THE HOTEL OKURA Tokyo, Japan 🇯🇵【4K Hotel Tour & Honest Review 】Where A Love Affair Began

How's The Hotel Okura in Tokyo, Japan? Check out this honest and unsponsored 4K Tour & Review of this newly rebuilt luxury hotel famous for it's interiors and hospitality in central Tokyo.
🎥 In This Video:
-Location Info
-Full Prestige King Room Tour
-Dinner at Yamazato
-Hotel History & Rebuild
-All Common Areas
-Starlight Bar
-Full Amenities
-Full Breakfast Buffet Spread at Orchid Restaurant
-Indoor Pool
-Extensive Gardens
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💰 Nightly Rate
Price Paid: $426.87 USD
Category: Prestige King Room
Inclusions: Breakfast, $100 F&B Credit
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-- Video Chapters --
0:00 Welcome to Tokyo
00:27 Hotel Info
00:57 Hotel Exterior & Entrance
02:15 Prestige Wing Lobby
02:49 Original Hotel
03:54 Famous Lobby Lounge
05:38 Hotel Location & Map
06:11 Heritage Wing Lobby
07:00 Walking to my Room
07:45 Full Prestige King Room Tour
14:18 Need to Know FAQs
14:35 Exterior Gardens & Courtyard
17:24 Sunset & Day to Night Transition
18:21 Yamazato Japanese Restaurant
19:22 Dinner at Yamazato
21:36 Starlight Bar (Top Floor)
22:21 Turn Down Service
22:48 Morning at Okura
23:00 Heading to the Pool
23:19 The Indoor Pool
23:52 The Orchid Restaurant
24:10 Full Breakfast Buffet
24:10 Final Thoughts
25:52 The Flip Flop Score
Music featured in this video is licensed under an Artlist Unlimited License.
This is NOT a promotional video. I pay for all of my flights and hotels (and I always tell you how much!) so I can be as honest and impartial as possible. I do not receive any special treatment that wouldn’t otherwise be publicly accessible, in fact, the hotels and airlines have no idea about my visit and that's the way I like it!
#okura #tokyo #hotelreview

[@kentokyo]

Your video on Okura is truly something special. You’ve brilliantly captured the essence of Okura, partly because of your incredible insight and personal experience staying at the old one. Your considerate manners, something the Japanese truly value, shine through in your content. Growing up in Tokyo, I’ve had countless dinners at Okura with my family. I’ve explored all the restaurants, known a few staff members by name, and even witnessed the doorman recalling guests by their car’s license plate-memorizing over 2000 license plates and guests’ names. I vividly recall having lunch with my parents at the restaurant a few days after the renovation news broke. Most of the staff seemed unaware that an entire building was going to be rebuilt. Like many other generations of fans, my family was saddened to hear about the demolition of the old Okura, and there’s still a lingering bitterness about the new one. One thing I miss is the casual “terrace cafe” type of all-day dining spot with a view of the garden. It would be great if I could see you cover other hotels in Japan. Nevertheless, Okura is fortunate to have a guest like you. By the way, I’d love for you to make a video on Tawaraya in Kyoto.

[@tfft]

Appreciate that!

[@Mertzgaard]

Just wanted to drop you a note to say a huge thank you for the review of the Okura Tokyo. I just got back and it was hands down the best hotel experience I've ever had. This review is spot on! Thanks again for making my trip unforgettable.

[@tfft]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@lamluu4964]

I’m an early subscriber (from when your videos didn’t have voice narration), and recognized immediately that your videography and content as well as your integrity with your audience were excellent. So, whatever direction you decide to take your channel, I’m sure everyone will continue to rely on you for thoughtful, informative, entertaining and unbiased content. Please keep up the good work.

[@tfft]

Very much appreciate that 🙏🏻

[@IMInnocent07]

Brilliant video. I am hopelessly addicted to this channel. I wish all of your videos were of this length or even longer. Keep up the good work.

[@tfft]

I wish KZbin wished that as well 😅 Thanks for watching 🩴

[@yamuiemata]

Quite simply this is amazing...the attention to detail is exquisite , precisely what you would expect from Japan

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@markshen3280]

Tokyo OKURA HOTEL has a more updated and rebuilt structure that is so different than what it was in the late 60s when I was there. It looks so much more elegant 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🏨🗾

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@user-uj5yv2gz7m]

Another great review. It was beautiful. I did laugh a few times: “fancy people” and “ have to take a mortgage to eat”.

[@tfft]

😉

[@michaelgeary4763]

Lovely review of the new Okura. I was fortunate enough to have stayed there before the old one closed. I think it’s a great reinvention of the original.

[@tfft]

Agree! Thanks for watching 🩴

[@pkurt101]

To your point about filming, I would have loved to see what a Japanese room looked like and how it is different from the western room. Thanks for your videos!

[@tfft]

In a hotel like this, would have loved to show it! Thanks for watching 🩴

[@ianmounstephen3403]

A wonderful review, Kevin; beautifully written and narrated. Surely the channel will grow and thrive!

[@tfft]

Appreciate that! Thanks for watching 🩴

[@wellsw3]

You've brought your reviews to another new level. This is a master piece. Thank you!

[@tfft]

Thanks very much for the support ❤️ Love it when someone fully appreciates the effort that goes into some of the videos.

[@sqdca]

Wonderful video. I stayed here in June this year and agree with everything you said. It’s definitely the authentic and holistic Japanese experience that sets the Okura apart from the other players. The Okura is a great example of the Japanese concept “Ma” (sense of space), which can be felt in the service and the spatial design.

[@tfft]

Thanks for sharing ✈️

[@jenniferrahman6960]

Beautiful hotel, so Japanese. I can sense how peacefully quiet it is in that spacious lobby area. Another very enjoyable review!

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@flightofancy1]

Thanks for this amazing review Kevin.

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@paulkeay5032]

What a wonderful looking hotel - so understated

[@tfft]

Agree! Thanks for watching 🩴

[@treckerdude]

Great review on the Okura ! As usual, the review was very thorough and informative. I also want to add that the new intro is "clean and smooth" and I definitely prefer this version over the previous. Thanks for the excellent work....keep 'em coming !

[@tfft]

Appreciate that! Thanks for watching 🩴

[@glenny5740]

Wonderful review. I always enjoy watching your videos, not only are they beautiful to watch, but I learn so much about the properties you review, the history, concept etc. Thanks for taking us along.

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@howardbaldwin1226]

Oh boy! What a fabulous review of a stunning hotel experience. Thanks so much for sharing Kevin. Cheers.

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@Hiro-eb4zx]

Fantastic review!

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@sbor90]

Outstanding production quality, as usual

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@jiawoo2422]

Thanks very helpful in our trip planning ❤

[@tfft]

Enjoy your trip 🗺️

[@losofia3748]

It is incredibly refreshing to find someone writing reviews who really *gets* Japan and Japanese aesthetics. This video (the parts about silence, dining alone, and “wa” etc.) and your ANA flight review are sooooo… relaxing to watch. It was like taking an onsen bath. My husband and I got goosebumps when watching them. You’ve captured the best and most subtle aspects of what makes Japanese hospitality/restaurants great. 99% of YTbers miss that. Thank you again. Subscribed. (And would love to hear your take on the Amans and Ritz-Carlton’s all over Japan.)

[@tfft]

Thanks very much for that! Please share this video with 120000 of your closest friends so that I have a reason to make more beautiful Japanese content like this (besides the mega Japanese transit series I just filmed!)

[@speedbirdrun]

Wonderful video providing with truth the sense of details of this hotel.

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@killerqueen9298]

Hi Kevin. I could tell from your voice and the choice of vocabulary that you really liked this hotel. It looks awesome. I hate noisy hotels so would probably feel right at home here. Yet another fabulous review, thank you.

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@DeniseSommerRoque]

Absolutely LOVE this review Kevin, you really did the hotel justice! It simply is such a pleasure to watch (which I am doing now for the third time 😊). All the background information is so interesting and your videoing, editing and narration bring it to the next level. I already consider this review a masterpiece on your channel ❤

[@tfft]

Really appreciate that. I’m *trying* to nudge the content in a slightly more cinematic direction- but doing so without just producing beautiful, but boring, content is a challenge 😂

[@DeniseSommerRoque]

@@tfft I have yet to discover a boring video on your channel!!!

[@kawaiipanda1974]

Great video! Just booked a room at this hotel and can't wait to see it. Your video was very honest and clear. Keep up the good work!

[@tfft]

Enjoy your trip 🗺️

[@shakesnbake]

Stunning! I was convinced it was from the same group as the Hotel New Otani - where I stayed on my first and only trip to Tokyo - but they are not. Will be adding this to the shortlist for my trip later this year. Thanks Kevin. Great review as always!

[@tfft]

Not the same group but they are both considered to be 2 of the three “Great Hotels” in Japan- the other being the Imperial. Thanks for watching 🩴

[@plasmaturkey48]

Beautifully reflective review Kevin ❤❤❤

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@giosalinas]

this channel is such a gem, keep up the good work!

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@iandenning534]

Brilliant and Kevin. Keep up this high standard of reviews.

[@tfft]

Appreciate that! Thanks for watching 🩴

[@ninascherini4410]

Just wonderful Kevin.

[@tfft]

Appreciate that!

[@oscarwinston1159]

I have stayed here twice. Loved it!

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@MegOkuraJazz]

Classic and modern luxury.

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@fredricgrethel1717]

Kevin, just love your reviews. You are particularly great at hotel reviews. They seem a bit more free flowing compared to the air reviews imho. Keep up the amazing work.

[@tfft]

Thanks very much. Hotel reviews lend themselves to be much more flexible. I could show you the experience in just about any order and it could still flow well. Flights on the other hand, it would be weird if I showed you the meal and then checked in and then toured the bathroom haha. Thanks for watching 🩴

[@fredricgrethel1717]

@@tfft Kevin, I totally understand and agree. However, I do think that the flight reviews could use a little more “color commentary” specifically on the crews and the culture of the airline would help. You touch on these, but the check list of items that you correctly cover sometimes leaves less room for these comments. In the hotels it is totally different. In any case, I truly value your work and I appreciate your professionalism and passion for these reviews. Thank you!

[@poshbabe]

I can’t stop laughing seeing your “need a mortgage to eat” at room for improvement section😂😂😂 it sure looks like it’s next level of prestige!

[@tfft]

😅😅 Thanks for watching 🩴

[@spoonkiller2m]

You have to try out the Okura Manila, particularly the Hinoki Tub room!

[@bobbyc404]

Nice video and it helped confirm my initial thoughts about this hotel. I will be there for 2 nights (Heritage room) next month (Feb 2024). Will get to experience for myself.

[@tfft]

Enjoy your trip 🗺️

[@sonnysantino7849]

Amazing content

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@rdzilla]

I stayed here in 2012 and 2013. The old hotel had a certain romance that hooked me from the minute I stepped foot in it. I would love to see the new version of the hotel. Thank you for sharing the new hotel.

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@taewonhwang5416]

Kudos to extensive research

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@brilliantbutblue]

The facade of the building looks like any other 1970's high rise office block. The lobby area gave me a similar vibe. However, looking beyond that, l see the understated sophistication and get what they intended to achieve 👍

[@tfft]

Funny how (while I agree it’s a boring exterior) it does look quite modern to me on the outside.

[@fonziegee]

Love this. What a wonderful place and great narration. Reminds me of the Aman Tokyo I saw in another vid, im sure they maybe borrowed ideas from the Okura and not the other way around. Fascinating place, there must be strange vibe as usually 6AM isn’t a busy time at any hotel pool i’ve been to lol. The only thing i don’t get about this design is the grey brick wall they use like in the bathroom, to me that doesn’t seem pleasant but idk maybe needs to be seen in person. Japan seems to have a cultural aspect of really caring about what they do for the purpose of doing it not for the economic return, marketing etc like all of. us in the west. I hope i get to see this magnificent place in person someday.

[@tfft]

Medium to dark grays are pretty common in higher end Japanese hotels. I actually really like it and I think it’s meant to evoke an outdoor onsen where you’d find lots of slate and river rock- all in the same color palate.

[@_DML_]

One heeeeeeeell of a view on that room.

[@tfft]

Agree! Thanks for watching 🩴

[@charliebrown5]

Thank You ✈️

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@well-blazeredman6187]

Get enough sea-food there, Kevin? Good review.

[@tfft]

Honestly didn’t realize the entire meal was seafood until I was editing haha.

[@Scotts-CruiseTravel]

Goose Bumps. Thank you.

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@flightofancy1]

Gorgeous hotel and room. Always thought okura in Tokyo was going to be old school and dated but this is the exact opposite. They should pay you for the amazing video. Far cry from the really sad okura in bkk. Thanks for this.

[@tfft]

Agree about BKK. Thanks for watching 🩴

[@robichonphilippe6442]

Love this hotel best period

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@Unazaki]

That is a most impressive hotel! Definitely something I will have to consider when I head there for a holiday in the future. Perhaps I might choose to split my stays between The Okura Tokyo and Mandarin Oriental Tokyo (my original first choice)! The rooms and food really do look really good! Regarding your consideration about getting some special priviledged access, a few friends of mine who work in the industry have told me that, apart from special influencers, sometimes their hotels do grant special priviledges to high paying and/or long time guests. As I understand from them, these benefits can range from the relatively mundane such as extra dining / spa credits or a free complimentary night, to the really extravagent such as being allowed to have a full blown feather pillow fight in the room itself for a photo /video shoot. I'm not sure if its something that is applicable to you however, since you'd have to be someone who either pays a lot of money by staying for a long time or in a very expensive suite, or be someone who is such a regular guest that the concierge can literally recognise you by sight alone.

[@tfft]

Yeah, I am neither a long time guest or a big spender by any means in any single hotel haha. Sound like the Vegas treatment. I'm not worried about how to get access, frankly it's very easy to do and even if a hotel denied me, I'd still be able to do my video the old fashioned way and wouldn't hold it against them.

[@markshen3280]

The word ‘OKURA’ means “Large Warehouse” ; the name is found mostly in western Japan, and is listed in the SHINSEN SHOJIROKU. There are many unrelated bearers, some with samurai connections, who took the name from places of residence.

[@tfft]

Thanks for sharing ✈️

[@joeychan6300]

Better try Four Seasons Tokyo Otemachi and Aman Tokyo next time. Both are fabulous luxury hotels that reflect the ritzy urban Tokyo.

[@tfft]

And both with ritzy baseline prices to match haha. Thanks for watching 🩴

[@DeniseSommerRoque]

Thanks

[@DeniseSommerRoque]

VPN to the rescue 🎉

[@tfft]

You’ll learn you can’t live without it in these parts 😅

[@jaideotandon2925]

Love the calm environment of this hotel, brilliantly captured. Im a budding content creator and I want to know what do you use to shoot these videos?

[@tfft]

I use all iPhones. Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@vjayleo2142]

Great hotel, but very expensive. I also really like the info at the beginning of your video.

[@tfft]

The price varies wildly, more than most hotels I've ever tracked. $350/night up to $1100/night in the same month at times. Thanks for watching 🩴

[@jrlthetourist]

Great video. Ironically enough, the shooting constraints you faced lent the video a sense of what I imagine the hushed atmosphere of the Okura must be like. That being said, having the ability to shoot more freely would definitely be a good thing from my perspective as a viewer. I certainly understand that you're not doing the stereotypical influencer thing of trading free nights for fluff coverage of a property. So, I'd trust you to keep it honest in your reviews, especially at those special properties where there's really no need to embellish.

[@tfft]

Thanks very much for that 🙏🏻

[@ReinHart006]

Great video! Is it convenient to travel from from the train station to the hotel with couple luggages for my wife and I? I remember you mentioned it’s around 10 min walk? Are there convenient stores close by?

[@tfft]

There’s a 7-Eleven and Lawson very close by. Depends on which airport your coming from but if from Narita I’d say take NEx to Tokyo station and take Uber from there. Thanks for watching 🩴

[@ulitkabob7567]

Отель превосходен. Минимализм как он есть! Роскошно! Надеюсь вам понравился ужин из морепролуктов? Подача обалденная!

[@tfft]

Ужин был вкусным. Спасибо за просмотр видео 🙏🏻

[@manis1852]

Stayed here when my booking at the ANA hotel nearby was cancelled, in 1996.

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@bonbonS1969]

This is an amazing hotel and it's for a very specific crowd. I am shocked by how much footage you have and I can tell how hard it must be to get them. The dinner was a bit too basic tho for an Omakase style menu. They can at least throw in a slice of fatty blue fin tuna sashimi.

[@tfft]

There were plenty more expensive dinner options haha. Thanks for watching 🩴

[@williamcurtin1036]

Just took a look at the restaurants for my upcoming reservation. You aren’t joking about needing a mortgage to fund a meal here lol.

[@tfft]

😅

[@sillypiffer]

Recommend The Tokyo EDITION Toranomon Hotel👍It’s just walking distance from Okura Tokyo

[@tfft]

On my list! Thanks for watching 🩴

[@cnlin62]

I stayed in the old Okura Tokyo once, the Sishi Restaurant was outstanding. Not sure if it’s still around in the new Okura.

[@tfft]

The Japanese restaurant is in the video 😉 Thanks for watching 🩴

[@kentokyo]

@cnlin62 You must be talking about the legendary Sushi restaurant Kyubei (Okura branch). Yes, Kyubei is still there, but it's likely to leave due to the unfavorable location assigned in the new Okura, right across from the shoe polishing spot. Kyubei sued Okura over this matter. The issue extends beyond the location; Okura has even brought Kyubei’s rival sushi restaurant into the sushi section in its Japanese restaurant, Yamazato, creating a well-known scandal in Japan. Although Okura doesn’t show Kyubei sushi restaurant on their homepage, which is distasteful, Kyubei is situated on the 4th floor of the Plestage Tower. Kyubei’s main store in Ginza remains outstanding and traditional.

[@michael57603]

For me, nothing matches Japanese design and service. Always thoughtful, always elegant.

[@tfft]

Agreed! Thanks for watching 🩴

[@williamwang5575]

I like 🇯🇵

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@markprovan4332]

Japanese perfection.

[@tfft]

Thanks for watching 🩴

[@molnarmihaly951]

Have you ever thought about sometimes giving a sneak peak at the end to guess for a flight?

[@tfft]

I did, but the flights would make it much easier to guess unless I used abbreviations. For example: “Singapore Airlines Business Class Sydney to Singapore” … even with just a couple letters filled in, many would be likely to guess it straight away. I could do “SQ SYD-SIN” but then I’m excluding a large portion of viewers who don’t know IATA codes and such.

[@molnarmihaly951]

Yes you’re right. But 9/10 times I don’t know the hotel brand, not to mention the beach/hotel foreign nickname. I think some others are like me too, better at flights, while some are opposite.

[@tfft]

Ok, I’ll give it a try (will probably be a month before it makes it to an actual video though).

[@petek5523]

Beautiful hotel, but not my cuppa tea but beautiful nonetheless. And the neighborhood seems a bit straight laced for me. Great video though, thanks 😊

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@brandrange2288]

It’s Bento, not Benito. Otherwise, amazing video. Bravo.🎉

[@tfft]

I said "Benito" or it was in the subtitles?

[@brilliantbutblue]

"Influencers" but not the Tik Tok kind. I'm old enough to remember when an influencer was an important person, not the trash spruiking MLM products on the gram 👍

[@tfft]

I’m going to try to coin a new term to replace ‘Influencers’ and ‘Key Opinion Leaders’… my suggestion is BPFDSI (Bought and Paid for Doom Scrolling Inducers). ☺️

[@MusicAvi8Tr]

Can you finish your comment “prefer to travel alone & better yet dine alone”. Curious why? & how come?

[@tfft]

Didn’t say I prefer to dine alone, just that I don’t have a problem doing it like many people have. As for traveling, time is finite. It may be the only time I ever come to (fill in the blank) and I’m going to see and do what I want to see and do, the way I want to do it. If it’s a place I’ve been to already then I’m much more open with sharing the experience.

[@MusicAvi8Tr]

@@tfft thanks for clarifying, and I tend to agree. My 2nd and final time traveling with a group of 45 to Europe was the straw that broke doing that again vs. solo travel or travel with my small family or a couple friends.

[@tiantangyu12]

What a boring ass room

[@tfft]

Were you expecting neon lights in a high end Japanese hotel...? lol

[@elfacisco]

winner of most boring monochrome hotel without imagination

[@tfft]

You’re fun