Review: Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills

At the tail end of our trip to Japan, we spent a few more nights in Tokyo, and we decided to stay one night at the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills.

I’d never been to this area of town before prior to this visit. Still, Toranomon Hills appeared like a pleasant place to stay, and offered a good selection of dining and entertainment options, in addition to several luxury hotels in the vicinity.

This is one of the most well-regarded Hyatt hotels in Tokyo, and also bears one of the best reputations among Andaz properties worldwide, so I was intrigued to see how this hotel would compare to its esteemed reputation.

Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills – Booking

I booked a one-night stay for 30,000 World of Hyatt points, which was pretty good value compared to the regular publicly available cash rates.

The Andaz is a Category 7 property under World of Hyatt, so pricing varies between off-peak, peak, and regular pricing.

Regular pricing at the time was 30,000 points. And since this stay was towards the end of September 2022, as travel demand in Japan was just starting to pick up, cash rates were upwards of ¥70,000–100,000 ($645–922 CAD).

We value World of Hyatt points at 1.9 cents (CAD) per point, so this was a relatively worthwhile use of World of Hyatt points.

Keep in mind, if you’re paying cash, you can book through Hyatt Privé and score yourself some extra benefits. Even if you already hold World of Hyatt status, you’ll benefit more than just by booking directly with the hotel.

Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills – Location

Toranomon Hills is primarily an affluent business district, with a large concentration of mixed-use buildings, offices, and many high-rises. The Andaz resides in the tallest high-rise in Toranomon Hills, occupying floors 47 to 51.

Toranomon Hills isn’t exactly considered the city’s most attractive neighbourhood; however, there are some noteworthy attractions located in the surrounding neighbourhoods.

Among them is the Tokyo Tower, the world’s tallest self-supported steel tower, within a 15-minute walk from the property. The Okura Museum of Art is Tokyo’s oldest private museum, and is just a 10-minute stroll east of the Andaz.

The closest metro station to the hotel is Toranomon Hills Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, connected to the hotel immediately underground.

Nearby, there’s also Toranomon Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, just a quick 5-minute walk from the Andaz.

There are also several alternative metro stations within 10 minutes of the hotel, so you’ll likely have numerous transit options depending on which line you need to catch.

The hotel is also relatively close to Haneda Airport, about a 40-minute journey by train via the Toei Mita and Asakusa Lines. Narita International Airport is just over an hour’s ride east of the hotel by way of the Skyliner bus or the Narita Express train.

Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills – Check-In

We arrived at 3pm by way of Toranomon Hills Station, following the underground walkway to the ground floor elevators. There’s also a separate vehicle entrance if you’re arriving from the street.

Both entrances lead to the understated ground floor lobby, which is simply marked with the hotel’s name and a set of sliding doors. The elevators here transport you up to the main 51st-floor lobby.

Intricate washi paper artwork adorns the elevators at the Andaz Tokyo, setting the tone for the innovative design of the hotel.

Upon entering the lobby, I took note of the warm, bronze, and wooden tones. There’s an eye-catching feature wall in the lobby with a towering kumiko wood mosaic that exudes a sense of grandeur.

After taking a moment to admire my surroundings, we were invited to sit down in the lobby for check-in, rather than going to the check-in desks themselves. The process was very much in keeping with the Andaz brand’s more laid-back and casual approach to luxury.

As we sat down, our Hyatt Globalist benefits were confirmed, including breakfast in the morning and an upgrade from our base-level King Deluxe Room to the King Deluxe Room with Tower View.

I had inquired about a potential suite upgrade; however, I’d come to learn that there are just two suites on each of the hotel’s four floors.

In general, the hotel has a very limited number of accommodations, with just 164 rooms, including the eight suites. As a result, it’s quite unlikely to get a suite upgrade here even as a Globalist member, unless one of the suites just so happens to be unoccupied.

Additionally, we were made aware of the evening Happy Hour held in the lobby, which is open to all hotel guests, and not just elite members. We decided that we’d definitely come down to check it out later on. 

After a smooth check-in, we took a separate set of elevators up to our home for the evening, Room 5028.

Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills – King Deluxe Room with Tower View

The King Deluxe Room with Tower View is the best room type at this property that isn’t a suite, with floor-to-ceiling windows that curve around the room.

The corner room views are particularly impressive, offering panoramic views of the city, including Tokyo Tower from our particular vantage point. 

However, no matter what room type you have, you’ll be treated to commanding views of the Tokyo skyline. South-facing rooms offer views of the Tokyo Skytree and the Imperial Palace, while north-facing rooms feature views of Tokyo Tower and the Imperial Palace.

Immediately as you enter the room, a long wooden table serves as both a dining table and a desk. Behind the desk is a long couch, and then in front of the desk, a maroon leather chair.

The palette of the room consisted of light-green carpeting and walnut accents, along with white and blue touches.

The colour scheme wasn’t the most well-thought-out, in my opinion. However, the Hokkaido walnut wood panelling of the room gave it a cohesive identity and was quite aesthetically pleasing.

The king bed occupied the rest of the suite, well-positioned next to the windows for optimal views. On the side table is a comprehensive set of controls, where lights and blackout shades could be adjusted.

The TV is in the centre of the room on an angle, so viewing is possible from both the couch and bed.

There is a well-stocked minibar with a handful of complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, including a Nespresso machine and tea station.

The Andaz brand is known for offering free minibar items, and we eagerly helped ourselves to the selection.

Additionally, a set of pajamas was provided, which is a common practice at Japanese hotels and always a much-appreciated gesture.

The bathroom was quite striking and elegant, with a monotone wooden theme. The space was adorned with dark walnut walls and ceilings with touches of granite.

Within the room was a single vanity with plenty of counter space, and a large mirror. Then, a Japanese-style wet room contained a shower and a spacious circular tub made of stone.

While not a suite, the King Deluxe Room with Tower View was nonetheless a spacious room with a pleasant design, and we were certainly grateful for the upgrade and the panoramic views of Tokyo Tower we were treated to. 

Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills – Andaz Suite

I also had a chance to take a tour of the Andaz Suite. This is classified as a premium suite, and is the lowest-level suite to which Globalist members could potentially be lucky enough to get upgraded – although its “premium” designation leaves it off-limits to applying Hyatt Suite Upgrade Awards. 

This suite is significantly larger than the King Deluxe Room. There is a workspace immediately as you enter, looking out at the spacious living room.

The living room features an elongated and comfortable-looking couch, along with a single armchair, coffee table, and TV on the opposite wall.

Around the corner from the living space is the bedroom, occupying the curvature of the building.

All the suites here at the Andaz have two king beds, which is incredibly generous and somewhat explains the premium suite designation. However, I’m not sure how many guests would actually make use of two king beds, other than families with small children.

The bathroom is similar to the one in our room, but with additional space and twin vanities. Additionally, the Andaz Suite has a guest bathroom with just a vanity and toilet.

Although the suites are few and far between, they are certainly more generous in square footage. The extra space allows for a walk-in closet that wraps around the back to the foyer of the suite.

Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills – Breakfast

Breakfast is served at the Tavern Grill & Lounge in the mornings. 

There is an à la carte menu available and quite a fulsome breakfast spread that mirrors other top Tokyo hotels.

The buffet spread consisted of Western staples such as bacon and sausage, cured meats and cheese, fruit and yogurt, and then a selection of pastries.

There was also a good range of Japanese items, including salted mackerel, tofu, fermented soybeans, steamed vegetables, and rice bowls.

Having hotel-hopped across a plethora of properties on this trip, I’ve become something of an expert in Japanese rice bowl stations. I’d note that the rice bowl spread here at the Andaz lacked onsen tamago (i.e., raw eggs), but the chef is happy to prepare you one.

Overall, the breakfast was quite delicious, and reminded me a lot of the breakfast I had back at the Conrad Tokyo upon first arriving in Tokyo a little while prior.

What’s more, the spread here is undoubtedly preferable to the one offered by Park Hyatt Tokyo, the other top Hyatt property in the city, with a much broader range of selections and a more comprehensive offering overall.

Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills – Happy Hour

Perhaps the best thing about staying at the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills is the fact that it essentially offers an all-day “club lounge” experience for all guests, not just elite members, in the lobby.

Light snacks are available throughout the day, while the nightly Happy Hour is open from 6–8pm.

Unlimited drinks, including complimentary wine, sparking wine, and sake, in addition to an assortment of hors d’oeuvres, are available during the evening Happy Hour. 

This is a major selling point of the Andaz, in my view, as it’s akin to having a club lounge in the lobby. What’s more, the Happy Hour attendants were very eager to top-up our wine glasses and make sure we were enjoying ourselves.

Regardless of your status with Hyatt, you can grab-and-go some snacks during the day or sit down and enjoy a complimentary drink before heading out to dinner, which greatly adds to the experience of staying at this hotel. 

If you ask me, the nightly Happy Hour could certainly be a major factor in deciding to stay at the Andaz Tokyo over some of the other higher-end hotels in town.

Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills – Other Facilities

The fitness centre is located on the 37th floor. It’s a modern space with views of the Imperial Palace.

The space is a modest size, though there’s quite a comprehensive set of cardio and weight equipment, and it seemed like a pleasant enough spot for a workout.

The pool is located directly next to the fitness centre. The infinity pool is large enough to swim a few laps and boasts views of the city below.

A few lounge chairs are placed near the left-hand side of the pool for relaxing. Additionally, there are three separate hot tubs in the vicinity.

In terms of drinking venues, the Rooftop Bar crowns the property on the 52nd floor. The space is an open-air terrace with dazzling views of the spectacular Tokyo skyline.

We came up here to have a drink during the evening of our stay. To our surprise, however, there was a cover charge of ¥2,200 ($18 CAD) cover charge.

This wasn’t communicated when we sat down, and instead was only discovered upon check-out the next day. (Although to be fair, it’s disclosed on the hotel website that there is a ¥2,200 per person cover charge between March and December, which is halved for hotel guests.)

We found it rather unusual for a hotel bar to levy a cover charge. After all, checking out the bar is one of the quintessential parts of staying at a luxury hotel.

The nighttime views of Tokyo were no doubt incredible from up here, but just be prepared to pay an extra cover charge to sit down during the busier months – or stick with the complimentary Happy Hour downstairs. 

Conclusion

My experience here at the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills was largely positive. The property makes for an aspirational stay for Hyatt loyalists, and it is a great representation of the Andaz brand overall.

The guest rooms here are well-appointed, although the colour scheme in the rooms isn’t exactly my style. The breakfast offering is comprehensive and on par with the high calibre of many of Tokyo’s top hotels. 

The hotel’s greatest strength is perhaps its sheer generosity of inclusions, from the complimentary minibar to the evening Happy Hour for all guests with drinks included, though this is somewhat tempered by an extra cover charge for its beautiful Rooftop Bar. 

The Andaz is a great option if you’re looking for an upscale property in a central part of Tokyo, and the Happy Hour could be reason enough alone to pick this over other nearby hotels.

However, keep in mind that the Andaz is a smaller property with only 164 rooms across four floors, so your room and suite upgrade options, even as a Hyatt Globalist, may be limited as a result.