TOKYO BAY’S NEW WATERFRONT LUXURY HOTELS

January 2026

01. Fairmont Tokyo

Perched at the crest of BLUE FRONT SHIBAURA, a new high-rise landmark just west of Hamarikyu Gardens, Fairmont Tokyo is a fresh oasis that opened in summer 2025.

Spanning the 1st, 4th and 35th to 43rd floors, the hotel’s colorfully fluid environment inhabits many forms, beginning with the hotel’s own "Chief Happiness Officer" in the first lobby: a black labrador named Serene, whose quiet and friendly welcome sets the tone for your stay. The Fairmont Tokyo also welcomes small dogs in the guest rooms of the hotel.

True to its classic roots dating back to the original 1907 Fairmont San Francisco, this grand hotel embraces local flavor with modern flair. High ceilings and contemporary artworks frame an unmatched interior that is flooded with natural light and infused with calming aromas. On one side, a soothing seascape of Tokyo Bay; on the other, a dynamic cityscape centered around the iconic Tokyo Tower.

Most guest rooms focus on one or the other of these front-row views; some corner suites, however, pan across the entire horizon. Inside the rooms, wooden furniture, marbled bathrooms, hardwood floors, abstract paintings and gold accents invite you to sit back, slow down, and savor your surroundings.

If seasonal afternoon tea with sweet and savory treats isn’t enough to lure you out to the lobby lounge or outdoor terraces, you might be more partial to the private cabanas by the long infinity pool, where even the gym is outfitted with sleek wooden latticework.

The hotel is full of delightful details, from bold statements in architecture and interior design to intriguing light fixtures and a hidden listening bar. Diverse commissioned artworks are expressed in a wide range of materials, from glass and earthenware installations to plaster paintings and calligraphy. Look for cut washi paper artwork inside elevators, fibermesh hangings under ceilings, and don’t miss the printed wallpaper of the 43rd floor DRIFTWOOD BAR & GRILL, which depicts a soundscaped street scene of characters who have inhabited or visited Shibaura at some point in time, from the Edo period to the present.

Fairmont Tokyo

02. JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo

Further west along the waterfront, towering over the commercial complex of Takanawa Gateway City, the JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo is a luxury Zen retreat that opened in fall 2025.

Occupying the 23rd to 30th floors of THE LINKPILLAR1 SOUTH, the hotel’s main focus is mindfulness. Like a dark stone garden, asymmetrical angles and bulbous shapes fill subdued interiors with minimalist design. The real fireplace in the lobby complements live plants and herbs dotted around the hotel, where reflections dance on marbled surfaces and in Edo Kiriko rock glasses. Spiral staircases with steps of wood or stone connect adjacent levels in style.

The 28th floor is specifically dedicated to offer staying guests a seamlessly mindful retreat. Each room includes a meditation cushion, yoga mat, pilates ring, weights and other equipment, in addition to aromatherapy oils, bath amenities, herbal tea infusions, and even a journaling notebook to further cultivate well-being in both body and mind. The meditative Serene Space provides a secluded sanctuary of color, music, and fragrance to soothe the soul.

On the same floor lies the hotel’s signature spa, fitness center, sauna, and the grand wellness centerpiece of JW Marriott Tokyo: a 25-meter-long indoor infinity pool and jacuzzi, with tranquil water shimmering under two-story-high windows facing the cityscape, Tokyo Tower and the ever-changing sky.

Breakfast might be served in a bento style box containing small dishes of seasonal local ingredients and fresh fish grilled on lava stone, or a Western-style meal using cage-free eggs, or a vegan breakfast inspired by Japanese Buddhist shojin ryori. Later, enjoy traditional “one soup & three dishes” with seasonal ingredients and fermented foods for nutritional balance.

Breakfast and more is served at the hotel's much-loved Kakō Japanese restaurant, decorated with wabi-sabi pottery artworks displayed on a wooden grid that rises to the ceiling. Kakō’s extensive drink menu features various Japanese sake, spirits, wine, and craft beer sourced from all 47 prefectures.

The JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo channels Takanawa’s historical reputation as the gateway to Edo-period Tokyo, as well as a prime spot for moon-gazing. Several references to the full or waxing moon are embedded throughout the hotel, not least of which are the giant gourmet croissants of Le Cres, created by an internationally acclaimed Japanese pâtissier.

If you enter the hotel from the garage-level arrival lobby, you will be greeted by the peaceful harmony evoked by a ceiling installation featuring Zen stones and a mirrored Mt. Fuji. If you arrive in winter, look southwestward toward the mountainous horizon to catch a glimpse of the real Mt. Fuji on a clear day ー snowcapped on crisp mornings, or as a dramatic silhouette against a fiery red sunset. There’s no time like the present to cherish this fleeting moment of natural beauty.

JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo