ANOTHER WORLD ANOTHER TIME
Experience authentic Japan in the heart of the city with a sojourn at HOSHINOYA Tokyo | 到臨HOSHINOYA Tokyo感受市中心的正宗日式體驗
HOSHINOYA Tokyo was uniquely created as a Japanese ryokan imbued with Hoshino Resort’s 100 years of expertise (the company was founded in 1904 by Kuniji Hoshino as a forestry business in Karuizawa – the Japanese Alps – and it opened its first hot spring resort in 1914). A
ryokan is a traditional Japanese-style inn where you can relax in a tatamifloored room and indulge in hot spring baths and seasonal cuisine. They are, however, hard to find in large cities, instead typically located in scenic areas where the beauty of nature is celebrated. This all changed with the opening of HOSHINOYA Tokyo in September 2016, an urban ryokan that embodies understated luxury and offers everything the discerning traveller needs to experience local culture without even having to leave the locale. The hotel features 84 rooms, a common living lounge on each floor, hot spring baths on the top floor and a modern Japanese dining restaurant helmed by chef Noriyuki Hamada.
Explains the CEO of the company, Yoshihari Hoshino, “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. Instead of focusing what we could offer our guests, I began to think what we could offer Tokyo. That’s 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 a ryokan in the city. In my view, if one
ryokan manages to remain in Tokyo years from now, it ill be for one reason: because it has evolved to become even more accommodating and intuitive than the Western hotel.” Yoshihari elaborates that to stay at a ryokan
HOSHINOYA Tokyo氣質獨特，並和諧注入星野集團的100年專業知識技術(公司由Kuniji Hoshino創辦於1904年，作為日本阿爾卑斯山脈的輕井澤林產業務，並於1914年開設首間溫泉度假村)。日式旅館也就是傳統日本風度假村，讓遊人能放鬆在榻榻米地板上休息，沉醉溫泉浴和時令美食中。然而，如此建設實在難以於大城市中找著，多數可見為山水之旁，被美麗的如畫景色包圍。但自從HOSHINOYA Tokyo日式旅館於2016年9月開幕後，形勢終於有變。空間完美揉合低調豪華氣質和旅遊人深入探討本地文化體驗、而同時無需走遠該區的追求。酒店建有84間房、每層各有共用生活空間、頂層的溫泉浴和由主廚Noriyuki Hamada統領的現代日式餐廳。
公司總裁Yoshihari Hoshino解釋指：「那時有機會在東京建設度假村時，我發現自己完全無所適從。城市的不同層面魅力本已為世人所熟知。與其考慮我們能為客人帶來點甚麼，我就開始想到我們能為東京提供些甚麼。這就是建成日式旅館大樓的因由——很多傳統日本文化的元素已慢慢從東京消失。現世代的東京人都沒有為日式旅館在城中預留位置。於我看來，要是一座日式旅館可以在東京成功營運數年，原因只有一個：因為它能比西式酒店帶來更窩心宜人和敏捷的服務。」Yoshihari進一步指出留宿於日式旅館
means to enjoy the local geography, customs and seasonal delights in the particular way suggested by the inn itself. It is both a destination and a getaway where one goes to leave behind their cares for the duration of their stay. There are elements hidden throughout the building that reveal themselves on different days and at different times.
The design of HOSHINOYA Tokyo was entrusted to Rie Azuma, president of Azuma Architects & Associates. She started off conceiving the design from a guest-experience point of view. Upon entering a traditional ryokan, you must first remove your shoes before you are lead to your room. Although simple in nature, this process is significant. It is both an invitation for the you to treat the building as if it were your home, as well as confirmation of the inn’s exclusivity – you cannot enter the premises uninvited. Believing this to be a valuable cultural
意思就是細意感受本地地理氣息、習俗和節令亮點。它就是讓人們能夠拋低生活包袱、重拾平靜身心的淨土。大樓內暗藏多個精彩元素，並在不同日子、不同時份自然流露真我。
HOSHINOYA Tokyo日式旅館的設計出自Azuma Architects & Associates主席Rie Azuma之手。她一開始便以客人體驗角度出發構思設計概念。甫步進一所傳統日式旅館，客人最先要做的就是脫去鞋履，再走到自己房間。過程雖然簡單，但卻非常重要。這種款待方式就有
experience, Rie used it as the basis for her interior design concept. She started by making sure every walkable surface was layered with soft tatami matting. She then outfitted the rooms and public areas with furnishings that encourage a floor-level style of relaxation as is traditional in Japan.
The exterior of the structure is unique, shrouded by a metal lattice of fine komon patterns. These patterns are traditionally featured on kimonos and are designed to be difficult to discern from a distance, while revealing their elegance up close. By veiling the building behind this classic design, Rie has given it the look of an elegant jewellery box hidden among the soaring office buildings that surround it. //
如賓至如歸地邀請客人前來，也一再確認酒店的尊貴禮遇──沒有邀請絕不能內進。Azuma深信這是珍貴的文化體驗，並以此為室內設計概念的根基。她一開始就確保所有可供人步行的面材，包括走道，均鋪上柔軟的榻榻米墊，接著就為每間客房和共用範圍配設傢具裝飾，進一步提升輕鬆風格氣息和日式傳統魅力。
結構外牆獨一無二，以小紋金屬格包覆而成。這些圖案原為傳統和服裝飾，特別設計來讓人從遠難以看穿，但細看之下卻能源源散放優雅氣息。Azuma為這建築注入經典設計，而同時又把它打造成珍藏於城市高樓大廈之中的小小首飾盒。//