1 Hotel Tokyo Opens in Akasaka’s Tokyo World Gate Development
The 211-room property spans six floors of Akasaka Trust Tower with skyline views, three dining venues, and Bamford Wellness Spa.
Photos: Mikkel Vang
1 Hotels has officially opened 1 Hotel Tokyo as the brand’s first property in Japan. The hotel now occupies floors 38 through 43 of the Akasaka Trust Tower, part of the Tokyo World Gate Akasaka mixed-use development, with views across the Imperial Palace gardens, Tokyo Tower, and the surrounding skyline.
The 211-room hotel anchors a project developed in partnership with Mori Trust, one of Japan’s largest real estate companies. Tokyo World Gate Akasaka combines office space, retail, and public areas designed around pedestrian circulation, placing the hotel within a commercial district that connects easily to neighborhoods such as Ginza, Roppongi, and Shibuya while remaining close to embassies, shrines, and several parks.
Rooms include 24 suites and three penthouses. Interiors were designed by global architecture and design studio CRÈME, drawing on natural materials and Japanese craft traditions. Elements throughout the hotel reference Tokyo’s landscape and building heritage, including a wall constructed with Oya stone, a material historically used in structures surrounding the Imperial Palace moat. Plant installations and reclaimed materials appear throughout the property, reflecting the brand’s nature-focused design approach.
“In my travels to Japan over the decades, I’ve been struck by the extraordinary beauty of its gardens, the serenity of its parks, and the enduring respect for nature. Even amid the modern architecture and commotion, there’s a sense of peace,” said Barry Sternlicht, founder of 1 Hotels and chairman of Starwood Hotels. “With the design of 1 Hotel Tokyo, our first property in this amazing city, we wanted to capture some of that harmonious tranquility.”
The hotel’s dining program includes three venues. NiNi, led by head chef Nikko Policarpio, combines Mediterranean and Japanese influences, drawing on Policarpio’s experience in Michelin-recognized kitchens in Tokyo and within David Chang’s Momofuku group in Toronto. The restaurant highlights seafood, olive oil, and citrus alongside seasonal Japanese ingredients and uses a Josper charcoal grill oven, a technique still relatively uncommon in Japan.
Spotted Stone focuses on Japanese craft gin and features a collection of nearly 100 varieties, organized by botanicals and production methods. Neighbors Café operates as a casual daytime café serving coffee, teas, and light meals, including items developed with The Matcha Tokyo, a Harajuku-based organic matcha brand.
Event facilities span nearly 5,000 square feet across the Sakura and Camellia rooms and three private dining spaces on the 38th floor, all designed to maximize city views. The hotel also houses Bamford Wellness Spa, created in partnership with Carole Bamford, alongside a Technogym-equipped fitness center, indoor pool, and outdoor terrace with planted greenery.
“Tokyo World Gate Akasaka was conceived as a district that brings together business, culture, and green space in a way that reflects Tokyo’s future,” said Miwako Date, president and CEO of Mori Trust. “1 Hotel Tokyo strengthens that vision by introducing a hospitality experience centered on environmental performance and design integrity. We believe the hotel will contribute meaningfully to Akasaka’s evolution and to Tokyo’s continued growth as a global destination.”
The property has achieved CASBEE S certification, Japan’s highest environmental performance rating. Additional features include water-conservation systems, refill stations designed to reduce single-use plastic, and an Audi electric-vehicle program that allows guests to explore the city in the fully electric Q6 e-tron.
