Park Hyatt Tokyo

Park Hyatt Tokyo occupies the top 14 floors of the 52-story Shinjuku Park Tower building, with all guest rooms above the 41st floor. Most of the common areas here have fantastic city views -- including the indoor pool and the gym -- but the most pleasant are undoubtedly found at the many on-site restaurants (and in the privacy of your room). The iconic New York Bar, featured in Sofia Coppola's "Lost in Translation" movie, is a definite highlight here, but the rest of the hotel's dining venues are equally outstanding. Interiors throughout the property are understated yet elegant, with strategically placed lighting that makes for an intimate, sexy vibe, and a handsome, contemporary Japanese design that combines soothing neutral hues with darker wood accents, plush rugs, and potted plants. If you're looking to lounge, The Peak Lounge would be your best bet, where an atrium-style space is arranged around a large garden. Most guests aren't here to lounge about, though, as the clientele skews largely toward the well-heeled business traveler. That said, the luxe wellness amenities and central location make the Park Hyatt Tokyo a good choice for tourists, too.

The Park Hyatt Tokyo is located in the busy Shinjuku district of central Tokyo. The property is only a 12-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, which has connections to Narita Airport via the Narita Express. The area is one of Tokyo's liveliest neighborhoods, and is full of shopping and dining options, as well as plenty of wilder corners and nightlife (including Kabukicho, the neon-lit red-light district of the city). You can reach Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in just five minutes by taxi, and the entrance to the Meiji Shrine is about the same distance away. Plenty of trains cross through Shinjuku Station, including metro, subway, and JR lines. Tokyo Tower takes around half an hour to reach on the Oedo Line (with a bit of walking), while the Imperial Palace takes about 40 minutes to an hour to reach. It's 40 minutes by public transit to Ueno Park, where many of the city's top museums are located, and Sensoji Temple takes around 50 minutes to reach. Haneda Airport is a 50-minute drive from the hotel, while Narita Airport takes 80 minutes to two hours to reach using public transportation.

This hotel offers a wide range of rooms and suites, all with gorgeous views out over the city. Decor is simple and understated in all, combining clean-lined black furniture and pinstriped beige easy chairs with warmer touches like rice paper lantern-style lamps, textured cream-colored walls, and plush muted turquoise carpeting. Suites add some extra flair, including large art pieces on the walls, small potted trees, and even pianos in some. Starting at 45 square meters (484 square feet), rooms at the Park Hyatt are large by Tokyo standards, and all feature comfortable walk-in closets and large windows that add even more visual space. Beds are topped with Egyptian cotton sheets and down duvets -- but some may find them a tad firm. Amenities found across all categories include flat-screen TVs with DVD and CD players, free Wi-Fi, minibars, electric kettles with traditional Japanese tea, Nespresso machines, and large safes. Bathrooms are luxurious in even the entry-level categories, with brown-and-white checkered floors, wooden sliding doors, 15-inch TVs, and separate sleek glass cabins for walk-in showers and toilets. All bathrooms have huge soaking tubs as well as spacious granite vanities stocked with quality Aesop-brand toiletries. Robes, hairdryers, and magnifying mirrors are also provided.

The hotel's star feature is arguably its expansive wellness center, Club on the Park, housed on the 45th and 47th floors. Features include a beautiful spa with seven treatment rooms, saunas, steam rooms, plunge pools, and whirlpools, plus a wide range of offerings, from massages and facials to beauty services such as mani/pedis. The fitness area is located on the 47th floor of the hotel and features a main gym with LifeFitness-brand equipment and huge windows that look out on the city below as well as a beautiful lap pool and an aerobics studio. A wide array of free classes are available, from circuit training to aqua exercise. Keep in mind that visible tattoos are a no-no at the Park Hyatt, though depending on the size of your ink you may be able to sufficiently cover any and use the wellness facilities. Otherwise, you're out of luck.Dining options here are also impressive, with multiple bars, restaurants, and cafes, plus 24-hour room service. Breakfast is served at Girandole, with buffet and a la carte offerings every morning, plus a la carte meals available throughout the day. There's also a swanky Japanese restaurant, Kozue, which has lovely city views alongside lunch and dinner service. On the top floor of the hotel, the New York Grill serves Japanese and imported beef along with seafood and poultry, and has an extensive wine list with around 1,800 bottles at any given time. The New York Bar -- where Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson filmed scenes from "Lost in Translation" -- has nightly jazz performances and excellent cocktails. While guests can enter for free, those not staying at the hotel have to pay a cover charge, which makes it inconvenient for business travelers looking to entertain local colleagues. Keep in mind that dress codes are enforced. For something more casual, The Peak Lounge is an atrium-style eatery with lighter meals and an English-style afternoon tea service. The attached Peak Bar offers a three-hour-long, all-you-can-eat-and-drink happy hour service, Twilight Time, with unlimited beer, cocktails, and canapes for a set fee. There's also a delicatessen on the first floor of the building with sandwiches, deli goods, and a variety of gourmet foods, plus a pastry boutique with fresh baked goods and desserts.Other facilities include a 24-hour business center and three meeting rooms, plus a wedding chapel, a ballroom, and a library full of books in Japanese and English. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and valet- and self-parking are available for a fee.