Hotel New Otani Tokyo - Executive House ZEN

Anyone who’s stayed in the Club Level of an East Asian luxury hotel is familiar with the idea of a “hotel within a hotel,” a section of the hotel that’s as different from the rest of its offerings as first-class flying is from economy. In Tokyo’s Hotel New Otani we’ve found what’s perhaps the most striking example yet: while it’s a perfectly serviceable business hotel, it’s nothing to write home about — unless, of course, you’re talking about the Executive House Zen rooms, which occupy just two floors of the main building, overlooking the grounds of the Akasaka Estate, which is one of the only green spaces in town.

From the Ferragamo bath products to the Pierre Hermé croissants in the lounge, the Executive House is all top-shelf when it comes to details. Rooms are large, with far-ranging view from the eleventh and twelfth floors, and they’d look at home in any of Tokyo’s top luxury hotels — some come with extraordinary views and lavish, spa-like bathrooms. Executive House guests have access to the rest of the New Otani, including some 37 restaurants, serving Japanese and international cuisines, on top of which the Executive Lounge serves six meals a day.