10/10
“Outstanding.”
Impeccable service, outstanding facilities, fabulous rooms.
Tokyo · head to head
Palace Hotel Tokyo vs Mandarin Oriental
Priced on the same night, 2026-10-10: Palace Hotel Tokyo is $12 a night less. They are 1.1 km apart.
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The honest take
Book Palace Hotel Tokyo if you want the higher guest rating (9.6 vs 9.4) and don't mind paying more, $1,361 against $1,248. Mandarin Oriental is cheaper, has far more reviews behind its score (910 vs 434), and offers a hot tub and pet allowance that Palace lacks. Palace's edge is a pool, which Mandarin doesn't have. Both sit in central Tokyo, 1.1km apart, so location isn't the deciding factor - facilities and mood are.
The look and the feel
Palace Hotel Tokyo
Palace Hotel Tokyo sits low and long across from the Imperial Palace moat, rebuilt in 2012 on the site of the old postwar hotel, with interiors that favour quiet horizontal lines, timber screens, and views out over pine trees and water rather than skyline. The lobby is hushed rather than dramatic, done in warm stone and wood, built for diplomats and old-money regulars rather than for photographs. Seven restaurants spread through the building mean the place functions almost as a small self-contained quarter of Marunouchi, and the mood throughout is restrained, formal, unmistakably Japanese in its use of space and silence.
Palace suits guests who want old-school calm, palace views, and a hotel that feels like part of the city's institutional fabric rather than a spectacle.
Mandarin Oriental
Mandarin Oriental occupies the upper floors of the Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, so the whole experience is vertical: lobby and check-in far above the street, restaurants and bar with glass walls looking over the city, spa and gym pushed up to the 37th and 38th floors so you soak or work out with Tokyo laid out beneath you. The aesthetic leans toward polished modern luxury with Japanese detailing worked in through screens, lacquer tones, and considered lighting rather than traditional low-slung architecture. It draws a crowd that wants the view and the wellness floor as much as the room itself.
Mandarin Oriental suits guests chasing the skyline view, the high-altitude spa, and a slightly more contemporary, sociable luxury hotel experience.
Choosing the cheaper Mandarin Oriental means giving up the pool that Palace has, though it gains a hot tub and pet-friendliness that Palace doesn't offer, so it's less a straight downgrade than a different set of amenities.
Palace Hotel Tokyo is the more beautiful place to actually sit still in, with its moat view and unhurried architecture, while Mandarin Oriental wins on spectacle and altitude rather than atmosphere.
The numbers
| Palace Hotel Tokyo | Mandarin Oriental | |
|---|---|---|
| Price, same night | $1,341 | $1,353 |
| Guest rating | 9.6/10 | 9.4/10 |
| Reviews | 434 | 910 |
| Stars | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Facilities on our list | 6 | 7 |
| Distance apart | 1.1 km |
What one has that the other doesn't
Only Palace Hotel Tokyo has
- Pool
Only Mandarin Oriental has
- Pet
- Hot tub
What guests actually say
Palace Hotel Tokyo
- impeccable, helpful staff
- excellent location near station
- great views and balconies
- extra charge for sauna
- TV a bit out of date
“-the staff was just super nice and helpful”
Mandarin Oriental
- excellent location
- attentive, friendly service
- comfortable rooms
“Very good service and all the people there are amazing”
Mandarin Oriental guests seem slightly happier overall, as reviews cite no real complaints while consistently praising service and location, whereas Palace Hotel Tokyo guests note minor gripes about the sauna fee and dated TVs.
Rooms & rates, 2026-10-10
Palace Hotel Tokyo
- Deluxe Room 1 King Bed King Only 45SQM 484SQFTRoom Only$1,341
- Deluxe Room 1 King Bed King Only 45SQM 484SQFTRoom Only · free cancellation$1,344
- Deluxe King RoomRoom Only$1,374
Mandarin Oriental
- Deluxe RoomRoom Only$1,353
- Deluxe Twin Room(2 Twin Beds)Room Only$1,353
- Deluxe King RoomRoom Only$1,353
In guests' own words
Palace Hotel Tokyo
10/10
-the staff was just super nice and helpful -one of the best looking hotel I've ever been to. -amazing view and to have a balcony in your room is just fantastic and rare in Tokyo. -5 min walk to Tokyo Station
-TV was a bit out of date
About each
Palace Hotel Tokyo
Luxurious 5-Star Accommodation in Marunouchi Business District Elegant Rooms and Top-Notch Amenities Indulge in spacious rooms with modern amenities including a large LCD TV, blu-ray/DVD player, and a spa-like en suite bathroom. Stay connected with free WiFi and enjoy the convenience of a safety box, fridge, and electric kettle in every room. Dining…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Mandarin Oriental
Luxurious Accommodations with Breathtaking Views Indulge in the lavish 5-star experience at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, where spacious rooms offer stunning city views and modern amenities, all designed with Japanese aesthetics in mind. Ultimate Relaxation and Wellness Unwind at the award-winning spa on the 37th floor or enjoy a workout with a view at the…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Facilities, in full
Palace Hotel Tokyo
- WiFi available
- Free WiFi
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Fitness center
- Swimming pool
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Heating
- Terrace
- Lift / Elevator
- Laundry
- Luggage storage
- Safety deposit box
Mandarin Oriental
- Fitness facilities
- WiFi available
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Fitness center
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Heating
- Pets allowed
- Lift / Elevator
- Laundry
- Luggage storage
- Express check-in/check-out
- Safety deposit box
Where they are
Chiyoda-ku Marunouchi 1-1-1Chuo-ku Nihonbashi Muromachi 2-1-1
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Rates are live for 2026-10-10, one night, two guests, fetched together so the two are comparable. Facilities and reviews are from each hotel's own listing. The honest take is written by our AI from the listing, the reviews and what is widely known about each hotel. HotelDupe earns a commission if you book, which never changes the verdict. All comparisons