Tokyo: 5 Places to Stay

With a prime location on a corner facing the Imperial Palace and Hibiya Park, and within walking distance of Ginza and the newly named "Golden Triangle" (Hibiya, Marunouchi, and Yurakucho), The Peninsula Tokyo wowed travelers when it opened September 2007, book-ending the city's hotel boom. Its tower houses 314 spacious rooms, including 47 suites, each with stone accents, warm woodwork, and Japanese lacquer touches — as well as high-tech touch lighting and Lavazza espresso machines. In a city that is notoriously difficult to navigate, the concierge staff here is especially skilled, able to score tables at Michelin-ranked restaurants or find bilingual guides to navigate you through the boisterous Tsukiji Fish Market. Dining in? The atmospheric Hei Fung Terrace restaurant serves exceptional authentic Cantonese food.

Insider Tip:The most coveted seats in the house are in the lobby for the Peninsula's signature (and popular) afternoon tea and at the bar in the top-floor restaurant, Peter, in the evening. Book ahead!

Room to Book: Ask for one of the rooms overlooking the majestic Imperial Palace.

• 1. The Peninsula
  1-8-1 Yurakucho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan; +81-(0)3-6270-2288 peninsula.com/tokyo