I have been visiting Tokyo many times. There are hotels in all types of hotels, from a capsule-style hostel in Akihabara to the ultraluxe Janu Tokyo. The sky-high Park Hyatt Tokyo, best known for its star turn in “Lost in Translation” and a jewel in the World of Hyateth loyalty program, has been an embroiled hotel that I have not mentioned over the years.

Having closed for 19 months while underwent a head-to-torn remodelling, the Park Hyatt Tokyo is back in business and TPG was on the scene during opening week to see whether the legendary hotel should remain on World of Hyate loyalists’ “must-visit” list when it opened. (Hint It should!)

Here’s what it was like staying at the fresh-as-ever Park Hyatt Tokyo.

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Related: Best Park Hyatt hotels, according to Globalists

First impressions

Visitors must enter the Kenzo Tange-designed Shinjuku Park Tower to get into a lobby at the Park Hyatt Tokyo’s lobby and zip up to the 41st floor of the park. Aici, elevator doors open into an atrium with towering geo-patterned glass ceilings and floor-to–ceiling windows in a sun-drenched atterra. This view is spread across Tokyo and, on a very clear day, you can see all the way out to Mount Fuji. That’s an impressive entry to a dramatic hotel, with .

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The hushed drama continues as guests are whisked away through a mazelike series of corridors from the atrium, all offering breathtaking views. Upon entering an oldist library with natural wood shelving, you walk past the new Alain Ducasse brasserie (and its collection of black-and-white Vera Mercer photos) and end up in ‘a moodily lit, carpet-lined lobby that sets the tone for the rest of the sleek hotel’.

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Jouin manoku – The Parisian design studio behind the new-look interiors of this hotel’s revamped interior, which is inspired by its iconic 1994 rule-breaking Park Hyatt Tokyo style has a subtle contemporary twist but it’s an inspiration for the original rules-setting design.

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The hotel’s overall vibe was more formal, though not stuffy, but I felt the ambiance of the hotel itself. Luxury hospitality comes in all shapes and sizes, and the style of Park Hyatt Tokyo was more traditional than other luxury hotels I’ve been at in Tokyo.

The rooms

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It has 171 rooms and suites at Park Hyatt Tokyo, where . I had two nights in the opening week. In a deluxe room with two twin beds and those dramatic views of Tokyo for my two-night stay, including glimpses of Yoyogi Park, were on view from both sides of this hotel’s grand entrance to Japan. Luckily for me, the room was like “Lost in Translation” where Scarlett Johansson sits perched in the windowsill.

To me, the room felt very Japanese and somewhat minimal in a refined, buttoned-up manner.

A long, leather headboard with a room control panel encompassed both double beds, which were plush, comfortable and cloudlike.

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The far side of the room was filled with a sitting chair, eat table and ate bed; framing windows to ensure that the legendary view was front and center.

It was dominated by a massive 65-inch TV (with streaming services) entertainment console, while ‘the minibar, the coffee machine and its glasswares as well as tea sets or snacks were all in.

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It opened to the side and had pullout drawers, a cabinet that honors the work of original designer John Morford at the hotel’s aesthetic. Japanese elements, such as magnolia leaf decorations and washi lamps by celebrated designer Isamu Noguchi, adorn the room throughout the space.

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The bathroom featured double vanities, a huge mirror, Aesop bath products and top-tier amenities like a Dyson hair dryer.

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The shower was sat in a glass-enclosed room with soaking tub, which soaks for ages and rinses off as it is known to be true Japanese style.

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I was in another room off to the side, my favorite Japanese hotel amenity – a fancy toilet with sex and an electric bidet.

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At the end of bathroom, a small but highly functional walk-in closet was located at the top of the bath. In the cabinet drawers I found a beautiful Japanese yukata, kimonolike sleeping garment that was comfortable to wear around room.

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Dining at Park Hyatt Tokyo

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Alain Ducasse (which doubles as the hotel’s breakfast lounge), New York Bar, New york Grill, Girandole by AlAin ducassi at The Park Hyatt Tokyo; Japanese restaurant Kozue – Delicatessen, The Peak Lounge and Bar — and ground-level Pastry Boutique.

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First day I went to The Peak Lounge and Bar on my first day for a sunset afternoon tea experience ($64 per person) The sun was fading beyond Mount Fuji, as Tokyo lit up at dusk and enjoyed a series of sweet treats such as smoked duck breast, onion and fig tartlet and mouthwatering bowl of snow crab under poop egg with sumptuous sweets and baked goods from the cake trolley.

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The morning offerings of the Park Hyatt Tokyo, however are not unusual; Asian luxury hotel breakfasts are immaculate and a perfect example of what’s going on in this world is its daily routine. It was a traditional Japanese breakfast set that I ordered from the menu, which is known as “the classic Japanese Breakfast”. I had been told it would take about 15 minutes to prepare, but that ended up taking a lot longer than expected and was worth the wait. Frankly I didn’t know what anything in the box set was luckily, a visual map of the tray explaining each dish helped me to learn that I was eating grilled flounder and Japanese delicacies such as dried radish and cod roe (plus more familiar items like miso soup and white rice).

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Guests can also enjoy Western breakfast for breakfast, buffet items in delicate glass containers such as potato and lobster salad or fresh yogurt. And there was also a great collection of pastries, breads, cereals and fruit for those looking for lighter food.

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This is the most eloquent dinner at New York Grill up on the 52nd floor for this New Jerseyer, because it was full of energy, chatty people and an overall feeling of grandeur. The food was delicious, too, as was the slang word for . My co-worker and I ate a plate of mouthwatering pan-seared Japanese scallops ($35)), ‘A little less thanwhelming shrimp cocktail with dipping sauce (Mour Island style); grilled Australian lamb rack, which is hearty and tender; and tahini-covered cauliflower steak with miso glaze ($27) was satisfying. But if you’re going to ask for a window seat, and the side of never ending Tokyo views is on your side,” .

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The best place in the hotel by far was New York Bar, based on none other than New york City’s Radio city Music Hall and Carnegie Hall. This bar didn’t disappoint me, and whisky and jazz music is a dreamy night at. hotel with to me.” I was on both nights of visiting, listening to incredible live jazz, soaking up the songs and the city lights as I sipping drinks (old-fashioneds and whisky sours (both $17)) from a cocktail menu dedicated to different genres.

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I was in the opening week and a few small service hiccups were present across all of the dining experiences, mostly related to timing. But I’m sure the hotel’s bars and restaurants will soon be footing, and every single hotel staff member reformed for delays with kindness and displays of Japanese hospitality.

Amenities and service

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Multifloor club and spa * Club on the Park has a giant indoor pool with windows around all sides, ‘an extensive gym (with incredible views, unsurprisingly) and gendered steam rooms, saunas or bath.

• Friendly doormen can arrange transportation and offer guests assistance, like umbrellas for rainy days.
• Four event spaces in various sizes are available to book on-site.

Location and logistics

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On the 39th to 52nd floors of Tokyo’s Shinjuku Park Tower in Tokyo’s ward, The Park Hyatt Tokyo is on its own street (Shinjuk) – which has been designated as the park Hyaatto. Although the neighborhood of Shinjuku is a busy area, the hotel is in’slower, more business-oriented part of the city’ so if you want to be right in the middle of action, you might look elsewhere.

It is about 30 minutes car ride from Haneda Airport (HND), which can cost anywhere from $50 to $70 to get into a taxi, depending on traffic and time of day. This is about 47 miles (nr) from Narita International Airport (NRT) and less than a mile from Shinjuku Station.

What it costs to stay at Park Hyatt Tokyo

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Depending on the season, cash rates at the Park Hyatt Tokyo can varywildly but we found rates as low as $700 per night – although they are easily over $1,000 per evening during peak dates.

Standard awards are generally 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night as a Category 8 World Of HyATt property. There are 61,000 points per night for suites but it’ll be hard to find the suite availability of point redemptions right now, while Suites can be booked from a total of 62,000 points.

If you’re booking the Park Hyatt Tokyo, you will want to use one of the credit cards that earns most points for Hyaatties stays and one that may be automatic World of HyATt elite status (for value-added benefits). Some of these include.

• World of Hyatt Credit Card

Requirements and fees 4 points per dollar at Hyatt hotels and resorts; automatic Discoverist status; five elite night credits per year for a higher-tier tier.

• World of Hyatt Business Credit Card

For example, (see rates and fees) 4 points per dollar at Hyatt hotels and resorts; automatic Discoverist status; five elite night credits per year for a higher tier.

Accessibility

The Park Hyatt Tokyo is a very accessible hotel with guest rooms and public spaces, as well as ‘an dedicated webpage for more information. Similarly TPG recommends calling the hotel directly before booking to confirm accessibility features as always, for example, .

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Bottom line

The opening of the Park Hyatt Tokyo in 1994 was a game changer for Tokyo’s luxury hospitality scene when it opened, according to “When I saw this park Hyantt Japan open” (the first one is at least once) and its own hotel room. A 30 years later, the new iteration of the hotel feels fresh and modern while still preserving what made the first place in the Hotel special. I’m a big fan of “Lost in Translation” and as such, it’s nice to see that the new design still very much reflect the cinematic legacy of this iconic hotel.

Occasionally it may feel slightly formal, and some new-hotel jitters are still to be exercised out. But, in all of its own right, the Park Hyatt Tokyo is a legend in the World of Hyatetes ecosystem for ‘why it was here? It’s back and better than ever.

Related reading:

• My 4 favorite things about Hyatt’s Andaz Tokyo and how to book with points
• Hoshinoya Tokyo hotel review: Traditional Japanese hospitality in the big city
• Maximize your Hyatt points: 5 smart award redemption strategies

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