Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo

Occupying the top nine floors of the Cesar Pelli–designed Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, the Mandarin Oriental was designed to evoke Japan’s relationship with nature. The property itself resembles a tree, with its entrance at the bottom of the tower representing the base; on the top floor, fabrics and carpets suggest leaves and branches, creating the feeling of a forest canopy. A water wall in the lobby symbolizes the many cataracts that cascade from the country’s mountains, while elevator interiors mimic falling rain. Rooms maintain an aura of serenity and build on the existing “Woods and Water” design theme with fabrics and furnishings representing the woodlands and changing seasons. Head to the spa and indulge in the signature “Totally Tokyo” treatment, which uses pine, bamboo, plum, green tea, and rice hulls to stimulate the senses and restore a sense of clarity, then choose between French, Cantonese, and Italian restaurants with views of Mount Fuji to the west, Tokyo Skytree and the Sumida River to the east, and Tokyo Bay to the south. Prefer to take your meal to go? Make a pit-stop at the hotel’s ground-level gourmet shop on your way to see the sights.

At the spa, guests are guided through a personalized ‘Spa Journey’ of Asian and western-inspired relaxation. There are nine treatment rooms, four multipurpose rooms, and five private suites along with an extensive range of health and beauty treatments, including Totally Tokyo, which begins with a relaxing pine oil foot ritual, followed by a plum salt foot scrub and a full-body shiatsu-style massage that incorporates rice hulls. The Time Rituals program encourages guests to book a length of time and then work with the staff on how best to use it. Services can be tailored to meet individual needs. Did we mention the uplifting views?

Spend an enchanting evening cruising the Sumida River, which has long inspired Japanese artists and thinkers. After dinner at a noted restaurant along the waterfront, you’ll board a yakatabune, a traditional roofed boat with a red lacquer hull and woven mats. You’ll soak up views of old Edo and the TOKYO SKYTREE as geisha dance and play the shamisen.