If you're visiting Tokyo on a tight schedule, you may find yourself having to choose between spending time amongst the massive metropolis's urban attractions and venturing out to visit less central areas, where onsen baths and ryokan inns reign supreme. Fortunately, that difficult decision is now a thing of the past, at least for the moneyed among us: Hoshino Resort, a leading Japanese operator of resorts and hotels, today opened a luxury ryokan among the office towers of Otemachi, inviting you to experience authentic Japanese-style accommodation in the heart of the city. We sneaked into the press preview to witness how the height of omotenashi would play out in a modern setting – here is what we saw.
Strolling through Otemachi’s concrete jungle of high-rises, you'd be forgiven for doubting the authenticity of an urban ryokan experience. Indeed, the 19-storey tower edifice that Hoshinoya Tokyo occupies is a far cry from the squat and wooden inns we love and cherish so much. However, once you step in through the entrance, you'll realise that appearances can be deceiving – staff clad in traditional kimono will welcome you kneeling and request that you remove your shoes before stepping on the tatami mat floors.
More and more hotels, both familiar global brands and local establishments, continue to pop up in Japan in the run up to the 2020 Olympics, but ryokan are a dying breed. Yoshiharu Hoshino, CEO of Hoshino Resorts, told us that 'the only way we can preserve and restore the Japanese ryokan business is by reintroducing it into the hospitality industry throughout the world'. Well, sushi restaurants have managed to go global, so why not the ryokan?
At the Otemachi Hoshinoya, you'll of course find an onsen bath, a defining feature of every ryokan worth the name – the only difference is this one is a true state-of-the-art facility, which draws on the area's first natural hot spring, tapped in 2014 and unsurprisingly dubbed Otemachi Onsen. The spring is even siphoned all the way up to the rooftop for your alfresco bathing pleasure.
After your bath, hop into Hoshinoya's sleek yukata and take a stroll around the area before settling in for dinner. A leisurely walk around the nearby Imperial Palace gardens should get you in a suitably traditional mood.
Each floor features a common area called Ochanoma (tea room) Lounge, exclusive to guests staying on that floor. Seasonal tea and snacks are served during the day, while alcohol is on offer rolling into the night. Guests are encouraged to use the space as a semi-private study or living room, where they are invited to read a book, catch up on work or mingle with other guests while staff wait at the ready to attend to their needs.
Feeling the urge to splurge? Check out full details for Hoshinoya Tokyo here, including map and booking information.
Photos by Kisa Toyoshima