouchi district, with many windows affording direct views of the Imperial Palace and Hibiya Park. Ginza is a short walk away and it takes two minutes to stroll to the nearest train stop.
There’s the remarkable spa with steam, sauna and cold therapies, the kind of massage available you wish was always in your life and a glorious indoor pool with swimwear on hand in case you’ve forgotten yours .