Five Things We Love: Fairmont Tokyo
Date : Mar 06, 2026
~ Luxe Travel: Enriching journeys where privileges meet tailor-made travel ~
Shibaura’s new sky-high perch has no shortage of style.
“This is an up-and-coming neighborhood.”
I’m used to hearing this phrase in cities all over the world – a wink toward a place’s “cool factor” before everyone else catches on. In Tokyo, though, it feels almost out of place, since earnestness and humility remain the norm. Still, I heard this sentiment twice on the first day of my stay at Fairmont Tokyo – once during a property tour, then again in passing from fellow guests at dinner.
Even if you visit the city often, you might not have heard of Shibaura, where Fairmont Tokyo opened last July, marking the Canadian brand’s Japan debut. The waterfront district in Minato City previously functioned as a fishing village until the early 1960s and became a scruffy nightlife hub in the ’80s. But the 217-room property, occupying the top eight floors of the mixed-use Blue Front Shibaura south tower, is about to change that. A second, all-residential north tower will debut in 2030, and the country’s first Raffles hotel is scheduled to open nearby in 2028 in the newly renovated World Trade Center.
Amid stiff competition for luxury accommodations, Fairmont Tokyo feels distinctly original: It brims with elegant touches, from sweeping water views to a hi-fi listening bar hidden in plain sight. Ahead, five reasons why I can’t wait to stay at Fairmont Tokyo again.
The Fairmont sits within the Blue Front Shibaura tower, a high-rise hub in Minato’s business center.
Water, City, and Sky
Many top-tier Tokyo hotels offer sky-high city views – but how many let guests choose between views of the skyline, Tokyo Bay, Mount Fuji, and urban landmarks Tokyo Tower and the Rainbow Bridge? This rare combination of sights isn’t only breathtaking; it reflects Tokyo’s history and growth as a major port city – a perspective that’s easy to lose in touristy hubs like Shinjuku and Ginza. Later this year, the hotel will debut a Fairmont-branded boat accommodating 10 to 12 guests for private sightseeing cruises.
Bringing the Outdoors In
Guest rooms are cool, minimalist havens that celebrate Japanese craft, with pale sen wood panels creating a soft, airy atmosphere and washi, a handmade plant-fiber paper, adorning bedside walls. Curved patterns on the carpet echo the raked lines of a Japanese Zen garden. Even bathrooms get the Japanese treatment, with square soaking tubs and coarse granite walls reminiscent of an onsen. But my favorite part of my 42nd-floor Fairmont Gold Signature Suite was the sitting area, which included a chaise, an accent chair, and a small round table tucked against the oversize windows. I learned the setup was inspired by engawa, a covered porch and social space that blurs the line between a Japanese home’s interior and exterior. Whether I was curled up with a book or working on my laptop, I felt as light as a cloud – as if I were floating high in the sky.
Story continues below advertisement
Drop by the Fairmont Gold Lounge throughout the day for breakfast, afternoon tea, or evening cocktails.
A Lounge That Takes Gold
Reserved for members, the Fairmont Gold Lounge is the centerpiece of the property’s “hotel-within-a-hotel.” This glass-walled lounge offers private check-in and checkout, dedicated concierge service, and, my favorite, an all-day food and drink menu. Though I’m resolutely not a morning person, I cheerfully set my alarm each day so I wouldn’t miss breakfast in the lounge. My sweet tooth couldn’t resist starting with the toasty, ricotta-stuffed croissant topped with local honey and raspberries before the main dish. I always opted for the traditional Japanese breakfast set, a positively pretty tray of grilled fish, rice, miso soup, and other savory bites such as tuna sashimi. The tiered afternoon tea was also a highlight, as were two types of Champagne (Pommery Brut Royal and Laurent-Perrier “La Cuvée” Brut) and flights of Japanese beer.
Art as a Visual Language
Art at Fairmont Tokyo isn’t just decorative – it’s a creative expression reflecting Shibaura’s unique waterfront address. Melbourne-based Bar Studio, which designed the interiors, collaborated with Interculture Art Inc., a local art consultancy, to source standout pieces, including the massive oil and beeswax painting by Moe Nakase suspended above the reception desk. In a certain light, it appears to drift, reminiscent of Tokyo Bay on a sunlit day. Nearby, a diaphanous fabric work by Barcelona-based artist Alicia Gimeno features kintsugi-inspired lines that evoke rippling water. An intricately handwoven installation in the Fairmont Gold Lounge by textile artist Yasuaki Kuroda contrasts warm golds with cool blues, capturing Shibaura’s distinctive mix of urban energy and natural beauty.
Settle in for hi-fi listening above the city at the moody Off Record.
For the Record
The hotel’s restaurants and bars are varied and exceptional. Driftwood serves yoshoku cuisine – its truffled-chicken omurice transforms the childhood comfort dish of an omelet stuffed with ketchup-fried rice into something sublime. Migiwa, an intimate six-seater, serves an exquisite omakase that concludes with handmade soba noodles. Both restaurants are terrific, but it was the bar Off Record that stole my heart.
This 14-seat listening bar, a popular style of lounge in Tokyo, hides behind an unmarked door next to Driftwood. I loved it so much that I ended every evening there, drawn to the unbelievable acoustics pumped from a hulking, custom-built speaker in a dark corner. No matter what the DJ pulled from the extensive vinyl collection – from Bad Ska by Cool Wise Men to Sonny Clark’s Cool Struttin’, a personal favorite – the sound was plush, rich, and dynamic. One evening, as I sipped a scotch highball and nodded along to the music as the bar’s only guest, the bartender, Takashi, motioned me to the center of the room. “The sound quality is the best right here,” he said.
I walked over, stood still, and closed my eyes. At that moment, I felt like the center of the universe – and he was right.
Book with Luxe Travel to receive EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS and OFFERS include:
✔ Eligible to earn membership points of All - Accor Live Limitless
✔ Exclusive BONUS NIGHT Offers e.g. Stay 3 Pay 2
✔ Room upgrade (at time of booking at selective hotels or upon arrivals)
✔ Priority Early check in, Late check out (subject to hotel's availability)
✔ Daily breakfast for two (enjoy at a hotel restaurant)
✔ Connecting Rooms Priority (subject to hotel's availability)
🔎 Looking for Tailor Made Journey / Unique Experiences / Private Tours
Please contact our travel specialist for your Tailor Made Journey / Unique Experiences / Private Tours, available from 2 persons travelling together
T: +852 2539 0628 / Whatsapp: +852 5646 7863
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
👉 Whatsapp: +852 5646 7863
Wechat: Luxetravelhk
📞Call: +852 2539 0628 / +86 147 14337 863
Private Tour: +852 2539 0629
Email: info@luxetravel.com.hk
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Article by Katie Chang