In-Depth Review of the Bulgari Hotel in Tokyo - AFAR
"A 98-room luxury property that blends Japanese minimalism with Italian glamour, offering a sanctuary-like experience above the Shinkansen tracks near Tokyo Station. Design touches—emerald-veined Italian marble beside stone lanterns, Seigaiha-mon wallpaper, arches that echo kato mado windows, coffered wood ceilings, sparse ikebana, and displays of vintage gem-encrusted jewelry—create a refined, modern atmosphere punctuated by unexpected Italian flourishes. Rooms start at about 500 square feet and feature brushed elm floors, tangerine-and-white headboards with embroidered silk from Kyoto’s Hosoo, Maxalto desks with integrated power, Richard Ginori espresso cups, and roomy bathrooms with matte black Japanese granite, oversize showers, and deep soaking tubs. Dining highlights include an eight-seat omakase counter, Hoseki, led by chef Kenji Gyoten and noted for dramatic cuts of fat-marbled tuna and seasonal selections such as firefly squid, sea urchin, engawa, and horse mackerel paired with rare aged sakes; a pared-back pan-Italian restaurant overseen by chef Niko Romito serving dishes like vitello tonnato, tortelli, and tiramisu; a rooftop bar with a mosaic tree wall; a cozy fireplace lounge; and a chocolate boutique offering seasonal “gems” made with ingredients like Kyoto sake and Japanese chestnuts. The two-level wellness area is light-filled and sumptuous—Burmese teak, gold-leaf ceilings, nine treatment rooms, wet areas including a gold-mosaic thermal bath, saunas, steam rooms, and an 82-foot lap pool surrounded by gauze-curtained cabanas that opens onto an outdoor terrace lined with lemon and yuzu trees with views of Mount Fuji and Tokyo Tower. Staff are attentive but unobtrusive, with a knowledgeable concierge who provides excellent local recommendations, and the hotel includes accessible rooms with handrails and bedside emergency buttons. Ideal for design lovers, Japanophiles, and travelers seeking tranquility with immediate access to Tokyo Station, nearby yokocho corridors, and shopping hubs like Ginza and department stores branching off the station." - Adam H. Graham
