Best of Tokyo: Luxury Hotels & Insider Tips
Tokyo is the world's most Michelin-starred city — a metropolis where centuries-old tea ceremonies coexist with robot restaurants, where a $500 sushi.
Where ancient ritual meets future luxury
Tokyo is the world's most Michelin-starred city — a metropolis where centuries-old tea ceremonies coexist with robot restaurants, where a $500 sushi counter seats eight, and where precision is not a goal but a birthright. For the luxury traveler, Tokyo is a revelation.
Tokyo at a glance
- Region: Japan
- Typical spend: $5,000–$35,000+ per couple per week
- Best time to visit: March–April for cherry blossoms; October–November for autumn foliage
- Climate: Humid subtropical, 5–35°C depending on season
- Currency: Japanese Yen
Why Tokyo earns its reputation
- More Michelin stars than Paris and London combined — including secretive 8-seat omakase counters
- Aman Tokyo — minimalist grandeur above Otemachi with traditional onsen and panoramic views
- The Peninsula Tokyo — palatial rooms with Imperial Palace gardens views
- Japanese hospitality (omotenashi) — the most refined service culture on earth
Defining experiences in Tokyo
Private Omakase Tour
Reserved seats at Sukiyabashi Jiro, Saito, and other legendary counters.
Tea Ceremony Master Class
Private instruction from a tea master in a centuries-old Chado tradition.
Tsukiji & Toyosu Markets
Dawn tour with a chef guide through the world's greatest seafood markets.
Imperial Palace Private Tour
After-hours access to restricted areas of the Imperial Palace grounds.
Shibuya to Ginza by Night
Private guided evening from neon chaos to serene cocktail bars.
A sample Tokyo itinerary
- Day 1: Arrive Aman Tokyo, afternoon tea ceremony, Ginza omakase dinner
- Day 2: Dawn Tsukiji tour, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Roppongi evening
- Day 3: Imperial Palace visit, museum afternoon, kaiseki dinner
- Day 4: Day trip to Hakone or Kamakura, onsen evening
- Day 5: Morning shopping, departure or Kyoto extension
Published by Peters Signature Travel.