The Prince Akatoki London

A few streets away from Marble Arch, near the the west end of Oxford Street and the entrance to Hyde Park, might not be the first place you’d look for a hotel that’s a celebration of Japanese culture. London has long been a cosmopolitan city, though, and this venture from the Tokyo-based Prince hotel brand distinguishes itself from many other local luxury hotels with the tranquil atmosphere, thoughtful design, and first-class service for which Japanese hotels are famous.

With fewer than a hundred rooms and suites it’s neither a large nor a particularly small hotel, but each unit feels a bit like a little ryokan room, full of wood grain and warm textures. They start out compact, central London being what it is, but the suites are genuinely expansive, and at all levels you’ll have creature comforts like a pillow menu and a walk-in rain shower.

Meanwhile the hotel’s Japanese heritage pays off in a big way when it comes to the restaurant. TOKii serves meticulously presented cutting-edge Japanese fusion fare in a stylish, minimalistic space, while the Malt Lounge & Bar divides its attentions between sake and whiskey — another local institution that’s practiced at a high level by Japanese artisans.