Built in 1979, the Sheraton Miyako Hotel Tokyo touts a retro vibe -- there's even a Classic Suite that has been preserved as a time capsule from the era. The leafy paths weaving around rocky waterfalls and stone sculptures around the grounds have a timeless quality, and the wood-paneled interiors are no longer as dated as they once were. Combined with brown carpets, the lobby takes on a dark hue with paneled walls, columns, and dark wood furniture, but there are plenty of sitting areas beside floor-to-ceiling windows with garden views to lighten things up.

Set back from a busy road, the Sheraton Miyako Hotel Tokyo sits on its own extensive garden grounds in the upscale residential neighborhood of Shirokanedai, in Minato. Shirokanedai station is about an eight-minute walk away -- it connects to the larger JR Meguro Station, and the Yamanote line for swift access across the city -- and the hotel operates shuttle buses directly to the Meguro Station as well. Happo-en Japanese Garden next door is worth a visit, especially when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, and the Institute for Nature Study's exotic gardens is about a 15-minute walk from the hotel. 

The Sheraton Miyako brings something of its outdoor gardens into its 494 rooms, which all have tall potted trees that add a welcoming touch of greenery to the earth-toned decor. All have the trademark Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Beds and even the Standard Rooms are on the large side, with wooden screens that nod to traditional Japanese style. The dark, thatched-patterned carpets and chaise loungues that look like they're from the 1990s could both use replacing, and furnishings among the room types vary widely. There's a dizzying array of room types, along with a separate category relegated to the seventh floor -- the Superior, Premium, Deluxe, and Luxury categories tend to have only minor differences between them, apart from whether they have work desks or balconies (double check before booking). Seventh-floor and Premium Rooms also add Bose Wave Radio/CD players, and all rooms have mini-fridges and electric tea makers.The most interesting room is the Classic Suite, with decor preserved from architect Togo Murano's original 1979 design. The bathrooms have older fixtures with shower/tub combos.

The Sheraton's on-site dining covers both Asian and Western fare, highlighted by the casual eatery Cafe California, which serves French and Japanese fusion cuisine. It also has a large outdoor terrace with covered umbrella tables, a nice warm-weather touch. Shisen is a Chinese restaurant that specializes in Sichuan cuisine, and Yamatoya Sangen is a fine-dining Japanese restaurant that has some private dining rooms designed with traditional tatami floors. Bamboo Lobby Bar & Lounge serves light meals and tea by day, and cocktails with live jazz at night. For more serious libations, the sophisticated M bar has a vast whiskey menu (including somewhat exotic Japanese whiskeys) and an attached cigar lounge. 

For all its facilities, the hotel's health club feels dated, and access requires a fee, but it has a huge indoor lap pool as well as a fitness room that overlooks it from second-story windows. There's also a spa with a sauna and treatment rooms with the usual range of massage therapies. Business facilities include several meeting rooms and large banquet halls, the largest of which can hold 800 people. There's also a business center and lounge with multiple computers, printing services, and couches with free newspapers. The hotel's free shuttle service to JR Meguro station has buses leaving about every 15 minutes.