Tokyo EDITION: Ginza Vs. Toranomon Comparison

Sounds like both properties have significant drawbacks, and that's consistent with Edition hotels overall. Do you feel you can justify staying at either of these hotels again, when there are so many superior properties in the city at similar price points?

Stayed at the toranomon one, really felt like it was staffed by 'it's my fist job in hospitality' foreigners... Like the employment criteria was "are you young and good looking and foreign? Great you can be GM"
Everyone is perfectly friendly but most of the staff really didn't seem to know how to do their job
Haven't been to the Ginza one but won't be returning to the Toranomon one

No treadmill and no elliptical but two bikes? Weird.

Out of curiosity, would you rank either of these above the Ritz in Tokyo? Trying to figure out which one to use an 85K certificate.

White I really like the Edition style now I have a feeling they’re not going to age well.

Probably better than some Ws but I bet similar to a lot of older Ritz properties that just feel stuck in time.

How would you rank the decor/ambiance of the various Marriott properties that have some level of standardization (albeit I know they can still vary quite a bit)

Funny, we had an incredible stay at the Toranomon Edition. We didn't use the pool (as your review states it's a little impersonal/weird) but the gym was well equipped, which I'd take over a view any day. There was also someone that replenished the towels every 15 minutes when I was working out and made sure everything was in order. Really solid F+B. We were having drinks at the bar and the F+B manager spent some time with us asking how our stay was, etc. Agree on sense of place though... You might want to check out the HOSHINOYA for a cool hotel that really has a sense of place, although I have to say I preferred both the Edition and Andaz.

London Edition opened in September 2013 - so almost 12 years ago. I would say the style will remain looking relevant for at least another 10+ years... So 20 years is a good run. Before then, the hotel will be due for some kind of renovation that should refresh it. Same with the other Editions.

I LOVE the London Edition. Was just there once again. The staff is always wonderful, the food is amazing and the best vibe.

I stayed at the Ginza Edition and it was very er average and for £1000 a night it really shouldn't be.

@ When in Tokyo -- EDITION definitely isn't a brand that provides great value. So no, in terms of price, I don't think I could justify staying at either property again. But I could see a situation where I might redeem points at the EDITION Ginza.

@ Ani -- So the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo has an amazing club, so if I could pay to upgrade to the club, I might choose that. Otherwise, the hotel has great service, but it's also quite outdated, so it wouldn't be my first choice.

I stayed at the Ginza EDITION last fall and absolutely echo Ben's review here; the service was just absolutely incredible. So attentive, and they genuinely remember you if you're there for multiple days. I certainly made friends with the punch room team by the end of our stay!

But... like... if you were going to spend money on that upgrade, wouldn't you rather take the same $$ and use it at a local bar or restaurant? What am I missing?
I get that the club can be handy if you already have access, but I find them (literally all of them, the good, the bad, the nice and the ugly) to be very sterile with the most uninteresting crowd.

The craziest part is that both hotels share the same GM in Mr. Kaul!

What was incredible, besides someone taking care of the gym (which is what you expect)?

There are so many great hotels in Tokyo, these seem so cookie cutter.

I have stayed in both properties, the main difference is that the staff was more international in Ginza, and the service more of a generic international style, where Toranomon was more Japanese in its service. (I am a Tokyo resident by the way)

I found that the team manning the counter downstairs are very good at recognising and remembering guests. They usually also remember me between stays. I find the teams at both properties very proactive, and a lot of details about preferences and requests are remembered between stays.

on the topic of foreign staff in Japan. Due to the absolute massive growth of tourism, there is a lack of Japanese speaking staff. These seem to be also much more willing to work at Japanese hotels, hence why a Tokyo Station Hotel has 100% Japanese staff, whilst I encountered a lot of foreign staff at international hotel chains. Nothing wrong with that, the same way that is is actually pleasant to have perfectly English speaking staff at Haneda or Narita to guide tourists on arrival.

I’ve been in a lot of nice hotels, but if a gym isn’t staffed, it’s pretty rare to have someone come in every 15 minutes to replenish towels and make sure every. piece. of. equipment. was put back in its exact right place. Especially when I was the only person in the gym each time I used it (didn’t seem to be a high traffic facility).

Agree. Really enjoyed our stay there!

I work near Toranomon, and there really isn't much to do there outside of enjoying the view of Tokyo Tower.

Just stayed at the Toranomon Edition, 5 days during January, simple it’s not worth it to stay in non Japanese brand hotel, you feel more in Las Vegas than in Japan, zero respect to the local culture in so many ways, and besides the hotel is getting old fast, foreign brands want their return on investment fast and out.

I do not agree. Most luxury hotels in Tokyo feature staffed gyms that offer stunning views, top-notch equipment, and adjacent spa facilities. This is certainly true for the Andaz, The Prince Gallery, Park Hyatt Tokyo (formerly), Aman, Ritz-Carlton, and Shangri-La, to name a few. Tokyo is a world leader in gym and spa facilities within luxury hotels; however, the gym at the Edition is extremely quite basic by comparison.

At those rates, a suite room at the Okura Prestige is far nicer and it's a more interesting hotel. A bit of an annoying distance from a station, but you never have to wait for a taxi there.

I've stayed at both properties to burn certificate, and left with 180 degrees conclusion comparing to yours.
1. Ginza really lacks in views and amenities, and the bad pool in Toranomon (style & staff) is better than no pool at all.
2. Toranomon has much better restaurant views, and the fabulous Gold Bar (that's more interesting than the standard Punch Room at Ginza)
3. Toranomon is easier for public transportation, and suite is just way more functional than Ginza one.
4. Service - I had personal issue during both stays, both staff handled it pretty great, but Toranomon edged out, as they really made sure I got my lost stuff back with great efforts.
4.5 Service issue - Ginza delivered bag to my room late and wrong, and put additional bed in the wrong room. Bu I'll give them for waiving the fee and compensate proactively.
5. Value, Toranomon sometimes dropped to 60K+ when you can use 50K FN, that's unbeatable.

For the past few years of my trips to Tokyo, I just don't think staying in Ginza is a good value, unless you look at shopping all day or bars all night.
In the end, I cancelled my second night at Ginza, throwing away a NUA and took a cab to Conrad Tokyo, which I think is almost gold standard of city business hotel.

Also, I'd agree both Editions are downgrades to many Editions worldwide, in sense of design and sense of place, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Singapore, even Shanghai do better than both of them.

I think the take-away from Ben's review(s) and everyone else's comments is to give both hotels in Tokyo a massive swerve and stay somewhere else.

Just here now at the Ginza and I’d totally agree with all the comments - staff were from a multitude of countries and the Japanese employees we interacted with all had American accents - ok .
For $1500 a night I’d like more amenities such as a pool for starters but the staff were all great and the food very fresh and appealing

@Mike I just completed a non-club stay at the Ritz Carlton Tokyo. One glaring issue with not upgrading is the restaurant they serve breakfast in for some reason does not have any protection from the sun, so it is blazingly hot and bright. I had to find shade just to not sweat, even though it was in the 30's Fahrenheit.

@St.JAmes

What do you mean about annoying distance from a metro station? Expedia states that there are 3 stations within 6-9 mins walk. Is this not correct? I have a planned stay at the Okura in September and would change it if the metro distances are further than this.