Views of Mount Fuji, three Michelin Keys and a world-class bar: what sets Four Seasons Tokyo at Otemachi apart

Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi opened in September 2020, just as the world was shut down by the pandemic. In only six years, it has earned three Michelin Keys, its restaurant est has held a Michelin star five years running, and its bar VIRTÙ ranks among the best in both Asia and the world. All of it sits on the upper floors of a skyscraper facing the Imperial Palace, and on a clear day, you can see Mount Fuji from the windows. STEPPE Media CEO Zaure Rozmat stayed at the hotel and shares her first impressions.

A skyscraper across from the Imperial Palace

The hotel occupies the top six of the 39 floors in the Otemachi One tower, in Tokyo’s business district, steps from the Imperial Palace and its gardens. From the rooms, you can see the city, the palace grounds and, when the weather allows, Mount Fuji.

It connects directly to Otemachi Station, the city’s biggest hub, where five subway lines meet. Tokyo Station, the departure point for the Shinkansen bullet trains, is within walking distance. Haneda Airport is about 25 minutes away, and Narita about 55.

The lobby is on the 39th floor, and the entrance is styled like a red-orange lacquer box. An elevator takes guests up to a glass wall, with stones resting in a shallow pond in front of it. The interiors are by celebrated hotel designer Jean-Michel Gathy, and every room features works by Namiko Kitaura inspired by Japanese art and textiles.

est: a Michelin star for five years in a row

Lunch at est was the first stop on Zaure’s itinerary. The restaurant is on the 39th floor and is led by chef Guillaume Bracaval. Michelin inspectors describe the cuisine as modern French with Japanese-inspired ingredients, and guests can watch the kitchen through a glass wall. est earned its first star in the 2022 guide and has kept it ever since. It scored 94.5 out of 100 in the 2026 La Liste ranking. According to the restaurant, 95% of its ingredients are sourced in Japan, and the sake list comes exclusively from the Japanese Alps. There are 68 seats inside and 10 on the terrace.

Breakfast is served at the Italian restaurant PIGNETO, which seats 105 guests, plus 40 on a terrace facing the palace gardens. Diners can watch four open kitchens at work. The menu draws on the traditions of Sicily, Tuscany and Piedmont, with roasted meats, seafood, pizza and seasonal antipasti. Zaure had breakfast here two mornings in a row.

For afternoon tea, there’s THE LOUNGE, a 70-seat space overlooking the palace, with a menu that changes with the seasons. In spring, it served sakura-infused pink tea, and in winter, Christmas sweets and savories.

VIRTÙ: one of the world’s and Asia’s best bars

Zaure’s first evening in Tokyo began at VIRTÙ. The 60-seat bar is done in an Art Deco style that blends modern Tokyo with old Paris, and its menu features French and Japanese spirits. In August 2026, it made Asia’s 50 Best Bars for the fourth year running, and on October 8, it landed on the global list of The World’s 50 Best Bars for the third consecutive year.

Only seven hotels in Japan hold three Michelin Keys

In 2025, the hotel earned three Keys for the second time in a row, making it one of just seven hotels in Japan, and 143 worldwide, with the top distinction. In September 2026, it kept the rating for the third year running.

The rest of the facilities are just as impressive. The Infuse spa is on the lower level next to the pool and has five treatment rooms, one of them designed for couples. The 20-meter heated indoor pool comes with a hydromassage area, and the gym has panoramic windows. Forbes Travel Guide notes that, unlike many city hotels, this one also caters to families with children.

If you’d prefer something smaller and more low-key, there’s Four Seasons Marunouchi, the brand’s second hotel by Tokyo Station, which reopened in April 2026 after a renovation. For more details on the hotel, rooms and offers, visit the official website.