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3-7-1-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku; 81-3/ 5322-1234; tokyo.park.hyatt.com; doubles from $450.
Overview177 refined rooms on the top 14 floors of a 52-story tower in Shinjuku—a hub for nightlife and shopping in the northwest part of the city.
GuestsMoguls, couples, and other faithful regulars.
HighlightsRooms are stocked with CD's and books, and your room key comes on a sterling silver key ring.
LowlightsThe gawking Lost in Translation groupies at the hotel's New York Bar. (But a cocktail there is still a must.)
Insider TipUse of the spa carries a $35-a-day charge, but the hot and cool marble pools in a vaultlike setting, plus ample Aesop products, make it well worth the fee.
6-10-3 Roppongi, Minato-ku; 81-3/4333-1234; tokyo.grand.hyatt.com; doubles from $480.
OverviewA 21-story, 389-room stand-alone building, part of the 28-acre Roppongi Hills development.
GuestsA-list celebs; international fashionistas; boisterous Italian families.
HighlightsThe location, right in the heart of the city, can't be beat, with terrific shops, restaurants, and nightlife steps away.
LowlightsEven on the highest floors, you can hear occasional street noise.
Insider TipTokyoites are mad for classic cocktails, so order one at the Maduro bar. The bartender crafts a perfect Manhattan, with real rye and a flawless round ice cube for slower melting.
9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku; 81-3/3423-8000; ritzcarlton.com; doubles from $530.
Overview248 rooms occupying the bottom three and top nine floors of the city's tallest tower, part of the new Tokyo Midtown complex in Roppongi.
GuestsBrand-faithful Japanese and international business travelers.
HighlightsLuxurious amenities in the bathroom (Voss water, Bulgari products, the world's best loofah), and one of the city's savviest concierges.
LowlightsThere's no dedicated space for the bustling lobby bar—good luck nabbing one of the six seats.
Insider TipOne private room of the hotel's Japanese Hinokizaka restaurant is a 200-year-old teahouse.
2-1-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku; 81-3/3270-8800; mandarinoriental.com; doubles from $530.
Overview179 serene rooms atop the Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower (floors 30-36), in a business district north of the Ginza.
GuestsSophisticated, design-oriented travelers and devoted spa-goers.
HighlightsNature-inspired fabrics— bedspreads patterned with fallen leaves, handmade Echizen paper lamps that evoke moonlight.
LowlightsBreakfast choices are disappointingly overpriced and underwhelming.
Insider TipSelect one of three types of yoga classes on DVD—free. You'll find mats stashed in the closet. Aromatherapy oils are left for guests at turndown.
1-9-1 Higashi-shinbashi, Minato-ku; 81-3/6388-8000; conradhotels. com; doubles from $530.
Overview290 rooms in a tower in Shiodome, a business district. Choose between City (looking out on Tokyo) or Garden (views of Tokyo Bay).
GuestsAmerican and international money managers.
HighlightsFood is a focus: Gordon Ramsay has two modern French restaurants here, and there are also upscale Chinese and Japanese options.
LowlightsIt's the only hotel in the mix to charge a fee for Internet access ($12 a day).
Insider TipDon't miss two surprisingly quirky room details: a Conrad rubber ducky and a teddy bear at turndown.
1-8-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku; 81-3/6270-2888; peninsula.com; doubles from $495.
OverviewA 314-room stand-alone building close to the Ginza, with four key subway lines in the basement.
GuestsPer advance bookings, 35 percent international and 65 percent Japanese.
HighlightsJapanese- inspired design and tech-savvy touches—iPods programmed with tours, in-room cell-convertible phones, and automatic nail-dryers.
LowlightsToo soon to tell.
Insider TipBook one of several Japanese-inspired treatments at the 10,000-square-foot spa, the city's first fully branded ESPA.
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