Review of Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, by Caroline Major

Located next door to Mitsukoshi and a short stroll from the Imperial Palace, the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo has carefully considered the needs of the 21st-century sybarite. It's very good-looking: seductive red silks on the walls, dark wood panelling and subtle texturing lit with arc lights.

The facilities

In this luxury hotel's bar, fluffy lampshades, PVC cushions, shaggy rugs and pendulum-style lampshades might well have been set for a Wallpaper* photoshoot. The design-conscious traveller will delight in recognising the numerous iconic pieces woven into the interiors and the rest of us will be impressed with the views over Tokyo from the check-in lounge suspended from the 48th floor. The Mandarin Oriental Tokyo Hotel is in an incredibly luxurious but homely space with outstanding service.

Down one floor on 47, the spa has also been granted prime views. Available to all is the spectacular bath circuit, where you must strip off to take the waters over Tokyo. The onsen bubbles away at a warming 39-degrees Celsius, after which you steam in a room infused with the energies of an amethyst prism. Take a cooling drench under the rainforest showerhead and then head for the 90-degree dry heat of the sauna. When you can't take it anymore, an ice-fountain outside offers a quick cool down before heading for another dip in the vitality pool. You'll be glad you did.

The rooms

On the large size for a space-starved city, this luxury hotel's 179 rooms and suites sport triptych floor-to-ceiling windows and the latest in electronic gadgetry. Blinds and drapes are operated from control panels, as is the lighting configuration and the service calls. The standard television is a whopping 45-inch Sharp flatscreen with 50 free channels and an abundance of pay-per-view options.

There are more great high-tech touches such as the leather boxed audio-visual kit that contains cables to connect your laptop or video camera to the behemoth LCD. There's an ethernet cable should you not want to use the in-room wireless and there are audio jacks for your iPod. Naturally there is the Tokyo standard washlet toilet and an LCD positioned for optimum bath-time viewing.

Aside from the wizardry, Mandarin Oriental Hotel has thought of most things that will delight. In the fridge, there's a selection of several up-market bottle waters, as well as Krug champagne. There are yoga mats in the cupboard and a bottle of aromatherapy oil on turndown. The fresh orchids come as standard and the hot water urn is complimented with a quality selection of teas for the hand-crafted pot.

To ensure privacy at this luxury hotel, room deliveries are made through the valet hatch complete with a light to let you know you've received something. It goes without saying that the 450-thread-count sheets, a selection of Italian and Japanese bathrobes and very now Aromatherapy Associates bath products will ensure a great night's sleep.