Peninsula Tokyo blends high-tech and tradition

Service in Asian hotels is hard to beat, and the Peninsula Tokyo contributes to the long-standing tradition. Within 24 hours of checking in, I was greeted by a bevy of well-dressed page boys; when I left my sweater in the signature Peter restaurant, my waiter brought it to me in the lobby; and a spa attendant actually came into the spa's steam room to offer me garment options for my treatment.

"The Japanese have a genuine desire to look after customers," said General Manager Malcolm Thompson. "Taking care of others is an inert quality in Japan that goes back several generations, so guests here are extremely lucky to have such attentive, quality service."

Culture is inevitably part of the personable service guests can expect when interacting with the predominantly Japanese staff; the hotel boasts a staff-to-guest ratio of 2-to-1.

Embracing native values is just as important as having an efficient staff. The design and decor of Peninsula Tokyo exemplify the Zen philosophy, with the idea of harmony as the unifying theme. Interior designer Yukio Hashimoto creatively married the strong Japanese heritage with contemporary, luxury elements.

For instance, the grand lobby mirrors the interior of a traditional Japanese lantern: almost a thousand wooden lattices line ivory walls emitting soft, golden lighting and a central chandelier comprising 1,313-crystal LED light bulbs resemble a cloud of hanabi, or fireworks.

Guests can expect Japanese nature elements such as cherry wood, rice paper and clay throughout the hotel as well as emblematic motifs like cherry blossoms and pine needles.

Blending fluidly with the decor are the 1,000-plus art pieces carefully displayed throughout the guestrooms and public spaces. Nearly 60 artists, 95% of them local, worked together with Hashimoto to create an ambience that celebrates Japanese culture with modern aesthetics. Noted work is the commanding bamboo centerpiece in the lobby and the gallery from the eighth to 23rd floor, where 24 stainless steel cones are suspended in a black void.

The Peninsula Tokyo, which opened in September 2007, is the eighth hotel in the Peninsula chain. Located in the highbrow Marunouchi district neighboring ever-popular Ginza, the Peninsula fits right in the neighborhood with its reputation of luxury and sophistication and cachet in the industry. Peninsula provides transportation for hire with its fleet of Rolls-Royce and BMW vehicles, though the land it occupies is owned by Mitsubishi.

The coveted location in the burgeoning neighborhood, at the foot of the Imperial Palace and surrounding moat, arguably trumps the addresses of other five-star hotels in Tokyo. The Peninsula offers complimentary, virtually guided walking tours of the area (via iPod provided by the concierge), the first hotel in Tokyo to offer this innovative adventure.

The 314 guestrooms, including 47 suites, offer accommodations in a new, freestanding building.

All rooms feature innovative and luxury amenities, including spacious, self-contained dressing room with signature Peninsula valet boxes; 42-inch or larger plasma TVs with DVD player; mood lighting; multifunctional fax/printer; cellphones; blackout screens on wall-size windows; and trademark Bedside Control Panel with remote control capabilities to adjust environment at the touch of a button. (The Peninsula is the only hotel company with its own research and development facilities to design and customize equipment to suit guests.)

The Peninsula Tokyo is the first to feature humidity-control buttons.

The marble bathrooms include double vanities, telephones with hands-free function and spa button, built-in radios, separate bathtubs, rainfall showerheads, modern Japanese toilets with control pads, Davi bath amenities and 15-inch, flat-screen TVs built into the wall.

Starting at 600 square feet, the guestrooms are among the largest in Tokyo. The 3,770-square-foot Peninsula suite features an outdoor terrace, a rarity in Tokyo.

The Peninsula offers five restaurants: signature eatery Peter on the 24th floor, offering international cuisine with 360-degree views of Tokyo; Lobby for all-day dining and afternoon tea; Tsuruya, serving gourmet Japanese; Hei Fung Terrace for Cantonese cuisine; and Peninsula Boutique & Cafe, offering breakfast and a la carte, all-day dining.

There is 13,000 square feet of banquet and meetings space that includes the Grand Ballroom, which features views of the Imperial Gardens.

The Seven Seas Pacific Aviation Lounge pays tribute to the history and development of civil aviation in Japan.

The two-level Peninsula Spa by Espa includes a 66-foot, indoor, heated swimming pool; vitality pool; fitness center; thermal suite (includes steam room, lifestyle showers, sauna and relaxation area); and treatments designed exclusively for the hotel.

The Peninsula keeps apace with Tokyo's progressive flair, introducing packages "in vogue" and programs that follow trends. For instance, pocket pooches (a la Paris Hilton and her Chihuahua) are popular in Tokyo, and Peninsula launched the Dog Stay Program, where guests are invited to bring along dogs weighing up to 33 pounds. The dogs are pampered as much as guests with a Simmons dog bed, a welcome basket, "Canine Cuisine" menu and walking service in Hibiya Park.

Charity events have never been on the radar, but they're quickly emerging with presence in the metropolitan area. The Peninsula Tokyo hopes to be identified with the community by partnering with charity organizations to give back to the community, acknowledging the fact they do not exist without the support around them.

Acclaimed photographer Annie Leibovitz will snap photos for the hotel and incorporate them into the Peninsula portfolio. The "Portraits of Peninsula" campaign captures the essence of the hotels, mainly through the use of photos of hotel employees. "That's what our hotel is all about," said Thompson. "In the end, it's all about the people. It's the people you remember."