Review of Hotel New Otani Executive House Zen

The New Otani Hotel is situated in Chiyoda City – the most prestigious of all Tokyo’s districts. The hotel looks out over the Imperial Palace’s “East Gardens”, and it is a short walk to the main Imperial Palace and its impressive gardens. Chiyoda features the likes of the National Theatre – where kabuki and bunraku puppetry are highlights. 

To the west of the New Otani Hotel are the famous Shinjuku and Shibuya wards and to the south, Roppongi and its wonderful boutiques, bars & nightlife. The hotel is close to Sophia University, 300 meters south of Yotsuya Station and convenient to the Yotsuya, Nagatacho and Akasaka-mitsuke subway stations.

The New Otani is situated 75 kilometres (46 miles) from Tokyo Narita International Airport which takes around an hour by taxi or hotel shuttle depending on traffic. Tokyo Haneda International Airport is 21 kilometres (14 miles) from the hotel.

The New Otani Hotel boasts 1,479 rooms and suites (60 in twelve categories) situated in two main buildings. 

The Executive House Zen offers the finest accommodation in the hotel. It was opened in late 2007 and incorporates the concept of Zen into the New Otani offering “the true spirit of Japanese hospitality”. The House offers just 87 rooms & suites, an executive lounge, exclusive dining experiences and business centre facilities. It also includes its own reception and concierge service.

Entry level “Executive Double/Twin Rooms” are 36 square metres (387 square feet) in area. The largest “Garden Suite Musou-an” is 115 square metres (1,237 square feet) in area. All these rooms are of contemporary design, some offering Salvatore Ferragamo amenities, jacuzzi-baths – and all with superb views of Tokyo.

The choices of accommodation at the New Otani Hotel are endless, suit every price point, and individual taste in décor. 

The New Otani Hotel has more than one thousand members of staff on duty at any one time. This means that there is always someone on hand to help with any request you may have. The Japanese have a strong service culture and a can-do attitude second to none. 

The Golden Spa New Otani offers: “indoor” golf lessons, tennis tuition on outdoor all-weather courts, a Black Gym (for hardcore gym users), training facilities, saunas, swimming pools, a fitness studio, sunbeds, and a boutique that offers massages and spa treatments. There is a charge to use all the facilities in the Spa – including the swimming pool – even if you are a guest of the hotel. 

The 400-year-old New Otani Garden is spectacular, and guests are encouraged to roam – taking in spectacular horticultural features including the waterfalls and the Kenneth Turner Red Rose Garden – created by the British rose aficionado. 

There are over 200 shops & boutiques in the hotel complex. 

Also available: The Garden Chapel, SeiSei-an – traditional Japanese tearoom, Cornes Collection of super cars – all for sale, a baby-changing room, photo studio, business support centre, travel agency, car hire booth, post office, meeting rooms, patisserie – Satsuki, European cake shop, florist, wedding attire boutique, convenience store, shoeshine shop, men’s grooming centre, dentist, doctor surgery and every weekend Professor Royal Takashi – a renowned Japanese astrologer - is in residence to read tarot cards.

Of course, the hotel has a main reception and concierge desk – there to aid any guest in need of information or indeed is feeling slightly lost. 

The hotel is fully wheelchair accessible and disabled guests are welcome. Pets are welcome at the New Otani Hotel but only by prior arrangement. Service dogs are welcome.  

The Main was designed & built in the early 1960s. Standing at 72.1 metres (236 feet) and with 19 floors (including two underground) it was the tallest building in the city for much of that decade. The hotel was designed with “Brutalism” very much at the fore and at that time, en vogue among international architects. In 2007, the Main underwent a full exterior renovation – giving it the now familiar glass and steel façade.

The four-star Garden Tower (144.5 metres/475 feet) was added in 1974 – complete with 41 floors.

The Garden Court (134.7 metres/ 442 feet) was the third and final addition to the New Otani – adding 33 floors to the whole complex.

The interior to the hotel swings from very traditional Japanese - to ultra-modern. From muted colours of earthen walls, paper screens, tatami mats as flooring and bamboo or wooden finishes to state-of-the-art technology, glass, steel – the New Otani Hotel has it all. Minimalism and Zen are the two watchwords of Japanese style and design … you will find plenty of both in this hotel. 

The hotel – with its vast accommodation and facilities – is ideal for both business guests and families. 

On offer at The New Otani are: 5 “Western” restaurants, 14 Japanese, 1 Chinese, 2 buffets, 4 teppanyaki/steak, 7 cafes, 2 cake shops, 5 bars, room service and “family dining rooms” (on request). 

The world-famous Tour d’Argent was founded in Paris in 1582. The New Otani Hotel is the location of Silver Tower’s only other restaurant. Head Chef Renaud Augier brings to Tokyo haute cuisine in a traditional setting, and serves up signature dishes like Three Emperor’s Style Goose Foie Gras which dates to 1867.

The interior of Gunship resembles a 16th century sailing boat and offers “western cuisine” like beef stew and spaghetti with shrimp.

Isehiro is the hotel’s yakatori offering. Guests can expect delicious meals using peppers, chicken, and mushrooms, cooked over Makume Kashi Bincho charcoal. 

View & Dining The Sky is located on the 17th floor of the hotel. While enjoying a 360-degree panoramic view of Tokyo, guests enjoy buffet including sushi, teppanyaki and tempura.

Trader Vic’s Tokyo Boathouse Bar offers easy American dining (burgers and tidbits) accompanied by killer cocktails!

The Tower Café on the 40th floor is a wonderful destination for drinks and views.

There really is something for everyone in the hotel. It caters for vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians, gluten-free … and many, many more.

The New Otani Hotel has an environmental philosophy: Eco-Friendly + First Class Luxury Hotel = Enhanced Hospitality Experience.

In 2007, it launched “Hybrid Hotel Project” with a goal set to combine "environmental friendliness" and "customer satisfaction". Among its actions, the hotel has created a Biotope with water features that attracts – among other species – fireflies, an air conditioning energy management system that decreases energy use and carbon dioxide emissions in the rooms & back of house by up to 25% and a water purification system with Cypress wood tanks to store water in. A composting system for organic waste has been set up which “feeds” the hotel’s vegetable gardens.