MODERN TRANQUILITY IN T OKYO

Tradition meets luxury in the heart of the city.

DURING A HECTIC ROUND

of 2018 Resort-show hopping (looking at you, L.A., Kyoto, etc.), fashion editors soon find that the jet-lag haze causes all airports, cities and hotels to blur together—if you’ve seen one soft-beige carpet, you’ve seen them all—that is, until you discover the Hoshinoya Tokyo.

Unlike typical high-end hotels, which focus on lavishness at the expense of authenticity, the Hoshinoya is a quietly soothing introduction to Japanese culture and tradition. It was envisioned as a luxury take on the ryokan (a rural Japanese inn), and despite its location in Tokyo’s buzzing financial district, inside it is library levels of quiet, with nary a clack of a stiletto to be heard. (That’s in part because guests wear slippers or go barefoot indoors. Your shoes are placed in gold bamboo lockers in the lobby when you arrive.)

The minimalist suites are designed in classic Japanese style and architecture—from the bamboo closets and shoji sliding doors to the cozy kimonos that we’d take over classic hotel robes anytime. Floors are lined with pillowlike tatami (typically made from rice straw), and guests sleep on futons that we can assure you are as comfortable as any four-poster bed. The Hoshinoya offers the most indulgent of activities, which we took advantage of when we did manage to tear ourselves away from our room: an onsen (naturalhot-spring bath located on the roof), complimentary sake happy hour and deep-breathing exercises in the 17thfloor spa. Dinner at the Hoshinoya Tokyo restaurant, located in a regal basement setting, is a life-changing experience. Chef Noriyuki Hamada combines French techniques with traditional Japanese cuisine. Kanpai... or should we say santé?