Hotel Gajoen Tokyo is the ultimate art lover’s hotel. With a 90-year history of being an exclusive wedding and dining venue, the property is renowned for housing thousands of Japanese masterpieces, including opulent paintings, lacquer and ornate woodwork from the early Showa era.
Historical touches and beautiful artworks can be found around every corner, but the highlight is the gorgeous Japanese garden that surrounds the premises. Complete with waterfalls, bridges, koi ponds and stone seats shaded by red ornamental parasols, the grounds provide a tranquil outdoor space — a rarity for central Tokyo.
Though the grounds and public spaces provide a window to the past, the accommodations offer a sleek and modern escape. And with at least 753 square feet in which to stretch out, the spacious rooms are a relaxing respite in themselves.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- Be sure to enjoy some time in the property’s
outdoor lobby, complete with a waterfall and stools hewn from rock with red
parasols to protect you from the sun.
- Although it feels like rural Japan, Hotel
Gajoen is centrally located in Meguro, a residential district of Tokyo. The
tucked-away location allows for a quiet retreat, but also puts you within just
a short driving distance of theaters, nightclubs, restaurants, shops and the city’s
bustling business district.
- You won’t want to miss a visit to the stunning
library. Open exclusively to hotel guests, the beautiful wood-paneled room
(original to the 1928 building) is a wonderful place to unwind in comfortable
armchairs and peruse the vast selection of books on Japanese art and culture.
- Hotel Gajoen has its own museum. The
Hyakudan Kaidan (“100 steps”) is the only remaining part of the original
building — a set of wooden stairs (there are actually only 99) leads to tatami
rooms decorated by Japan’s most famous artists from the late 1920s. Each room
has seasonal displays of Japanese artwork and historical artifacts.
- Every room at this historic hotel is extra
sumptuous — it is an all-suite property.
Things to Know
- Each guest has access to the OUKA executive lounge where coffee, tea, afternoon tea and evening cocktails are served. A traditional Japanese tea ceremony, a special treat for local and foreign visitors alike, is also available here from 2 to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
- The artistry found throughout this historic property is so intricate and extensive that high-society visitors of its early years nicknamed the venue the “Palace of Japanese Beauty.”
- Even if you feel like taking the stairs, check
out the elevators. They are made entirely of lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-pearl;
they are a work of art in themselves.
The Rooms
- All accommodations at this Tokyo hotel are suites, each with its own private steam sauna and whirlpool bath.
- Sixty newly renovated suites are all at least 753 square feet in size. The largest accommodation can be used to host formal dinners or even small wedding parties.
- Each space is designed in a minimalist,
Japanese style. Many contain works of art, with either a view of the city or
the cherry-blossom-lined Meguro River, one of the most beautiful spring vistas in
Tokyo.
- Plush beds, electric blackout blinds and in-room
fine dining make the suites comfortably luxurious.
The Restaurants
- Housed in a thatched-roof structure, TOFUTEI is
Hotel Gajoen’s signature Japanese restaurant. Made up of a series of beautiful
private rooms with tatami floors, the restaurant offers traditional, seasonally
changing coursed meals featuring sushi, tempura and fresh produce.
- SHUNYUKI is the property’s main dining room, serving
healthy, high-end Chinese cuisine. For an artistic experience, book one of the private
dining rooms where the tables are lacquerware rotating stands
with mother-of-pearl inlay.
- An Italian restaurant with a view of the garden, RISTORANTE CANOVIANO concentrates on natural flavors, local vegetables and fine wine
pairings.
- The luxury hotel’s casual dining spot, New American grill KANADE TERRACE, serves a lunch buffet and dinner
courses. Spacious and comfortable, the restaurant also has exceptional desserts and
sweets.
- A cozy counter hibachi that serves flavorful Kuroge
wagyu beef and seafood, STEAK HOUSE hama is intimate and unforgettable.
Amenities
Bar
Gym
Meeting rooms
Restaurants
Getting There
1-8-1 Shimomeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-0064 Japan
TEL81-3-5434-3837
