Staying at a "luxurious" hotel with grandma

Hotel Okura Tokyo

This time, I brought grandma along for a free trip to Tokyo and decided to stay at Hotel Okura Tokyo! Let grandma experience such a luxurious hotel.

📍Prime location next to Ginza

The hotel is hidden in the Otemachi financial district, just a 5-minute walk to the bustling Ginza shopping area, with Mitsukoshi Department Store and Wako Clock Tower within walking distance until your feet ache. Taking the subway to Asakusa and Shinjuku is super convenient, and the JR line goes directly to Tokyo Station. Unexpectedly, the hotel is right next to the Outer Gardens of the Imperial Palace. During a morning walk, we saw squirrels hopping around century-old pine trees—this peaceful oasis in the middle of the city is truly amazing🌳!

🌌 Art pieces right at the door

As soon as you enter the lobby, you hold your breath! In the 16-meter-high space, a giant bamboo installation cascades from the ceiling, with light and shadow flowing between washi paper lanterns, as if walking into a breathing Japanese garden. When checking in, the staff kneel on tatami mats to offer hot towels and matcha, full of ritual. Even the elevator buttons are inlaid with warm cherry wood grain—detail lovers will be instantly captivated!

🛏️ Sleeping in a Kyoto tea room

The deluxe twin room I booked completely overturned my impression of city hotels! Natural wood lattice partitions, low tatami-style tables, and even the bedding features simple indigo patterns. The most heartwarming touch is the binchotan charcoal tea can next to the minibar, paired with wagashi sweets. At night, brewing a pot of gyokuro tea while listening to the faint sound of trams outside the window makes you feel like you’re staying in a century-old Kyoto townhouse🍵.

🍣 A seasonal taste journey on the tongue

Breakfast at the "Banri" Chinese restaurant left me stuffed! The Cantonese dim sum cart pushed around with freshly steamed shrimp dumplings, and there was even a limited Japanese breakfast set—sea urchin chazuke with freshly grilled mackerel, so fresh it made my eyebrows drop. Before leaving, I specially went to "Okura Teppanyaki" for teppanyaki, where the chef performed live cutting of Wagyu beef. The sizzling fat on the iron plate was so fragrant that even the neighboring table craned their necks to watch!

🏊‍♀️ Healing space in the clouds

The fitness center on the 21st floor is simply unbeatable! The treadmills face the Imperial Palace panorama, and morning runs watching the sunrise dye the moat red turn exercise into enjoyment. The heated pool uses natural hot spring water, and after swimming, you can steam in the nearby cypress sauna, making your pores feel wonderful. The spa’s masseurs even speak Chinese, and after a camellia oil massage, my migraine was more than half gone💆‍♂️!

🎎 Unforgettable little episode

On checkout day, rushing to the airport, I forgot my camera in the room. Just when I was panicking, the concierge guy chased me to the hotel entrance holding the camera and thoughtfully prepared a portable tea bag for us to drink on the way. This kind of attentive care is more reassuring than any travel guide!

💡 Summary of experience:

Choose a high-floor room with a view! You can see both the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Skytree, with breathtaking night views.
On weekends, the hotel holds kimono try-on events; book in advance to get exclusive photos.
The underground passage leads directly to Otemachi subway station, so you don’t have to worry about umbrellas when it rains.

Next time I come to Tokyo, I must stay at Okura again! A hotel that engraves Eastern aesthetics into your bones—once you stay here, you won’t look at others the same way!