"The legendary property, so named as it’s the closest hotel to the Imperial Palace, lures wealthy Japanese guests with its demure luxury gloss; now, international travelers have gotten wise and are starting to book in as well. Back in the early 2010s, the Palace Hotel doubled down on its commitment to quality and completely demolished its historical property that was erected in the early 1960s in time for the first Tokyo Olympics. A glimmering new luxury stay was born anew, with all the contemporary touches but maintaining its sedate, mod charm born 50 years prior. When you think of modern Japanese design, it’s not these rooms—the decor at the Palace, while only just over a decade old, feels like a retro nod to an earlier vocabulary of modernity. Muted beige and a palette of floral colors are a subtle nod to the ample views of the Imperial Gardens below." - Brandon Presser