Hilton Launches First Waldorf Astoria Residences in Asia Pacific at Mitsui Tokyo Project

Hospitality giant Hilton has signed a deal with Japanese builder Mitsui Fudosan to establish Waldorf Astoria-branded luxury rental residences at a Tokyo mixed-use project.

Waldorf Astoria Residences Tokyo Nihonbashi will occupy the highest levels of a 52-storey tower under construction in the capital’s central Chuo ward, according to a Thursday announcement by Mitsui Fudosan, Japan’s biggest developer by market capitalisation.

The 71 rental units are scheduled to begin receiving tenants in late 2027 as the first residences in Asia Pacific under Hilton’s top-tier Waldorf Astoria luxury brand, as the US group carries out a plan to grow its APAC luxury and lifestyle portfolio by 50 percent to reach 250 hotels in the coming years.

“Asia Pacific continues to be an engine of growth for Hilton’s luxury and lifestyle brands,” Hilton APAC president Alan Watts said earlier this month. “The appetite for distinctive, experience-led stays is stronger than ever, and Hilton is proud to lead the way in shaping the future of hospitality in this vibrant region.”

High-Rise Luxury

The residences will take up the 48th to 51st floors of the project’s 284 metre (932 foot) main tower, just above the 197-room Waldorf Astoria Tokyo Nihonbashi hotel occupying floors 39 to 47. The 50th floor will feature shared facilities for residents, including a party lounge with a kitchen and a lobby lounge with a terrace providing panoramic views of the city centre.

The units will range in size from 646 to 4,628 square feet (60 to 430 square metres) and have the benefit of a 24-hour concierge “with the personalised, attentive service that is a hallmark of the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand”, according to the announcement.

The 4 million square foot tower is the largest part of a three-building mixed-use project linked directly to Nihombashi subway station, with construction expected to finish by the end of 2026.

Hilton operates nine Waldorf Astoria Residences in cities including New York, Las Vegas, Chicago and Dubai. The New York location in Manhattan’s Park Avenue, featuring 375 hotel rooms and 372 condominiums for sale, has reopened after Chinese investors spent eight years and $8 billion purchasing and renovating the iconic property.

Regional Rollout

Recent openings in Hong Kong, Qingdao and Osaka have seen Hilton surpass 160 luxury and lifestyle hotels in Asia Pacific, with growth in the sector fuelled by customer demand for unique, experience-driven stays, the company said this month.

In August, Hilton opened the 274-room Motto by Hilton Hong Kong SoHo near Sheung Wan MTR station. Positioned as a lifestyle brand, Motto features “small but hip” guest rooms, communal spaces and locally inspired food and beverage options.

Motto’s debut in Hong Kong followed the April opening of Waldorf Astoria Osaka, which marked the luxury brand’s first hotel in Japan. The 252-room property is located in the upper floors of the new Grand Front Osaka South Building in Umekita district, within a 10-minute walk to Osaka railway station.

In July, Hilton opened the 161-room Secan Hotel Qingdao, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, in Longdou Mountain near Shanwang River Wetland Park and the Heluobu Reservoir in Qingdao.

The world’s second-largest hotel group by number of properties (trailing only Marriott), Hilton has 24 hotel brands and over 8,000 worldwide locations. Last year the company surpassed 1,000 trading hotels in Asia Pacific.