Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, known as a museum hotel of Japanese beauty, is a one-of-a-kind hotel that has inherited more than 90 years of tradition and is decorated with 2,500 pieces of Japanese paintings and art and crafts. When you unravel its history, you will understand why it is called a museum hotel.

A one-of-a-kind hotel where works by Japan's leading artists come together

Hotel Gajoen Tokyo is located in an area surrounded by greenery, about a three-minute walk from Meguro Station in the direction of the Meguro River. Many people may be more familiar with the name "Meguro Gajoen," but in 2017 it was rebranded as Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, and strengthened its accommodation department by renovating its guest rooms, starting a new chapter in its history.

The hotel is also a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), a group of over 80 independent, small luxury hotels in 520 countries, and the global luxury tourism consortium Serandipians®, and is highly regarded worldwide.

One of the main features of this hotel is the gorgeous artworks that can be seen throughout the hotel. They draw you into a whirlpool of emotion from the moment you enter the hotel. But why are there so many artworks in a hotel? By unraveling the hotel's history, the background becomes clear.

The presence of a founder who supported many artists and advanced the Japanese art world

Hotel Gajoen Tokyo has a long history, dating back more than 90 years ago in 1928, when founder Rikizo Hosokawa renovated his home in Shibaura and opened the traditional Japanese restaurant Shibaura Gajoen. In 1931, the hotel moved to Meguro and changed its name to Meguro Gajoen, transforming it from a high-end restaurant into one serving authentic Beijing cuisine and Japanese cuisine that families could enjoy in a casual atmosphere. At that time, the founder wanted to create a space that everyone could enjoy, so he commissioned first-class artists and the greatest craftsmen of the time to decorate the space, creating a gorgeous space, and he also supported their creative activities by providing them with food and lodging.

Later, the building was expanded to include a beauty salon, photo studio, wedding hall, and reception hall, and also functioned as Japan's first comprehensive wedding venue, establishing a new Japanese wedding style.

In 1988, the hotel was forced to close due to construction work to expand flood prevention measures on the neighboring Meguro River, and underwent extensive renovations, including the relocation and restoration of a huge number of artworks and building designs. It reopened in 1991, and after a rebranding in 2017, it has created a unique space that makes full use of the characteristics of each of its facilities, including accommodation, restaurants, and wedding ceremonies.

Enjoy the artist's unique worldview while savoring the taste buds.

As it has a history of having started as a traditional Japanese restaurant, there are seven high-quality restaurants and cafes serving Japanese, Chinese, Italian and other cuisines.

The main dining area, Chinese restaurant Shunyuki, is based on the idea that food is medicine and serves delicious, Tokyo-made Chinese cuisine with the aim of providing healthy food. What we would like to introduce here are the beautiful private rooms named after artists. Nanpu, with its gorgeous decorations including murals by Katayama Nanpu, a recipient of the Order of Culture, and Gyokushiro, a private room surrounded by "A Picture of a Beautiful Woman Dancing with a Flower Hat" by Masuda Gyokujo, a master of paintings of beautiful women, were designed by Josiah Conder. These special private rooms were moved from the former Meguro Gajoen and are definitely worth a visit.

The Japanese restaurant Tofu-tei, housed in a thatched-roof house, also has eight wonderful private rooms. There are private rooms where you can enjoy exquisite craftsmanship, such as Shuho, where seasonal flowers and 8 birds are painted on the ceiling and transoms by Ikegami Shuho, and Chikuha, where the original designs for the mother-of-pearl work on the walls and ceiling were created by ukiyo-e artist and Japanese painter Otake Chikuha. It is a special space that will make you feel happy not only when you dine here, but also when you are there.

The elegant space of the all-suite rooms is reminiscent of a tea room.

Unlike the hotel's opulent and stately atmosphere, the guest rooms are simple, modern and calming. There are 6 guest rooms located from the 8th floor to the top 60th floor. All of them are suites over 80 sq. m, equipped with steam saunas and jet baths. There are various types of guest rooms, such as executive suites, Japanese and Japanese modern, and each room has a calming atmosphere with a touch of Japanese flair.

There is also a special executive lounge on the 8th floor that can only be used by guests staying at the hotel.

Absolute reliability and dignity. A highly popular wedding venue

When you think of Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, many people probably think of weddings. Of the 23 banquet facilities, the most noteworthy is the Japanese-style banquet hall, which was relocated and recreated from the hotel's original main entrance. From the moment you enter the large entrance space, you're transported to another world. You'll be surrounded by works by some of Japan's finest artists, including paintings on the walls, ceilings, and pillars, as well as mother-of-pearl work and sculptures. Holding a wedding in this uplifting atmosphere is sure to be an unforgettable experience not only for the bride and groom, but also for the guests.

Another well-known feature is the Hyakudan Kaidan, a tangible cultural property designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and built in 1935 as the former Meguro Gajoen Building No. 10. It is the only wooden structure still standing within the hotel. As it was built on a slope, the hotel was designed so that a staircase corridor connected the seven rooms. It is a soul-filling place, as it gives a glimpse into what it was like when it was used as a banquet hall. Many of the works of artists remain in each room, and they are open to the public outside of the hotel during the regular special exhibitions that are held.

Additionally, anyone can take part in morning yoga, which is held on the tatami mats in the Japanese-style banquet hall lobby (Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., excluding public holidays).
Although the Gajoen Art Tour (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9:10am to 30:XNUMXam, excluding public holidays) is for guests staying at the hotel, it is an opportunity to experience the charm of the museum hotel as staff will guide you through the magnificent art pieces with commentary.

This hotel has so many charms that it is impossible to describe them all here, so we hope you will stay here and enjoy the luxurious space.