Park Hyatt Tokyo

High above Nishi-Shinjuku, this is a city hotel built for travellers who want Tokyo close at hand and a proper place to come back to. English, Spanish, German, Russian, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Chinese are spoken by the staff, so you can deal with the practicalities without turning every conversation into an advanced language exercise.

The mood is polished but not anonymous. Jazz runs through the evening at New York Grill and New York Bar, while The Peak Lounge & Bar shifts from afternoon tea to cocktails and live acoustic music. Add a library, a full spa and a pool with a view, and the hotel gives you several ways to spend the hours when the city has already had enough of your legs.

The address is 3-7-1-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, in the western part of the capital. The hotel sits around 6 km from central Tokyo, with The Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Shinjuku Central Park and Tochomae among the nearby landmarks.

This is an urban base rather than a seaside stop. You are surrounded by the scale and convenience of Tokyo, with city sights close enough to turn an afternoon between plans into a walk rather than a military operation. The building rises 52 floors, which helps explain why views are part of the hotel’s character rather than a minor detail in the room description.

For a straightforward stay, the double and twin rooms cover the basics properly: private bathroom, air conditioning in the better-equipped categories, fridge, safe, television, Wi-Fi and coffee-making facilities. Blackout blinds matter here. Tokyo is not known for dimming itself on your behalf, so being able to shut out the city is useful when your body clock has taken a different flight.

Choose a city-view room when the skyline is part of the reason for coming. The double rooms suit couples who want one proper bed, while the twin categories give two divers the simple luxury of keeping elbows and alarms separate. The room equipment varies by category, so check the individual room card before booking rather than assuming that every room comes with the same air conditioning, minibar, robe, slippers and desk.

The suites add more room to live in, with dining areas in some categories and toiletries, television and telephone facilities. Room service runs around the clock, which is handy when jet lag, a late arrival or a long day in the city defeats the timetable. Fridges, bottled water and coffee facilities also give you a small amount of control over the morning, before Tokyo starts making demands.

You can start with a buffet or à la carte breakfast, then move through French brasserie cooking at Girandole by Alain Ducasse, Japanese dishes at Kozue or American grill fare at New York Grill. Girandole serves breakfast, lunch and dinner; Kozue and New York Grill cover lunch and dinner. New York Grill adds an open kitchen, live jazz and a 360-degree view of Tokyo, with the sort of skyline that makes a quick meal take longer than planned.

There are two named bars. New York Bar is linked to the grill, serves signature cocktails and brings nightly jazz with Tokyo’s lights behind it. The Peak Bar occupies the lounge, where afternoon tea gives way to cocktails, Japanese-lantern-style lighting and live acoustic music in the evening. It is a sensible place to sit down before deciding whether you really need to go back out.

For smaller appetites or less formal moments, the Pastry Boutique and Delicatessen open during the day. Room service covers breakfast, lunch and dinner 24 hours a day, so an early start or a late return does not automatically mean eating crisps from a convenience shop. The hotel also has a café, snack bar and restaurant facilities.

Club On The Park is the main reason to stay in rather than immediately disappear into Shinjuku. Its 8-by-20-metre indoor pool sits beside fitness and stretching studios, with floor-to-ceiling glass opening the view towards Tokyo and Mount Fuji. Pool towels and pool equipment are available, and the pool is heated.

The wider club includes a 2,100-square-metre spa with massages, facials, a sauna and a steam room. The gym and fitness studios use Technogym strength and cardio equipment, while the hotel also offers yoga facilities. This is useful for keeping the body moving without pretending that a treadmill session counts as sightseeing.

When a quieter hour is the better choice, the library provides somewhere to sit with a book instead of another screen. Concierge assistance can help arrange excursions, and bicycles are available for guests who want to explore on two wheels. There is also a jacuzzi, while the hotel’s business and event facilities give the place a practical side beyond leisure.

Check-in is from 3 pm and check-out is by noon. Reception is open around the clock, with express check-in and check-out available. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and the concierge, luggage storage, laundry, dry-cleaning and ironing services take care of the jobs that become surprisingly important once a trip runs beyond a few days.

An airport transfer service is available, with the arrangement handled through the hotel. Parking is available on site. The hotel also has a business centre and four meeting rooms, plus lifts serving the upper floors and facilities for wheelchair access, including an accessible restaurant.

Tokyo’s electrical supply uses 100 volts and both 50 Hz and 60 Hz frequencies; sockets are types A and B. The hotel accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, China UnionPay, Diners Club and cash. A 24-hour front desk, on-site shops, concierge support and a reception safe keep the practical side of a high-rise city stay relatively tidy.