1 Hotel Tokyo: An Intentional Sanctuary of Mindful Urban Rejuvenation

Rising high above the bustling Akasaka Trust Tower, 1Hotel Tokyo delivers a peaceful, biophilic urban sanctuary that feels strikingly distinct from Tokyo’s traditional luxury offerings. Ascending to the 38th-floor main lobby, I was immediately struck by how seamlessly the property fuses Starwood’s planet-first ethos with traditional Japanese design—featuring raw Oya stonework, reclaimed timber, and an elevated zen moss garden bathed in natural light. The operational flow feels warm and welcoming rather than overly formal, with attentive staff greeting returning guests with an easy warmth that sets a relaxed, approachable tone throughout the public spaces.

Tower king room

I stayed in a 39.8-square-meter Tower King on the 43rd floor, which offered a serene layout that, while spacious for one, is ideal for two. The calm palette of cream beige and soft mint creates an instantly soothing atmosphere, complemented by natural timber and live potted tree accents that embody the hotel’s biophilic concept. The space is exceptionally well-equipped: a built-in bench sits right along the floor-to-ceiling window, paired with a plush couch, an armchair, and a generous stone table large enough to easily spread out food and drinks. While complimentary bottled water is provided, a dedicated in-room filtered water dispenser station—conveniently set at the room entrance just outside the bathroom—shares the hotel's eco-luxury mission. Storage-wise, the entry closet felt slightly compact, but the room leaves little else to be desired; for guests seeking more space, the property’s suite collection elevates the experience with double-vanity bathrooms across its standard layouts, alongside four sprawling “House” suites within the retreat collection featuring full kitchens.

Tower king room

Beyond its eco-luxury foundation, 1Hotel Tokyo places a strong emphasis on holistic health, housing its entire wellness sanctuary on the 38th floor. The facility features a glass-enclosed fitness center with sweeping skyline views, a generously sized indoor pool flanked by daybeds, an outdoor lounge terrace, a traditional hammam, and the serene Bamford Spa—whose organic, nature-inspired philosophy aligns seamlessly with the hotel’s sustainable ethos. During my stay, I spoke with the Director of Spa, who shared exciting details about the upcoming expansion of their wellness programming. While the hotel currently offers instructor-led morning and evening yoga sessions three days a week, sound bath meditation, and structured gym training, they are preparing to launch innovative future offerings—including floating sound baths in the pool and a high-profile collaboration with Alo Yoga.

Bamford Wellness Spa

The heart of the 38th floor is a gorgeous lounge where I loved sitting during the golden sunset hour to unwind with a drink—one end features a buzzing Spotted Stone Gin Bar with live DJ sets, while the other offers a quiet coffee shop corner. Just nearby, Nini serves as the hotel’s sole restaurant, blending Mediterranean flavors with local Japanese ingredients. Breakfast was a real highlight: you can order health-forward mains like avocado toast or eggs cooked to your liking alongside a fresh mini buffet, where the freshly squeezed immune-booster juice became my instant favorite. Back in the room, the in-room dining was outstanding; I loved the tactile, stone-colored ceramics with lids clever enough to use as sharing plates. Though the in-room wine list is a bit compact, the staff was delightful and happily brought up my pick straight from Nini’s cellar.

Swimming pool

Central lounge

Nini

Spotted Stone

1Less Thing

Early access & departure comfort: Guests are welcome to use the wellness facilities—including the pool, hamam, and spa area—both before check-in and after check-out. If you have a late flight out of Tokyo, spending your post-check-out wait time in the soothing spa area or relaxing up at Spotted Stone lounge is infinitely more peaceful and refreshing than sitting in an airport lounge.

Public spa & full-day wellness access: Bamford Spa and the wellness programs are open to non-hotel guests as well. Booking a spa treatment grants you complimentary access to the pool and traditional hamam. For an additional fee, you can also drop into one of their daily wellness classes—like morning yoga or sound baths—making it easy to expand a single treatment into a full day of holistic relaxation.


1 Less Thing (clothing donations): 1 Hotel Tokyo partners with Second Life, a local Japanese NGO, for the brand's signature 1 Less Thing initiative. If you find yourself overpacked or simply want to lighten your luggage for the journey home, you can leave gently used clothing items in your room; the hotel ensures they are passed along to local non-profits to support those in need.

Complimentary elevator fruit: Don't miss the fresh whole fruit displayed in the baskets right in front of the guest elevators on the 38th floor—it’s completely free for guests to grab as a quick snack on their way out to explore the city!

For more travel inspiration and insider recommendations, check out our Tokyo page.