Cover In daylight, Aman Tokyo spa pool’s water surface reflects shifting skies and subtle architectural lines, reinforcing the pool’s meditative calm
In daylight, Aman Tokyo spa pool’s water surface reflects shifting skies and subtle architectural lines, reinforcing the pool’s meditative calm
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The skyscraper hotel swimming pool embodies exclusivity, architectural daring and class. From Park Hyatt to Aman, we break down the elements that go into creating these picture-worthy spaces in Tokyo
When Park Hyatt Tokyo underwent a thorough renovation by Paris-based studio Jouin Manku, reopening on December 2025, its famous swimming pool was left untouched. This feature maintains its timeless appeal as an oasis perched approximately 180 metres above the city.
The property was the first international luxury hotel to offer a swimming pool in a skyscraper, immortalised in cinema history through Lost in Translation, starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. The swimming pool is located on the 47th storey of the second tower of the Shinjuku Park Tower Building, designed by the late Japanese architect Kenzo Tange. It is the centrepiece of the Club on the Park spa and fitness city, framed by a hard–soft composition of Tange’s dynamic glass curtain walls and potted palms.
So what is it about a hotel swimming pool perched high in a skyscraper that fascinates? Of course, the panoramic view differentiates it from its counterparts in beachfront resorts. The idea of engaging in a leisurely activity such as swimming laps against such vistas feels indulgent.
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Above By day, the swimming pool at Park Hyatt Tokyo feels suspended above the city, where daylight and panoramic views accentuate its club-like atmosphere
By day, the swimming pool at Park Hyatt Tokyo feels suspended above the city, where daylight and panoramic views accentuate its club-like atmosphere
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Given that such swimming pools are found in top-tier luxury hotel brands, there is also the exclusivity factor. A skyscraper is itself an engineering feat. Placing a large and heavy body of water at its summit amplifies both the building challenge and the thrill. For architects and designers, it presents an opportunity to create an unforgettable memory and an enviable Instagram backdrop.
Above In the evening, softened lighting and the glow of the city skyline transform the pool into an intimate, cinematic retreat high above Tokyo
In the evening, softened lighting and the glow of the city skyline transform the pool into an intimate, cinematic retreat high above Tokyo
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Glenn Pushelberg, one half of design studio Yabu Pushelberg, agrees. The studio designed JW Marriott Tokyo, which opened on 23 October 2025 in the Takanawa Gateway City building. “When you’re building a meaningful property in partnership with a strong hotel brand like JW Marriott, a pool isn’t optional. We always tell clients that if you’re going to add a pool, it can’t be an afterthought or feel like a gesture,” he says.
Earth and Sky
“When you’re designing a pool at that height, it’s not just about the skyline,” says George Yabu, the studio’s other partner. “It’s about creating a moment of pause. The view should feel expansive yet calm, connecting guests to nature and the sky. That quiet moment becomes the ultimate expression of luxury. It’s not just about what guests see, but how it makes them feel.”
Located on the 28th storey, JW Marriott Tokyo’s angular swimming pool offers uninterrupted views of landmarks such as Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Bay. Towards the building’s rounded edge sits the Jacuzzi — a separate, pond-like water body surrounded by rocks, beneath a floating wire feature abstracting fishermen’s baskets.
Above “When it’s done right, the pool becomes a memory,” says Yabu Pushelberg of the swimming pool at JW Marriott Tokyo, which offers “a sense of connection to the sky”, inspired by both nature and the built environment
“When it’s done right, the pool becomes a memory,” says Yabu Pushelberg of the swimming pool at JW Marriott Tokyo, which offers “a sense of connection to the sky”, inspired by both nature and the built environment
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“The hotel’s philosophy echoes the Shinagawa landscape, where trains depart the city, pass by the bay and continue into the countryside. As one of the largest hotel pools in Tokyo, its design reflects this journey: on one side, a creamy stretch of building facades; on the other, natural rock formations. The rocks cast mirrored reflections, mingling with soft, bubble-like floor lights. Together, they create a quiet interplay between nature, the city and the surrounding landscape,” Yabu explains.
To heighten the sense of exclusivity, only a handful of deck chairs are positioned along the pool’s edge, rather than the many that typically surround a resort pool. This reinforces “a sense of ease and exclusivity—something guests would carry with them long after they leave,” Pushelberg adds.
Above Bathed in natural light, the swimming pool at JW Marriott Tokyo reveals its full architectural expression by day, where water, sky and city converge in a calm, elevated retreat above the urban landscape
Bathed in natural light, the swimming pool at JW Marriott Tokyo reveals its full architectural expression by day, where water, sky and city converge in a calm, elevated retreat above the urban landscape
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One of a Kind
To create an unforgettable hotel swimming pool, the design must carry a distinct narrative that reflects the hotel’s brand. Kerry Hill Architects’ Aman Tokyo is a fitting example. Opened in December 2014, its striking 30-metre-long infinity pool occupies the 30th storey of the Otemachi Tower.
“While it was not the first pool in a skyscraper hotel in Tokyo, it remains one of the most distinctive, setting a benchmark for elegance and design sophistication,” says Tomoko Yagi, Managing Director, Japan, Korea and Indonesia, at Aman. Around the pool, stone walls and flooring, combined with carefully considered natural and architectural lighting, create the Zen-like calm for which Aman resorts are known—far removed from the bustle of nearby Tokyo Station and the Ginza shopping district.
Above views towards Tokyo Skyline at dusk when the pool captures the changing colours of the sky, with warm light dissolving into water
views towards Tokyo Skyline at dusk when the pool captures the changing colours of the sky, with warm light dissolving into water
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Above By day, the spa pool at Aman Tokyo is washed in natural light, its restrained palette and long horizon line heightening the sense of stillness above the city
Above Framed by soaring glazing, the pool offers a composed panorama of Tokyo’s layered cityscape, balancing openness with complete visual privacy
By day, the spa pool at Aman Tokyo is washed in natural light, its restrained palette and long horizon line heightening the sense of stillness above the city
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Two walls of soaring, nearly eight-metre-high glazing offer an unobstructed snapshot of the metropolis’ multifaceted rhythms, encompassing “Tokyo’s dynamic cityscape, the verdant grounds of the Imperial Palace and, on clear days, the majestic silhouette of Mount Fuji, while the layout ensures complete privacy from the outside world,” Yagi says.
“The water mirrors the ever-changing drama of the sky — bright blue afternoons, fiery sunsets, drifting clouds — each moment offering a different expression of beauty,” she adds. This highlights another appeal of the rooftop hotel pool: it offers a spectacular and exclusive vantage not only of what lies below, but also of what unfolds above and around — nature in constant motion, uninterrupted.
Above As evening falls, softened interior lighting transforms the pool into a quiet sanctuary
As evening falls, softened interior lighting transforms the pool into a quiet sanctuary
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Wellness and Water
When Aman introduced its sister brand, Janu Tokyo, in March 2024, the swimming pool embodied something more. Representing the hotel’s committed approach to wellbeing, it is the centrepiece of the property’s landmark 4,000-square-metre wellness centre.
The 25-metre-long lap pool is located on the 13th storey of the Residence A Tower within the Azabudai Hills complex. It forms part of the hotel’s extensive hydrotherapy and thermal area, which also incorporates a separate heated lounge pool and loungers designed for “relaxed socialising”, traditional Japanese-style baths, cold plunge pools, saunas and steam rooms.
Above At Janu Tokyo, the pool area’s artwork follows a unified theme of ‘Nature and Landscape’, expressing invisible time and atmosphere while illustrating the energy each zone seeks to cultivate
At Janu Tokyo, the pool area’s artwork follows a unified theme of ‘Nature and Landscape’, expressing invisible time and atmosphere while illustrating the energy each zone seeks to cultivate
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Above Bathed in soft natural light, Janu Tokyo’s 25-metre pool invites guests into a serene aquatic sanctuary within the expansive wellness centre, framed by floor-to-ceiling glazing that captures Tokyo’s skyline
Above The heated lounge pool offers a quieter counterpoint to the lap pool, with integrated seating and warm materials
Bathed in soft natural light, Janu Tokyo’s 25-metre pool invites guests into a serene aquatic sanctuary within the expansive wellness centre, framed by floor-to-ceiling glazing that captures Tokyo’s skyline
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“Janu celebrates movement and the collective power of shared experiences, contrasting with the reflective tranquillity and calming Zen for which Aman is renowned,” says Yagi.
“Situated in the vibrant heart of Azabudai Hills—a city within a city abundant in greenery, culture and art — Janu Tokyo offers an urban oasis for soulful balance and shared moments. The swimming pool stands as one of its most defining elements, seamlessly integrating wellness with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.”
Above Janu Tokyo’s poolside is framed by a suite of thermal and onsen offerings, from steam rooms to cold plunge pools, enhancing the holistic wellness journey for guests
Janu Tokyo’s poolside is framed by a suite of thermal and onsen offerings, from steam rooms to cold plunge pools, enhancing the holistic wellness journey for guests
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Above Along the edge of the wellness pool at Janu Tokyo, generously spaced loungers encourage unhurried pauses
Above Framed by soft light and panoramic views, the poolside loungers at Janu Tokyo offer a quiet extension of the water experience
Along the edge of the wellness pool at Janu Tokyo, generously spaced loungers encourage unhurried pauses
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Art forms part of Janu’s ethos, decorating the poolside. “Haruko Tsuji’s painted linen panels abstractly depict the land, while Naoto Kashiwagi’s sun-inspired imagery incorporates wave-like shapes strategically placed around the hydrotherapy zone to echo the gentle movement of water across the lap and lounge pools,” Yagi explains.
Above Loungers and tranquil corners beside Janu Tokyo’s pool offer moments of repose, where guests can enjoy views of the surrounding Azabudai Hills and the dynamic cityscape beyond
Above Set within Jean-Michel Gathy’s interior design concept, the pool area reflects a balance of minimalist lines and soft, textural elements that define Janu Tokyo’s contemporary spa aesthetic
Loungers and tranquil corners beside Janu Tokyo’s pool offer moments of repose, where guests can enjoy views of the surrounding Azabudai Hills and the dynamic cityscape beyond
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Crowning Jewel
Among Tokyo’s sky-high hotel swimming pools, Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo offers another compelling example. Designed by Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel (ACPV Architects), the hotel opened in April 2023 at the upper storeys of the Tokyo Midtown Yaesu skyscraper. Its 25-metre swimming pool is located on the 40th storey, as part of the 1,000 sqm Bulgari Spa.
Above At Bulgari Hotel Tokyo, wooden cabanas lined with drapery frame the pool, affording privacy alongside expansive city views
At Bulgari Hotel Tokyo, wooden cabanas lined with drapery frame the pool, affording privacy alongside expansive city views
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Like the other pools, floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides and generous double-volume spaces open up to sweeping city skyline views. Colour is used to evoke the brand’s coloured gemstones, with green mosaic tiles transforming the pool into a shimmering emerald when struck by sunlight.
The adjacent vitality pool references the floor patterns of the ancient Baths of Caracalla in Rome, which inspired the Bulgari Divas’ Dream jewellery collection. At its centre, a waterfall flows from a travertine plate engraved with the Bulgari logo, recalling a city-square fountain.
Above Adjacent to the main pool, the vitality pool references the ancient Baths of Caracalla, where patterned mosaics, flowing water and travertine surfaces recall the ritualistic calm of Roman bathing traditions
Adjacent to the main pool, the vitality pool references the ancient Baths of Caracalla, where patterned mosaics, flowing water and travertine surfaces recall the ritualistic calm of Roman bathing traditions
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The pool’s colour palette and mosaic motifs also appear in the brand’s other hotels in Rome, Dubai, Shanghai and Beijing. For devotees of the house, this continuity functions not only as a refined branding device, but also as an invitation — a sense of returning to a familiar, elite home shared by a fortunate few.
Above Wrapped in green mosaic tiles, the swimming pool at Bulgari Hotel Tokyo evokes the depth and brilliance of an emerald, set against sweeping skyline views from the 40th storey
Wrapped in green mosaic tiles, the swimming pool at Bulgari Hotel Tokyo evokes the depth and brilliance of an emerald, set against sweeping skyline views from the 40th storey
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Credits
Photography: courtesy of respective hotels
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