The Imperial Hotel launched a Serviced Apartments plan for guests who want more than simply a stay, but more of a lifestyle with hotel services. Attracted to the idea, guests rushed to get reservations as soon as the plan was introduced in the morning edition of Nihon Keizai Shimbun on February 1, 2021. By the end of the day, the rooms were sold out, making the news.
I was one of the lucky ones and got my dream ticket to live in an Apartment at the Imperial for two months from March 15th, the day my new life would begin. What kind of living would Japan’s leading hotel offer with serviced apartments? I found out for myself and will report based on my own experience and interviews with the hotel staff.

Day One. With one small suitcase in my hand and a heart filled with expectations, I walked into the hotel and sheepishly edged my way to the lobby, when a hotelman approached me with a smile. Without hesitation, he ushered me through a smooth check-in. What was especially notable was the simplicity of the procedure. Usually, when you sign a contract for an apartment, you need various documents and most likely a screening before moving in. This time, all I had to do was check in. The easiness made me worry for them a bit, but without a doubt, it was wonderful.

I was swiftly shown to my room, which had a bay window that immediately revealed the beautiful greenery in Hibiya Park. There couldn’t be a better location in Tokyo, with the metropolitan all-stars, Yūrakuchō, Ginza, Shinbashi, and Marunouchi all within walking distance. Most other places are just a quick taxi ride away.
Just beyond Hibiya Park is the Imperial Palace, bustling with runners from all over the city on weekends.

The five cardboard boxes that I had sent to the hotel in advance (including my work equipment) was all the luggage I needed. I unpacked, found a place for everything, and in just a few hours I was completely moved in! My furniture, appliances, and internet connection were already in place.
This easiness is the reason I love serviced apartments so much. It's so nice to be able to start living right after you arrive.

However, this is a hotel, so the room doesn’t come with a kitchen or a washing machine. You’re not allowed to use cooking apparatus that might cause fire. The hotel says that supplementing facilities was a challenge for them.
One of my biggest concerns was what I was going to eat during my stay, but the subscription meal service solved that problem. It lets you enjoy a whole array of gourmet foods, from the famous Imperial Hotel brand beef curry to salads, soups, and desserts, in the comfort of your own room. The table setting is an example of the hotel quality, with a single rose gently placed on a crisp white tablecloth and a clean-cut waiter delivering the meal. How elegant can you get?
The hotel also houses the fine French Cuisine Les Saisons and other famous restaurants and bars, irresistible for foodies. You can pick and choose your type of luxury according to your TPO and budget, which is something only a hotel of this grandeur can offer.
Of course, in such a convenient neighborhood there is no shortage of restaurants, even if you do dine out 365 days a year.

You can also get a flat-rate subscription service for the Imperial Hotel’s famously meticulous dry cleaning. This service is especially valuable for business people who like to start their day looking smart in a fresh suit.

Each floor has a common room called the Community Room, equipped with washing machines and ironing boards. There are microwave ovens and toasters too, and a selection of breads and pastries served each morning for you to heat or toast and take back to your room, as you like.
The washing machines are fully automatic with a dryer function, leaving your clothes fluffed up in a matter of three hours. Without the hassle of having to hang clothes out to dry, I never felt the inconvenience of not having a balcony or clothes line.

The serviced apartments are on the upper floors of the tower building, which is in a T-shape, looking from above. This means that each room has a different view. If you’re into the big city life, I suggest you to get a room on the Ginza side. Turn the lights down low and take in the night view of Ginza glittering like a jewel box before your very eyes.
One disappointment though, was the occasional echo from the train tracks passing right below the building. Noise can be a difficult problem to solve, for a building that has seen so many years.

For fitness, there’s a training room with a great view and a heated indoor pool just a few floors down, making it easy to slip some exercise in, especially when there’s not much time. This was an unexpected byproduct of hotel life, as I was actually able to stay better fit than before. Creating an environment for busy businesspeople to easily get exercise will likely become even more in demand now that telework is increasing.

What made my stay even richer was the concierge, who was always there, ready to understand and respond to various requests from guests with precise suggestions. The concierge knew everything about the hotel vicinity and above all, showed professionalism with advice based on the concierge’s own experience, which gave me confidence.

The feeling that I’m left with after spending two months in a hotel’s serviced apartment is that the experience is very different from that of an ordinary serviced apartment and I have hopes that this type of living will become more established in the future.
Initially, I thought that not having a kitchen would be a disadvantage but soon realized that it is not a requirement for guests who want to enjoy the non-daily luxury of living in a home-away-from-home will all the comforts of a hotel. Being able to take advantage of the comprehensive strengths that only a hotel can offer, including conscientious hospitality by members of the staff, sets it far apart from a regular serviced apartment. I would like to see this evolve into something that offers guests a choice of hotel tailored or regular serviced apartments depending on the balance of elements they seek for their stay.

For the time being, people will probably be searching within the big picture that defines a serviced apartment, but five or ten years from now, it might be called something completely different. I departed with a sense of pride that I was there to witness the beginning as well as a sentimental fondness, as I watched my dream life at the Imperial Hotel come to a close.