Six Senses stunner

A review of the luxury hotel group’s first European venture

Tokyo expert Danielle Demetriou says glass and metal blend easily with antiques and tatami rugs in the city’s design hotels

Claska

This is Tokyo’s original design hotel – and arguably still the best. As well as 20 modern, Japaneseinfluenced bedrooms (including a handful of uniquely designed rooms by artists and creatives), there are several floors devoted entirely to creativity, with galleries, artists’ studios and event spaces as well as its own great design shop, DO, and a decked rooftop terrace. Rooms are nirvana for Japanese-design lovers – from the Zen modern spaces with tatami flooring to minimalist pebble-like cushions. Doubles from £145

Andaz Tokyo

On entering via the 51stfloor Andaz Lounge, you find high ceilings with washi paper partitions, lanterns, latticed panels and abstract sculptures. The 164 rooms are chic and contemporary. Among the expanses of Hokkaido walnut wood and white walls there are carpets the colour of matcha green tea, plus tomato-red leather chairs and headboards. The bathrooms are wooden enclaves, but there is a nod to Japan’s love of bathing in the circular baths. Doubles from £350

Gate Hotel

The hotel’s clean-lined design – by the architect Shigeru Uchida – complements its historic surroundings. The 13thfloor lobby sets a cool design tone, with circular leather seating, abstract light sculpture and ceiling- to-floor windows. Walls and floors are dark grey or bottle green alongside splashes of red fabric art by the Marimekko designer Masaru Suzuki. All have views of either Sensoji, the city’s oldest temple complex, or Tokyo Skytree. Doubles from £123

Ryokan Andon

A bold modern makeover of the traditional Japanese ryokan inn. Sliding paper screens and wooden lattices found in traditional inns have been replaced with no-frills rooms compartmentalised by industrial metal and glass. Japanese antiques scattered around the property complement the stark modern metal design. It’s an innovative design, refreshingly targeting budget travellers. Shoes are slipped off at the door and futons unrolled on tatami mats. Bathrooms are communal (alongside a pop-art-tiled hot tub, which can be reserved for a private soak). Doubles from £44

Aman Tokyo

A sleek modern take on traditional Japanese ryokan inns, the rooms are airy, bright and spacious. There are walls of light woods and white washi plus sliding screens of paper-lined glass, while several steps lead down to an expanse of windows lined with day beds framing views across the city. Further Japanese touches include abstract calligraphy scrolls in thick black ink, tatami mat rugs, earthy ceramics and wooden boxes containing freshly cut winter persimmon fruit. Best of all? The nocturnal views across a sparkling Tokyo from the confines of a deep, square-stone bath. Doubles from £518 To read the full reviews and check availability, see: telegraph.co.uk/tokyohotels