In the broader sphere of IHG Hotels & Resorts, ANA InterContinental Tokyo embodies the brand’s strategic shift toward modern, culturally immersive luxury and continued portfolio expansion across Japan. But beyond the growth and development, the hotel represents something more enduring: Tokyo’s ability to honor the past, live in the present and selectively build the future.
Located in the heart of Tokyo, ANA InterContinental Tokyo is surrounded by some of the capital’s most important business, diplomatic, dining and entertainment districts. Akasaka, Roppongi and Kasumigaseki are all within easy reach, placing the hotel close to government offices, consulates and the headquarters of leading Japanese and international corporations.
Yet the hotel itself has become a destination.
With 801 guest rooms, 13 restaurants and bars and 22 banquet and meeting spaces, it has the scale to accommodate everything from individual luxury travelers to major international gatherings. At the same time, its redesigned spaces and increasingly personalized approach allow guests to experience something more intimate.
On our two-night stay, we already noticed the beautiful refinement and efficient reality that will make it exciting to visit regularly.
The hotel underwent a massive transformation that began in 2024, with all 801 guest rooms, dining venues and social spaces reimagined over a 15-month period. Completed in December 2024, the renovation marked a new chapter for a property that is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
The result is a sight to behold—and an experience to share.
For Portfolio General Manager Clive Murray, however, the transformation is not about simply creating something new.
“Our growth is very exciting in this market. The InterContinental is our strongest luxury brand and will continue to be so. Our priority for us is to continue being recognized as a great hotel, continue our legacy as a great piece of history in Tokyo as an iconic hotel,” stated Murray.
Preserving the past, unfolding the future
Fresh from its ambitious 15-month “Icon Reborn” transformation, ANA InterContinental Tokyo enters its landmark 40th anniversary year with a renewed physical identity while remaining anchored in its history.
The connection to ANA is an important part of that history.
“In 2006 IHG went into a joint relationship with ANA, managing all of their hotels. We have 13 co-branded hotels and this started in 2007. It is really a valuable partnership to us,” related Murray.
That long relationship is reflected in the hotel’s identity today—global in its standards, but increasingly conscious of its Japanese setting.
Checking in was a breeze.
We were expecting a long queue because of the Golden Week holidays, but what greeted us was an efficient and smooth front-office operation.
This hotel regularly handles high-volume traffic, especially during the Golden Week holidays. We understood that some of the expected premium arrival niceties may occasionally be delayed under such pressure, but they were there just the same.
Stepping into the ANA InterContinental Tokyo’s lobby on a clear morning during a holiday, it became immediately apparent how a legacy property can beautifully reinvent itself without losing the unforgotten memories of what it was once before.
The new furniture and interiors bring a contemporary refinement to the spaces, while the redesigned Atrium Lounge introduces a sophisticated marketplace concept enhanced by mobile ordering.
It was packed with holiday-goers enjoying a strawberry-themed offering.
A taste of strawberry season
It happened to be strawberry season in Tokyo, and ANA InterContinental Tokyo was embracing it wholeheartedly.
From a lofted second-floor vantage point, our gracious host, Ms. Shibata Masako, who arranged our hotel ocular and personally took us through the property, showed us the Atrium Lounge below.
What immediately caught our attention was the abundance of strawberries incorporated into its seasonal Afternoon Tea.
The fruit appeared everywhere—from pastries and cakes to savory creations and drinks—turning the offering into a colorful celebration of the season.
Later, during happy hour at the Club InterContinental Lounge, the experience became even more relaxed. An abundant selection of fresh fruits—including strawberries, grapes and melon—was available alongside the lounge’s other refreshments.
We found ourselves happily indulging in something wonderfully simple: sitting back, enjoying the surroundings and munching on strawberries and grapes.
Those small moments matter.
For all the sophistication of a luxury hotel, it can sometimes be the uncomplicated pleasures—a seasonal fruit, an afternoon tea, a relaxed conversation—that become the memories guests take home.
A room that quietly speaks Japanese
Our room, 2701, Mizu Suite, offered another glimpse of the hotel’s quiet reinvention.
There was an immediate sense of space upon entering, with the bedroom opening naturally toward a separate sitting area by the window. The design was contemporary but never cold, softened by warm wood, textured surfaces and carefully considered lighting.
The bed became the natural focal point, framed by a softly illuminated headboard with geometric detailing that subtly echoed the hotel’s Japanese design language.
Across the room, a curved sofa and low table created a comfortable corner from which to simply sit and watch Tokyo unfold outside the window.
The concept of “unfolding Tokyo,” which inspired the renovation, is particularly appropriate here. Rather than filling the room with obvious Japanese motifs, the design allows the references to remain understated—expressed through geometry, texture, materials and a sense of calm.
The bathroom continues the same restrained language, combining stone, warm timber, generous mirrors and clean contemporary lines.
Nothing feels excessive. Everything feels considered.
The renovation incorporates Japanese craftsmanship with contemporary elegance, with origami providing inspiration for elements of the guest-room design. It is a thoughtful interpretation of Japanese luxury—one that does not try too hard to prove that it is Japanese.
It simply feels connected to its setting.
Where guests become part of the story
With its long history, ANA InterContinental Tokyo has accumulated something that cannot be created through a renovation budget: institutional memory.
“There are people who have been here for a long time and they are such assets. Typically in Japan people tend to stay longer, but they are the ones who have such deep knowledge to our business and likewise, we have guests who have stayed with us for more than a thousand nights,” Murray explained.
He shared the story of one guest from the United Kingdom who was approaching his 900th room night with the hotel.
“It is wonderful to be able to connect with people.”
For a hotel with 801 rooms, that human connection is particularly meaningful.
The physical transformation may have given the property a new look, but it is the people who have stayed, returned and built relationships with the hotel over the years who provide continuity.
A beautifully designed room can create an impression. Recognition and familiarity can create loyalty.
Luxury is a choice
We were brought to the redesigned business floors—the expanded Club InterContinental Lounge—that occupies both the 35th and 36th floors. On the newly introduced 36th floor, the space draws inspiration from the serenity of a Japanese garden and incorporates elements of the traditional tea ceremony into a contemporary setting high above the city.
Ms. Shibata pointed out that on a bright, clear day, guests can even catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji from the lounge.
In a city as vast and dynamic as Tokyo, having a quiet vantage point from which to look beyond the skyline offers its own kind of luxury.
Guests staying in Club InterContinental Rooms and Suites enjoy personalized service, bespoke breakfast and all-day refreshments, while the lounge itself provides panoramic views of Tokyo’s skyline.
But what stood out most was Murray’s philosophy of luxury.
“Everybody thinks luxury is such an involved process. Actually, it should be choice, it should not just be giving you the best service. Choice is one of the most important part of luxury, not forcing people to behave in a certain way. We want to create convenience for the guest, not for us.”
Guests want personalization, but they also want freedom. They want service when they need it and privacy when they do not.
At ANA InterContinental Tokyo, technology is increasingly being used to support that philosophy.
“In the near future, you can check-in from your phone through a cloud-based system before you arrive and all you have to do is pick up your keys. We have enlisted the services of Canary for that,” Murray revealed.
For a property of this size, technology is not simply about being modern. It is about making the operation more responsive.
“We don’t use phones anymore,” Murray explained.
The hotel is also implementing a tablet check-in system in the Club Lounge, particularly where personalized service is expected.
“We don’t want people lining up. We can complete the online process by using the tablet. As an added convenience,” he said.
The principle is simple: technology should make hospitality feel more seamless, not more complicated.
A city within the city
The property’s scale also makes it a formidable MICE destination.
With 22 banquet and meeting spaces of varying sizes—including a ballroom capable of hosting up to 2,000 delegates—ANA InterContinental Tokyo can accommodate major conferences, corporate events and social celebrations while maintaining its luxury positioning.
Its location strengthens that proposition.
The hotel sits within walking distance of Akasaka, Roppongi and Kasumigaseki, putting guests close to government institutions, diplomatic missions and major corporate headquarters, while also providing easy access to Tokyo’s dining, entertainment and cultural attractions.
For leisure travelers, meanwhile, the hotel can function almost as a city within the city.
There are 13 restaurants and bars, from Cascade Cafe’s international buffet with interactive cooking stations to the Atrium Lounge’s signature seasonal Afternoon Tea.
The Geneva Lobby Bar provides a more intimate setting for craft cocktails, while MIXX Bar & Lounge on the 36th floor offers panoramic city views, dining and drinks in a more contemporary social environment.
There is also a 24-hour fitness centre and an outdoor swimming pool available during the summer season.
Together, these facilities give guests multiple ways to experience the property according to their own preferences.
A taste of Japan still to come
On our final evening, we sat down at Unkai, the hotel’s traditional Japanese restaurant, for an eight-course Kaiseki dinner overlooking its Japanese garden.
The setting was serene, the presentation refined and the meal a satisfying expression of Japanese fine dining.
But that experience deserves a story of its own.
Our Unkai Kaiseki dinner—story coming soon.
The people behind the experience
An Australian national, Clive Murray brings more than 25 years of hospitality experience across six countries in the Asia-Pacific region. He joined IHG Hotels & Resorts in 2016 and has since held leadership roles across Malaysia, Thailand and Japan. Since May 2025, he has served as Portfolio General Manager of ANA InterContinental Tokyo and On-Property Director of Operations, Luxury & Lifestyle, Japan. He also oversees ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort and ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort in Okinawa.
At ANA InterContinental Tokyo, Murray is guiding the property through its next chapter following its extensive transformation—balancing its nearly 40-year legacy with the evolving expectations of today’s luxury traveler.
Looking toward the next chapter
For ANA InterContinental Tokyo, that future is already taking shape.
The 2024 transformation has given the property a new physical language. Japanese-inspired design provides a stronger sense of place. Technology is quietly changing how guests interact with the hotel. The expanded Club InterContinental experience raises the bar for personalized stays, while the hotel’s restaurants, bars and event spaces continue to serve both travelers and Tokyo residents.
Yet beneath all of that remains something much harder to renovate: the relationship between a hotel and the people who return to it.
After nearly 40 years, ANA InterContinental Tokyo is entering its next chapter not by erasing what came before, but by building on it.
