The Pool at The Peninsula Tokyo

"View the entire 2011 Gold List of the world's best places to stay › Amenities: Pool, Spa The Peninsula Tokyo made news even before it opened: Not only would it be the city's first freestanding hotel built from the ground up in more than a decade, but it would also forgo the de rigueur hotel-in-the-sky design (made famous by the Park Hyatt) for a more conventional approach with a ground-level lobby"

"Guests will be particularly impressed by the well-equipped gym, spa, sauna and pool — the pool deck has views of the parks across the street"

"Afterward, take a dip in the indoor, 65-foot-long pool or the adjacent vitality pool with a balcony that looks out over the Imperial Palace Gardens"

"Facilities include a fitness center and an indoor pool with piped-in underwater classical music and glorious views of town, which guests can use free of charge, as well as a spa with eight treatment rooms offering a variety of options, and luxury jewelry shops"

"The Peninsula Spa provides tranquility at its indoor pool, muted treatment rooms and even its attractive fitness center"