You don't stay at this hotel for glitz. Or for location. Or for over the top insane Japanese style. You stay here because you want somewhere quiet in the insanity that is Tokyo. The service at the Four Seasons is exceptional (would you expect anything else?) and the rooms are huge which is a luxury in a city where many rooms are glorified closets. The public spaces are beautiful and the garden is really exceptional. Here's the thing about this hotel: whenever I met someone from Tokyo and they asked me where I was staying and they found out it was at Chinzan-So their reaction was always "wow, that's a great hotel, you must be rich!" The drawback to this hotel is its location. It is far away from the areas of town where Americans are likely to sightsee and dine but it is on the subway line and reasonably easy to get to. (The bad news about the subway is that it's at least five to seven blocks away from the hotel entrance and you have to schlep up a nagging hill to get there; no fun especially when its humid out!) I would recoomend this hotel wholeheartedly to anyone who appreciates old-school understated luxury BUT I'd suggest you spend at least part of your time in Tokyo in a more central location.

I stayed at the Four Seasons in November 2006 (a lovely time of year to visit Japan). The Four Seasons was very pricey, but we were able to use Amex points on the flight so felt we could splurge on the hotel. While the Four Seasons is a bit off the beaten path, I enjoyed the location... most of the urban areas are a bit too loud and frenetic for our tastes. This hotel was in a nice little residential area. The restaurants in the hotel were expensive, but the food was excellent, particularly the Japanese breakfast which always came with a delicious selection of root vegetables in season.

The best part about the hotel was the Japanese garden. We started and ended each day with a relaxing peaceful walk through the grounds. Lovely. Expensive hotel (Tokyo is not known for being a bargain), but the garden and the location really made our trip special.

While in Tokyo don't miss the fish market... you have to get up early, but it's quite an experience. And the Robata restaurant in Roppongi is wonderful fun as well.

As I have previously written, I do appreciate the Four Seasons and Ritz as hotel chains. The Four Seasons Tokyo at Chinzan-so does not disappoint, and has a beautiful Japanese garden just outside.

As with all Four Seasons, this property is extremely well kept, and the service level is high. Combine traditional Japanese service with Four Seasons and one should expect, and does receive, a high level of service that is not intrusive.

For the business traveler, the internet in the room is free -- probably the only thing in Tokyo that is "cheap". The cord is in the desk drawer to the left of the desk, and the connection is on the side of the desk to the left. Location is a bit unusual, but it works.

The restaurants inside the hotel are very good...and very expensive. If you walk outside of the hotel, go either right down the hill or left up the hill, you will find local restaurants and shops all within about a 10-15 minute walk.

As with any Four Seasons, you should not expect it to be inexpensive. However, being in Tokyo, expensive is REALLY expensive. The orange juice at breakfast was 1900 yen or about $18 -- just for the juice! Good thing refills were free.

The gardens that this hotel is built on is really beautiful and you should take the time to walk around the garden (a must in my opinion). It is really worth the time and just outside of the ground floor.

Another great Four Seasons hotel. Service was excellent in the tradition of Four Seasons. Room was much bigger than I exxpected, bathroom was also amazingly sized. The one problem that I encountered while staying there was the thin walls can make some unneeded noise in the middle of the night, if you know what I mean.

Otherwise, very good hotel in a good location in Tokyo.