The decadent Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo crowns the cloud-brushing apex of the new 45-storey Tokyo Midtown Yaesu tower, just opposite Tokyo Station. Against a backdrop of sultry black granite with pops of jewel tones, this place smoothly blends contemporary Italian design and Japanese craftsmanship with a glamorous sprinkling of Bulgari heritage, as dreamt up by Milan’s ACPV Architects Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel. Picture hand-blown Murano lights suspended from temple-like wood ceilings; traditional Japanese textile motifs recreated in Venetian mosaic tiling; and, adorning the walls, photographs of celebrities visiting the Roman flagship in the 1950s, vintage advertising and jewellery sketches. The 98 guest rooms balance Japanese touches (woven bamboo wall vases, modern sliding screens, gold-flecked bed throws by Kyoto kimono textile masters Hosoo) with warm saffron fabric headboards, natural elm wood, Flexform armchairs, Maxalto desks and sexy black granite bathrooms.

Italian cuisine tapping into the minimalist essence of natural flavours is served up on Ginori plates at Il Ristorante – Niko Romito, a light-flooded 40th-floor space in layered shades of light orange textiles, copper net curtains and caramel leathers: while sushi is expertly prepared at the hinoki wood counter of the serene eight-seat Hoseki restaurant, overlooking a small Zen garden. A pool glittering with gold and emerald green mosaic tiles boosts the glamour factor in the Spa; while the 45th-floor Bulgari Bar is a buzzy after-dark escape, with Venetian terrazzo, a curved bar, punchy cocktails and spacious outdoor terraces filled with lemon trees and sweet-smelling jasmine. Danielle Demetriou

This gorgeous Jean-Michel Gathy-designed hotel with 170 rooms and 20 suites spread over the top six floors of the new, 39-storey Otematchi One complex offers the quintessential Tokyo-skyscraper-hotel experience, amplified. The knock-out arrival view – reached by an ear-poppingly fast lift – is of wide-open views of the city’s west side, the sprawling city far below, and of clouds and mountains reflected in a mirror moat that stretches the length of the busy Lobby Lounge (Tokyo’s newest Afternoon Tea obsession). Beyond, you’ll find perfect Neapolitan pizzas at Italian all-day dining restaurant Pigneto and micro-seasonal cocktails at Bar Virtù, which has a high-glam yet timeless feel (glimpse jars of their home-made umeshu in the extensive liquor store behind the library). The French fine-dining restaurant is the one-Michelin-star creation of long-time professional duo, chef de cuisine Guillaume Bracaval and pastry chef Michele Abbatemarco, and serves up light, innovative interpretations of the Japanese terroir, with 95 per cent of ingredients sourced within Japan (see the handy origin map on the menu).

The 20m indoor pool invites a dip, as much for its high-polish metal interior as the surrounding picture windows. A spa with five treatment rooms and a large ofuro soaking tub (with views, of course) complete this hip sanctuary in the sky. Brandon Presser

Designed by Kengo Kuma and the brainchild of hotelier Ian Schrager – co-founder of New York’s Studio 54, long-time Japanophile, and the ultimate sensei in all things hedonistic – it has got the locals talking. And this is – full stop – a party hotel. Without a lick of Japanese-ness about it, the EDITION seeks to unfurl its world famous coolness, like Rapunzel’s braided hair, down onto the streets of Ginza from its cache of ultra-minimal rooms and mod, velvet-clad social spaces. Schrager has minted a reverse Soho House of sorts, where everyone’s welcome to come hang.

The EDITION brand has found its way into a variety of international cities as diverse as Reykjavik and Tampa, lending the Marriott portfolio a certain club appeal, where guests and locals swirl together. Rooms all come with the requisite mother-of-pearl paint swatch, a fluffy blanket accessory, some wooden slatting, and a compelling light fixture: you know your home in an EDITION as soon as you walk in. EDITION devotees should make it a point to visit both properties in the Tokyo collection – stay at this Ginza locale and feel more like a Tokyoite. The Toranomon location is more of an EDITION mothership with massive, party-prone spaces and sky-high views of the sprawling city below; it’ll be like going to a frat party then having the luxury of retreating back to your quieter dorm. Daniella Demetriou

It’s a surreal Tokyo anomaly to find an infinity pool with lush treetop views floating serenely six levels above the ground – especially one in ultra-urban Tomigaya, somewhere between the fashion-forward crowds of Harajuku and the nocturnal neon of Shibuya. Yet this pool – with its taupe sun loungers and curated clientele – is the heartbeat of Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park, a refreshing 25-room escapist haven. This is the third in a hat-trick of Tokyo spaces by Trunk, pioneers of so-called “punk omotenashi” (the latter translates as mindful Japanese hospitality). Alongside Tokyo’s Keiji Ashizawa Design, Copenhagen’s Norm Architects brought the interior elements to life. The softly minimalist pale decor, smooth curves, natural textures, bespoke furniture, and splashes of foliage are testimony to this Japandi DNA.

The Trunk philosophy of community can be found in the buzzy ground-floor Pizzeria e Trattoria L’Ombelico, with its wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas (the garlicky, clam-packed Nojiri is named after Trunk’s charismatic owner, Yoshitaka Nojiri) and pet menu. But the signature space is the sixth-floor guests-only Trunk Pool Club, with its sea-toned tiles, sandblasted concrete walls, crafted cocktails, and oysters on ice. These are best enjoyed poolside or in the sunken fire pit beneath Tokyo’s electric skies. Danielle Demetriou

Like the bulk of luxury brand hotels in Tokyo, the 164-room Andaz Tokyo commands a series of floors at the top of a shared skyscraper – except, unlike most skyscrapers, Toranomon Hills happens to be among the tallest. Check-in reflects this higher perspective as guests arrive on the 51st-floor Andaz Lounge. Instead of starting the process behind a counter, check-in happens in the lounge, offering a relaxed introduction that’s more like a casual conversation than a stiff transaction. Rooms take shape along the skyscraper’s rounded corner. The result? A panorama of floor-to-ceiling windows curve like an IMAX screen around the room’s focal point. Mid-century-inspired interiors boast moss-green carpeting, maroon leather chairs, white walls, and handsome walnut or colour-blocked surfaces.

Don’t miss delightful treatments at AO Spa, like a kombucha tea facial. And do visit Rooftop Bar on the 52nd floor. It’s partly open-air, full of interesting angles (including views over Tokyo Bay, but also the design), and buzzing with tea-infused cocktails. Keith Flanagan

The Ritz-Carlton is the only hotel in its class that’s plunked itself down in an actual neighbourhood instead of a dedicated business district. As such, you get the best of both worlds – an international standard of service when you tuck yourself in at night, but heaps of cute cafes and boutiques to discover during the day.

Ready for some numbers? It commands the top nine floors of Tokyo’s second-tallest building – and windows place you at eye-level with Tokyo’s second-tallest structure, Tokyo Tower. Inside is no less humble, and restaurants and bars often feel rich and handsome with dark finishes, plush chairs, and slick views. Two main views are on offer – the Tokyo Tower view and the Mount Fuji view. Generally, Japanese guests want Fuji (really only visible on clear days with low humidity – it’s far), and visitors are keen to glimpse the city’s orange version of the Eiffel Tower (a few feet taller than the real thing, for those keeping track). Suites are double the size of the rooms and feel like a proper apartment in the sky; a great choice if you’re planning on sticking around for a while. There are two main views on offer – the Tokyo Tower view and the Mount Fuji view. Generally Japanese guests want Fuji (really only visible on clear days with low humidity – it’s far) and visitors are keen to glimpse the city’s orange version of the Eiffel Tower. Brandon Presser

Ryokans are a dying breed in Tokyo hotels, but Hoshinoya manages to revive the style in its own ultra-swish way. Housed in a 17-storey tower in the central business district, it offers all the trimmings of a traditional ryokan: tatami mats throughout the property (even in the lifts, so there’s a strict shoes-off policy upon entering), plush futon mattresses and rooms surrounded by sliding paper screens. Its latticed exterior is designed to resemble a swirling komon pattern and casts beautiful shapes when the sun seeps through.

On each floor, six guest rooms are grouped around a communal lounge area. Tea and seasonal snacks are served here throughout the day, and breakfast (freshly prepared onigiri rice balls) can be eaten here as well – though the in-room option, delivered in a beautiful wooden bento box, is worth the extra fee. It’s worth having dinner at the hotel’s guest-only restaurant which serves colourfully presented Nippon cuisine. Regardless of dinner location, every night should end at the open-air rooftop onsen for soaking while stargazing in the middle of the city – crowning it all is a rooftop onsen with spring water pumped up from almost 5,000 feet below. There are few better places to spend the evening after a day hopping around town. Brandon Presser

When it opened in 2005 in the Shiodome area, Conrad Tokyo neatly fit in among the pantheon of international luxury brands. Almost two decades later, it remains as eye-catching as ever. Smack in the middle of the ground-floor, a glossy red sculpture marks the moodily lit entrance, and hasn’t lost its dramatic effect. Up on the 28th-floor, a tall lobby soars with bold, black lines which are warmed with light boxes dangling from the ceiling. It’s a business hotel, but it’s dressed to impress. The King Room Bay View hides nothing: Windows do, in fact, frame Tokyo Bay. But even better, the panoramic view also includes the lush Hamariku Gardens which flourish at the foot of the hotel. Modern furnishings borrow local motifs, whether they’re the bedside lamps that vibe with Japanese lanterns or the Sumi-e cherry blossoms painted above the bed and woven across the floor’s lightly patterned carpet.

The long, dramatic swimming pool is worth a dip (especially in the earlier hours when light floods through the overhead glass ceiling). Keith Flanagan

Part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection, the Hotel Toranomon Hills has the business traveller in mind, but that shouldn’t deter leisure tourists either. One of the biggest selling points is a dedicated lounge space modelled after an airport lounge. There’s plenty of complimentary coffee and snacks, but the best part is the resting room and shower facilities; it’s perfect if you arrive before check-in (or have a late departing flight) – you can wash off the jet lag upon landing and start your day. Like flipping through a Danish design magazine, the hotel’s decor is pared back without being overly Spartan. We do, however, recommend upgrading to a Premium Room from the entry level offering – it’s worth the extra spend to indulge in a little more space, better views, and a few extra Scandi-style flourishes that’ll go great on your Instagram with a view of Tokyo Tower outside. Brandon Presser

Paper walls, tatami floors, and oversized bathing suites are par for the course in this ryokan in the heart of the city; a fun way to combine the tenets of Japanese hospitality with the spirit of a city hotel, one that doesn’t hold you captive, but let’s you explore your surrounds guilt free then retreat to your throwback digs. The clever idea: to take a few low-floor rooms in an aging hotel and completely reimagine them as a traditional Japanese inn – one that you’d usually find on the hillside of a quaint rural village. The secret perk of staying in one of the 16 Hanakohro rooms is unfettered access to the campus’ collection of executive lounges – one in all three of the towers – each filled with coffee bars, a snack carousel, and plenty of private seating nooks. Within the confines of the ryokan is a fourth lounge where guests can enjoy their oversized Japanese breakfast, and sample complimentary spirits – sake and umeshu – in the early evenings. Brandon Presser