Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo and The Peninsula Tokyo both opened in the 2000s, and both hold five Forbes stars for the hotel and the spa. One is high up in Nihonbashi, the other on a corner at Hibiya. That difference in location becomes the difference in the stay.
At a glance
| Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo | The Peninsula Tokyo | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Upper floors of Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower | The corner at Hibiya, facing the Imperial Palace Outer Garden and Hibiya Park |
| Nearest station | Underground link to Mitsukoshimae and Shin-Nihombashi stations | Underground link to Hibiya Station |
| Opened | 2005 | 2007 |
| Rooms | 179 (157 rooms and 22 suites) | Generously sized rooms on every floor |
| Check-in / out | 16:00 / 12:00 | 15:00 / 12:00 |
| Michelin Keys (2026) | One Key | One Key |
| Forbes Travel Guide | Five stars (spa also five stars) | Five stars (spa also five stars) |
Michelin Keys and Forbes stars are the decisions of those organisations, not STAYLOG’s ratings.
Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo: the view from high up, and the spa
Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo occupies the upper floors of Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower: 157 rooms and 22 suites, every one looking down over the city. The Spa on the 37th floor is open to non-guests too.
Check-in is at 16:00, an hour later than most comparable Tokyo hotels, so it suits a stay that makes the most of the next morning rather than a packed arrival day. Guests can use the fitness centre 24 hours.
The Peninsula Tokyo: the palace greenery and the city on foot
The Peninsula Tokyo stands on the corner at Hibiya, facing the Imperial Palace Outer Garden and Hibiya Park head-on. The lobby lounge on the lower floors is a meeting place in its own right, and many people in it are not staying.
Ginza, Yurakucho and Marunouchi are all within walking distance, so it suits a stay spent out on foot. Rooms facing the palace greenery and rooms facing the city feel very different, and which way a room faces comes up often in stay reports.
Which suits you?
- You want to look down over Tokyo from high up → Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo
- You want long hours in the spa and a slow next morning → Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo
- You want to walk Ginza, Yurakucho and Marunouchi → The Peninsula Tokyo
- You want the palace greenery, or an earlier check-in → The Peninsula Tokyo (check-in at 15:00)
Read the Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo stay reports or the Peninsula Tokyo stay reports before you decide.
FAQ
- Q. Do the check-in times differ?
- A. Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo checks in at 16:00 and The Peninsula Tokyo at 15:00. Both check out at 12:00.
- Q. How many Forbes stars do they have?
- A. In the 2026 list, both have five stars for the hotel and five for the spa. The stars are Forbes Travel Guide’s decision, not STAYLOG’s.
- Q. Which is more expensive?
- A. Rates change a great deal with the date, room and plan, so we do not compare them. Each hotel page links to booking sites where you can check current prices.
Related reading
- 10 luxury hotels and ryokan in Japan toured by travel YouTubers
Ten of Japan’s luxury hotels and ryokan that English-speaking travel YouTubers have stayed at and filmed — from Aman Kyoto and Amanemu to Gora Kadan and Park Hyatt Niseko — with links to each video.