For JW Marriott Tokyo guests, immersive relaxation comes first | Canada Voices

Getting to the JW Marriott Tokyo, I was sweaty and dishevelled. Navigating transit from the airport had taken longer than expected and my choice of clothing was entirely inappropriate for the unseasonably warm weather. After a long elevator up to the hotel’s 30th floor lobby, my partner and I made our way to the reception desk, almost an hour late for a meeting with the concierge.

Entering the space, I immediately clocked a beautiful terracotta-orange ceiling and a number of lush live plants. A wooden door positioned between two bookcases had a discrete sign for the hotel’s mediation space. Looking a mess, I felt outclassed by the environment.

But that feeling was quickly assuaged by warm and friendly staff. Someone offered us a welcome mocktail. Someone else took our bags. Because we’d booked into one of the property’s “mindful rooms” check in would actually take space in the spa, which is on the same floor as these rooms.

Two floors down, the spa had a subtle clean scent. Ambient music played in the background. The desk clerk asked if we’d like to partake in a quick sound bath before filling out any paperwork. Closing my eyes and breathing a few deep breaths, I listened to the hum of a singing bowl, and the anxiety of the day started to fade.

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An hour later I was doing laps at the property’s 82-foot infinity pool, a rare combination of function and beauty. As the sun began to set outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, I caught the outline of Mount Fuji behind the city skyline. I watched for a moment before wrapping up my workout and retreating to the sauna. Our visit was off to an excellent start.

Why you should visit

The JW Marriott Tokyo opened in late October, 2025. Canadian firm Yabu Pushelberg designed the hotel, blending Japanese and Western aesthetics, with clean lines and moody lighting. The impossibly high ceilings of the lounge and reception area are adorned with bookcases and dark, textured woodwork. Ceramics from Japanese artist Tomonari Hashimoto are another standout of the space.

Entering our room, the curtains automatically opened to a view of Tokyo Bay below. The large space had a simple and modern design. At night, I selected from one of the three loose-leaf teas provided for the room and brewed a pot before changing into the hotel’s impossibly soft pyjamas from Derek Rose.

The bathroom featured an oversized soaking tub, complete with Aromatherapy Associates bath oils, Epsom salts and cypress bath balls. There was also a futuristic Japanese toilet, offering a variety of bidet settings. In the closet we found a basket with an assortment of fitness gear, including a massage gun – a highlight of being in a “mindful room.”

When I heard JW Marriott Tokyo was offering this type of room – billed as a wellness experience – I rolled my eyes at the concept. Wellness is a term that gets thrown around a lot in the hospitality industry, so much so that it can start to lose meaning. But from the design of the hotel, to the training of the staff, to the amenities (in addition to the spa, pool, sauna and steam room, there is a large and well-stocked gym) it’s clear the hotel has put a lot of time and effort into making sure guests booking the rooms have a truly relaxing experience.

The hotel features three different restaurants. Saki, an eight-seat omakase experience, and Sefino, serving Mediterranean cuisine, are each led by Michelin-starred chefs.

We ate at the third restaurant, Kako, on a sleepy Sunday evening, running through their nine course tasting menu that focuses on seasonal Japanese fare. The dinner featured all the highlights you’d expect from a showcase of the country’s cuisine – sashimi, tempura, local fruit – alongside some foods and flavours I hadn’t tasted before. During our two weeks in Japan we ate a variety of delicious dishes, but this dinner’s Wagyu steak course and fresh grapes for dessert marked the trip’s best bites. Kako also offers sake from each of Japan’s 47 prefectures. Anyone looking for cocktails or Japanese whisky can hit up the JW Bar or their backroom speakeasy.

Room for improvement

Browsing my notes for the property, critiques were slim. The moody and dim lighting of the hotel creates a chic ambience, but could be a bit dark for some guests to navigate.

Since you’re in the neighbourhood

The JW Marriott Tokyo occupies seven floors of a high-rise called LinkPillar 1 South Tour, with the rest of the building filled with conference spaces, offices, a botanical garden and high-end shopping. It’s part of a new development called Takanawa Gateway City, the equivalent of Hudson Yards in New York City or Liberty Village in Toronto, an area previously used for the railways now converted for mixed-use properties.

While Takanawa Gateway City is still coming into its own as a destination, it’s a great launching pad for exploring. Takanawa Gateway Station and Sengakuji Station are both a quick walk from the hotel, offering easy access to several subway lines and the bullet train. There are direct routes to both of Tokyo’s airports, while major tourist areas such as Shinjuku and Shibuya are about a half-hour away.

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The take away

While first time visitors may want to stay closer to a tourist hub, for a retreat away from the fast pace of the city, you’d be hard pressed to find a better option. It’s one of the best hotel stays I’ve ever had.

JW Marriott Tokyo, 2 Chome-21-2 Takanawa, Minato City, Tokyo, Japan. Standard rooms start at $999.23 a night. Mindful rooms start at $1,499.15 a night.

The writer was a guest of the hotel, which did not review or approve this article. Transportation was provided by the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau. Stories are based on merit; The Globe does not guarantee coverage.