The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza, in Japan [In-Depth Hotel Review]

During a quick trip to Tokyo, my wife and I were looking for a luxury hotel that was conveniently located and, of course, accepted points.

Enter The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza, a brand-new property that had opened its doors for the first time just 2 months prior to our arrival — the perfect amount of time to work out some kinks but still be overstaffed!

This hotel was beautiful and steps from endless dining and shopping options in the famous Ginza neighborhood. The hotel described itself as a place capable of “interweaving the cutting edge of the world with traditional Japanese culture,” which is exactly what we wanted.

But with those desirable qualities came a hefty price tag — both in cash and points. We opted for the latter.

Let’s take a look at how our 1-night stay was in this hot new hotel.

The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza, Location

The 86-room (yes, 86, including suites) The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza, is located just off Chuo Street in the upscale Ginza district of Tokyo.

The sleek new EDITION fits in quite nicely in this neighborhood packed with luxury boutiques and Michelin-starred restaurants.

Our Japan Airlines flight landed at Haneda Airport (HND), so it took us about 40 minutes to arrive via the subway. The subway was easy to navigate despite us being first-timers during rush hour.

Using Google Maps as our guide, we took the Keikyū Airport Line directly to the Higashi-Ginza Station, which cost ¥547 (~$3.50) per person. From there, it was a quick 5-minute walk to the hotel.

A taxi or car service would take about 20 minutes from Haneda or about 1 hour from Narita Airport (NRT), and prices vary depending on which mode of car transfer you select.

Booking The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza

The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza, is part of the Marriott Bonvoy program, which meant I could cash in some points (or certificates) for my stay.

On the night of our stay, cash prices ran ¥117,600 (~$750), and an award night cost 91,000 Marriott Bonvoy points … both normally more than I’d like to spend for 1 night in a hotel.

Marriott Bonvoy Points

However, I did have a Free Night Award (FNA) certificate from my Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, which was worth 85,000 points. I had been saving that FNA for a good redemption, and this was as good as it gets.

I was able to top it up with 6,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and book a 1-night stay at this beautiful new hotel in Tokyo.

At the time of booking, only Deluxe rooms were available with points. However, if paying with cash, options included:

• Deluxe, Guest room, 1 King, City view: ¥117,600 ( ~$750; what I booked)
• Superior, Guest room, 1 King, City view: ¥119,560 (~$760)
• Superior, Guest room, 2 Doubes, City view: ¥127,400 (~$810)
• Premier, Guest room, 1 King, City view: ¥132,300 (~$840; what I received)
• Studio, Guest room, 1 King, City view: ¥166,600 (~$1,060)
• Premier Suite, 1 Bedroom Suite, 1 King, City view: ¥196,000 (~$1,240)
• 1 Bedroom Penthouse Suite, 1 King, City view: ¥1,587,600 (~$10,100)

I ended up using the FNA certificate for a room that would have cost $750, which easily paid for the card’s annual fee — and then I got upgraded to an even more expensive room! And this isn’t even considering all the other benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card.

Hot Tip:

Read up on all the best ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for your next stay!

Checking In

After arriving on a 14-hour flight from New York, navigating the subway during rush hour, and then trying to use Google Maps while dragging luggage down side streets in the rain, walking into The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza, was instantly comforting.

My wife and I were instantly greeted by an entire team who ushered us into the intimate lobby area, where we sat down and were offered water and wine while the check-in process was taken care of at the desk behind us.

After a few sips of cabernet, the concierge escorted us to our upgraded room, explained every aspect of the hotel, and answered every question we had about Tokyo —- an impressive start.

Elite Benefits

The EDITION brand does not offer many elite benefits, so I wasn’t expecting much despite being a Marriott Bonvoy^® Platinum Elite member.

Essentially, the only real benefit is 1,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points, which we value at $7. So, guests aren’t here for the loyalty perks, to say the least.

However, we received an upgrade to a Premier room, which, based on the website details, is about 75 square feet larger than the room we booked. No complaints there!

Amenities

The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza, is a small boutique hotel in one of the most densely-populated cities in the world, so don’t expect much when it comes to on-property amenities, as its footprint really doesn’t provide many options.

Gym

At a hotel that paid so much attention to detail, the oversight of the fitness center stuck out like a sore thumb.

Tucked away on the third floor was a “gym” that was smaller than our room.

Equipment was limited to 2 spinning bikes, 1 rowing machine, some medicine balls, and some free weights.

Most of the equipment was from Technogym.

All were new and in good condition, but I was expecting a bit more for the price charged per night.

Pool

Unfortunately, there is no pool at The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza.

However, guests who prefer a more complete workout (gym included) can use the facilities at the other EDITION in town, The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon.

It takes about 10 minutes in a taxi to get between the 2 hotels.

Pet Policy

Pets are not allowed at The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza.

Valet Parking

Valet parking is not available at The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza. However, a self-parking option exists for ¥4,000 (~$25) per night.

Wireless Internet

The Wi-Fi was fast and free at The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza. Although I didn’t have much time for work, it was perfectly fine for social media and a video call with family.

Hot Tip:

When we were out exploring Tokyo, I used an eSIM from Airalo for data.

Premier Guest Room

I booked a Deluxe room with a king bed, but I was upgraded at check-in to a Premier room.

Besides being a bit bigger, there doesn’t seem to be much of a difference between the rooms, according to the hotel’s website.

I was assigned room 701, a corner room at the end of the hall on the seventh floor. The room is listed as 516 square feet (48 square meters), which was plenty of space for 2 people for 1 night.

Upon entering the room, the bathroom was on the left, and the wall on the right side was full of closets, drawers, and the minibar.

Bedroom

The bedroom area was straight back and had the very recognizable, understated luxury vibe that the EDITION brand is known for.

The room had 1 king-sized bed, which was extremely comfortable.

Next to the bed was a Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Bluetooth speaker and plenty of switches to control the lights in the room. One thing that I felt was missing, with all of those buttons and technology, was automatic window shades.

Across from the bed was a large window (with a very close-up view of the neighboring building), sofa, chair, footstool, and 55-inch TV on the wall.

When we arrived, a handwritten welcome note and some sweets were waiting in the room. A very nice touch.

Closet

There was plenty of closet and storage space, and the room came with 2 sets of robes, slippers, and umbrellas to borrow.

There were also 2 sets of kimono pajamas.

And, of course, an in-room safe.

Minibar

The minibar was housed on a shelf inside the closet and was very well-stocked.

The top shelf had complimentary tea and water, along with some (not complimentary) wine and spirits.

If needed, there was a complete set of beautiful glassware.

A fridge of beverages included beer, wine, soda, juice, and Krug Champagne for purchase.

The final drawer contained some more tea, along with candy and snacks for purchase.

Bathroom

Like the rest of the room and hotel, the bathroom was sleek, understated, and well-thought-out.

There was 1 sink with plenty of amenities, including Le Labo soap (a personal favorite).

There was also a box of personal necessities such as a hairbrush, toothbrush, and more.

My wife was a big fan of the Dyson hairdryer.

Behind glass door number 1 was a bathtub and shower.

It also featured Le Labo amenities, but in a shared bottle, unfortunately.

Behind door number 2 was what many Japanese hotels are known for — the fancy toilet!

This was a Toto model with plenty of bells and whistles … but no heated seat. Oh, the suffering.

Food and Beverage

Since we were only at The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza, for 1 night, we didn’t get to experience much of the food and beverage offerings — especially since The Roof wasn’t open yet during our visit.

Sophie at EDITION

Sophie at EDITION is located on the 14th floor of the hotel and services breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The modern brasserie uses locally sourced produce and focuses on Japan’s abundant seasonal ingredients to create its menus.

Sophie at EDITION is open daily for breakfast from 7 to 10:30 a.m., for lunch from 12 to 3 p.m., and for dinner from 5:30 to 10 p.m., and you can find the menus online.

Punch Room

EDITION fans may be familiar with Punch Room.

This bar is inspired by 19th-century London private clubs and can be found at EDITION locations around the world. It is the first bar in Japan to offer authentic punches, along with other creative cocktails.

Punch Room is open Tuesday through Thursday from 6 p.m. until 12 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m.

Lobby Bar

The gold-colored Lobby Bar is one of the first things you see when walking into The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza.

This is where we were seated during check-in with a glass of wine, as well as where you can grab a coffee and pastry in the morning.

The Lobby Bar is open daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.

The Roof

The Roof wasn’t open when we visited in February 2024, but it is planned as a “rooftop oasis” and Ginza’s first natural wine bar.

The Roof hours of operation are Wednesday to Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. and weekends from 12 to 10 p.m.

Room Service

Sometimes, you just need some good room service. The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza, has you covered.

From a dinner party in your suite to a late-night kid’s meal, options are just a phone call away.

Room service is open for breakfast daily from 6:30 until 11 a.m., with an all-day menu from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Service

It is hard to think about The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza, without immediately thinking about how over-the-top helpful the staff was.

I have stayed at some nice hotels with polished service, but none have come close to the level of genuine hospitality that my wife and I felt during our stay here.

From the moment we walked through the door, we felt like longtime guests. Every staff member we encountered greeted us by name, bowed, and escorted us wherever we needed to be — whether necessary or not.

At checkout, there were no less than 6 people who assisted us, had us sit down, offered us drinks, called our taxi, loaded it up, escorted us to the car, and told her driver where we were going so that we wouldn’t have to do any work.

We felt more like royalty, not a couple of points-and-miles freaks moving on to our next redemption on the other side of town.

Final Thoughts

The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza, was incredible.

The service was unmatched, the location unbeatable, and the room was the kind of understated luxury that I prefer — oh, and I got to pay with points.

My only “complaints” would be that it is expensive and (the brand) has poor elite benefits. But I knew that before my stay began, and it didn’t impact my stay in the least.

I would easily stay at The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza, again, and suggest you do the same if you have the opportunity.