Tokyo: Hotel Okura (4 Star Hotel)

Address: 2-10-4 toranomon, Minatoku , Tokyo 105-0001, Japan
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Lonely Planet Review

Oozing dignity and old-fashioned grace, the Okura is popular with disgraced foreign presidents, celebrities and business travellers. Its charm comes from a lack of pretension as well as the retention of its '70s-era style.

The wide, winged, low-lying structure of the Okura gives a grand first impression. The sunken lobby area with generously wide windows and softly lit hanging lanterns will reinforce the pleasant realisation that this hotel is not all about showing up its competitors with added glitz. Elegant and lived-in, the inviting feel of its decor and old-school architecture are matched by personable staff who take a warm but discreet approach. Part of the charm of the Okura is that, in preserving its '70s-era amalgam of Western and Asian design, it implies an intent to continue running at a deliberately unhurried pace. Which is not to say it's backwards - various room types range from those with older, retro stylings and garden views to modern, sauna-equipped luxury rooms. It's eminently classy in the most gracious, laid-back manner.