Tower of Ryokan – Japanese style luxury in the heart of Tokyo
HOSHINOYA Tokyo lies in the city's economic center, a short walk from Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace. In contrast with its grand facade, the 17-story hotel offers a relaxed ambiance with a sense of intimacy and surprise--qualities that are rooted in traditional Japanese hospitality. A ryokan is a traditional Japanese-style inn where you can relax in a tatami-floored room with hot spring baths while dining on seasonal cuisine. Ryokans, however, are hard to find in large cities because they are more typically located in scenic areas such as in the mountains or by the ocean where the beauty of the seasons is celebrated. HOSHINOYA Tokyo brings ryokan to the city, where its core elements are adopted and advanced in a way that aligns with the current time. Each floor of HOSHINOYA Tokyo is an exclusive domain, accessible only by the guests staying there, and with a dedicated staff in place to meet their every need, as well as to maintain the elegant customs that have been honored for centuries at the traditional Japanese inn--the ryokan. Since its opening back in 2016, HOSHINOYA Tokyo has continued to strive to provide the finest hospitality and in September 2023, has been selected for the global ranking of The World’s 50 Best Hotels.
Message from Yoshiharu Hoshino, CEO of Hoshino Resorts
At Hoshino Resorts, we have a tradition of building our resorts from elements that are indigenous to their remote locations. By doing so, we have been able to subtly communicate the charms of these specific locations to our guests, bringing them to an understanding of why we built the resort there in the first place. This gives guests the feeling that the long journey they made to stay with us was worthwhile. When I was first given the opportunity to build a resort in Tokyo, I found myself at a loss. After all, the charms of the city are already well-known to so many people around the world.
After toiling to formulate one concept after another to no avail, I switched gears and followed a new line of thought. Instead of focusing on what we could offer our guests, I began to think about what we could offer Tokyo. That was how I arrived at the idea of a tower ryokan. There are many elements of traditional Japanese culture that are slowly disappearing from Tokyo. The modern Tokyoite does not see a place for ryokan in the city. In my thinking, if one ryokan manages to remain in Tokyo years from now, it will be for one reason: Because it has evolved to become even more accommodating and intuitive than the Western hotel.
Our first HOSHINOYA in Karuizawa was built on the theme of "an alternative Japan." We envisioned a country that had kept all of its best elements, seeking to continually modernize them instead of dismissing them as obsolete and tossing them out. In that vein, HOSHINOYA Tokyo is a manifestation of an imaginary Tokyo where the ryokan culture has continually evolved instead of fading away. This is the "alternative Japan" that we are presenting to the world in 2016.
Design & Architecture
Architecture– Rie Azuma, Azuma Architect & Associates
Azuma, who has designed all HOSHINOYA resorts to date, designed the interior and acted as a consultant for the exterior, which was built by large-scale construction specialists Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei and NTT Facilities. Building a ryokan right in the middle of Tokyo was always going to be an ambitious project, but it was important that such scale did not overwhelm the HOSHINOYA ethos. Azuma, therefore, started with the most basic concepts associated with ryokan. Upon arrival at a traditional ryokan, a guest first removes their shoes, and is then led to their room. Although simple in nature, this process is significant. It is both an invitation for the guest to treat the entire building as if it were their home, as well as a confirmation of the inn's exclusivity—one cannot enter the premises uninvited. Believing this to be a valuable cultural experience, Azuma used this as a basis for her entire interior design concept. She started by making sure every walkable surface, including corridors, was layered with soft tatami matting; unlike the typical ryokan, there are no wooden floors. She then outfitted the rooms and public areas with furnishings that encourage a floor-level style of relaxation as is traditional in Japan.
Landscape – Hiroki Hasegawa, Studio on site
Hasegawa designed the resort's landscaping in collaboration with Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei. Unlike the sprawling, secluded premises of other HOSHINOYA resorts, HOSHINOYA Tokyo is a singular building that shares a public urban landscape with other high-rises. Hasegawa sought to ensure that the area immediately around the building clearly announced itself as an extension of the premises, while also contributing something new to the local landscape. HOSHINOYA resorts have always served as conduits to the unique features that can be found in their locations; in this case, Hasegawa latched onto the city's ability to conjure the feeling of a great amount of space on even the tiniest of plots.
Lighting – Masanobu Takeishi, Illumination of City Environment, Ltd.
Takeishi created the resort's lighting design in collaboration with Mitsubishi Jisho Sekt would stand out. At the entrance, guests are welcomed by washi paper pendants that echo traditional Japanese paper lanterns, as well as walls with lights embedded in a checkered pattern.
Guest Rooms: Traditional design with contemporary furnishings
Yuri and Sakura Room
A traditional Japanese-style room with tatami floors, and sofas with ornate cypress frames--each is a piece of contemporary furniture decorated with traditional Japanese craftwork. Guests can relax by soaking in the deep bathtub located in the bathroom, which is also furnished with a sink and shower stall, or by basking in the warm sunlight filtering through the shoji paper screens that grace the living area windows.
Capacity: 2 persons
Area: 41 – 49m2
Kiku Room
Soft sunlight pours in through the paper window screens in these south-facing corner rooms, which are about twice as large as the Yuri and Sakura rooms. Furnishings include a dining table, a small desk, and a sofa that is wide enough to lie on. The bathroom features a satisfyingly deep bathtub and a shower stall, with windows that can be opened to bring in cool winds. Up to three Japanese futons can be laid out on the bed stand.
Capacity: 3 persons
Area: 83 m2
Special Facilities
Ochanoma Lounge
Every floor features a common lounge that is exclusive to guests staying on that floor. Most activity takes place in the ochanoma--a lounge that is seamlessly connected to every room on the floor via a tatami-matted corridor. Like in ochanoma at classic ryokans, a wide selection of refreshments--seasonal teas and confectionery during the day--are set out for guests to enjoy at different hours of the day. Guests are encouraged to treat this space as their own living room, where they may read a book, do some work, or relax and pass the time.
Hot Spring
The top floor of HOSHINOYA Tokyo consists of two bath halls, separated by gender. The baths are fed by hot spring waters drawn from 1,500 meters below the ground. Due to its high saline content, the hot spring water is pleasant for the skin, gently relaxing the body while improving its ability to preserve heat. Each bath hall contains an indoor and outdoor bath, connected by a cave-like tunnel. The outdoor bath is located at the bottom of an open-roof chamber with soaring walls that frame the sky above. At night, pleasantly cool breezes blow in, bringing seasonal aromas with them.
Food & Beverages
Nippon Cuisine – where Japanese locality meets French techniques
Nippon Cuisine is our dinner course menu that uses the best ingredients of the season and is cooked using techniques of Executive Chef, Ryosuke Oka to present Japan’s abundant nature and the environment that enriches the ingredients. Wine and Japanese sake pairing for each dish are available.
Course meal: 33,880 JPY per person (includes tax and service charge)
Characteristics 1: Japan’s abundant nature and rich environment
Japan is surrounded by high-quality fishing grounds with warm and cold currents. The mountains, which have four distinct seasons cover more than 70% of the country and cultivate nutrient-rich soils. It then joins the clear stream as rainwater, returns to the sea and feeds the fishing grounds for better quality. Japan’s rich ingredients come from the existence of minerals of the forest in the mountains, rivers, and the sea. Tokyo is a place where all of these unique ingredients come together and at HOSHINOYA Tokyo, these are presented beautifully through Oka’s techniques and aesthetics.
Characteristics 2: Reimaging the food cultures of different parts of Japan
With the idea of "creating dishes that can only be made locally," Oka has been creating dishes using local ingredients and expressing the wisdom of predecessors passed down through traditional cooking methods. In the course of creating dishes in Tokyo, he became interested in and inspired by the sankin-kotai system of the Edo era, in which good ingredients and food culture from all over Japan came together as people came and went, and decided to advance the dinner course at HOSHINOYA Tokyo into a course meal with a focus on the food culture of different parts of Japan per season.
Characteristics 3: Collaboration of technique and flavors of French and Japanese cuisine
Oka, the executive chef, has been creating dishes that take advantage of the natural flavors of the ingredients that are hard to imagine from their simple appearance. Oka's deep exploration of Japanese-ness expressed through the skillful use of dashi (stock) and condiments, and his high skill in French cooking and his Japanese identity allows him to create a one-of-a-kind world.
Executive Chef: Ryosuke Oka
Born in 1985, in Shiga Prefecture. Since 2005, worked at Kobe Kitano Hotel, Restaurant Hommage and Pierre Gagnaire, gaining experience in French cuisine. Appointed as the executive chef of L’Hotel Hiei (then Hoshino Resorts) in 2016, French restaurant Sonore of Oirase Keiryu Hotel and from May 1, 2023, the executive chef of HOSHINOYA Tokyo.
Experiences
Tea Ceremony
The history of traditional Japanese culture of tea ceremonies can be traced back to 800 years ago. Enjoy a moment of tranquility in the heart of Tokyo, to taste the rich flavors of matcha green tea. Guests are invited to experience the heart and soul of the traditional forms of Japanese hospitality called ‘Omotenashi’, where Kyakujin (the guests) come with anticipation, not demands, and Teishu (the host) ensures that guests have a wonderful experience.
Date & Time: Daily from 10:00 am – 10:30 am
Price: 9,680 JPY per person (tax and service charge included)
Reservation: Required by 6 pm a day in advance
Sky-high Morning Kenjutsu Practice
Start the day with sword training held 160 meters above the ground. Refresh the mind and body by practicing our original training routine that combines the movement of kenjutsu, swordsmanship, and deep breathing in the clear morning air.
Date & Time: Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays/6:45am-7:45am
Price: 5,500 JPY per person
Reservation: Required by a day in advance
Overview of HOSHINOYA Tokyo
Address: 1-9-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, 100-0004
Number of Rooms: 84
Check-in: 3:00 pm/Check-out: 12:00 pm
Price: 112,000 JPY per night per room (includes tax and service charge, excludes meals)
Directions: Approximately 2 minutes by walk from Otemachi Station or 10 minutes by walk from Tokyo Station
About HOSHINOYA Brand
Luxury hotel embodying the true characteristics of land, history, and culture
HOSHINOYA is an accommodation with distinct themes, conceptualized from each location's land, history, and culture. Woven into these distinct themes is our attention to detail in every aspect from the design to hospitality; contributing to the creation of a one-of-a-kind world of HOSHINOYA. Enrich the heart with the epiphanies of travel through a unique stay experience.
About Hoshino Resorts
Hoshino Resorts was first established as a Japanese inn/ryokan in 1914 in Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture before it began the operation of other resorts in Japan. Today, it has evolved into a highly influential hotel management company and is run by 4th-generation family member Yoshiharu Hoshino. Providing a unique experience focused on the local charms of each destination and a high level of omotenashi, Japanese-style hospitality, the company has expanded rapidly out of Karuizawa since 2001 and now operates more than 60 accommodations both in and outside Japan with one of the following categories: luxury hotel brand “HOSHINOYA,” hot spring ryokan brand “KAI,” countryside resort hotel brand “RISONARE,” city tourism hotel brand “OMO,” free-spirited hotel brand “BEB,” or other unique lodgings.
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