Park Hotel Tokyo - the “Artist Hotel”

I have this love for places that celebrate artists, creatives and the written word especially one’s that honour local artisans/craftsmen and niche genres - so what a pleasure it was to finally stay at the Park Hotel Tokyo for a little staycation. In the bustling commercial area of Shimbashi known for its  corporate skyscrapers & big businesses; the hotel is a canvas of creativity showcasing a space where guests can immerse themselves in art that highlights Japan’s aesthetic beauty in a variety of mediums. Every nook and cranny of the hotel displays the richness of Japanese artistry, talent and craft from the hanging art  in the atrium to the Corridor Galleries of floors 26 - 34 where various pieces are on exhibit freely for guests to enjoy to the hotel’s rooms on floors 31 & 34 which each room has been decorated by an individual artist. 

“Infinite time and space amid cognizant Japanese beauty”

Stepping into the hotel, one is welcomed into the Atrium where an atmosphere has been created to share the traditional Japanese concept of “Shitsurai” in which the environment is in harmony with the beauty of spacial arrangement, through the hotel’s ongoing ART colours exhibition. This exhibition changes seasonally to portray the beauty and fleeting nature of time and the outside natural world.

The underlying philosophy prevalent throughout the Hotel’s choice of art is characterised by the phrase “infinite time and space amid cognizant Japanese beauty”, so that guests enjoy and experience artistic interpretations of Japanese culture through the Hotel’s Atrium, Restaurant and Travel areas juxtaposed against it’s contemporary, metropolitan backdrop.

“The Artist in Hotel” Rooms (Cherry Blossoms by Hiroko Otake above - the 13th room)

Inspired by the “artist in residence” programs around the world, the hotel puts out an open call for local artists to submit their designs. Once an artist is selected, a room is given to them to renovate it into “artist rooms” where they paint directly onto the walls and keyframes and may create other pieces for the room. Each room can take up to several months, so the artist stays in the hotel during their project. Currently the 31st floor has been completed fully with artist rooms whilst the 34th floor has seen several new artist rooms completed in 2023 & 2024 with more being worked on.

Find a map of all the artist rooms on the 31st floor here. 34th floor does not have one yet.

Beauty of Akita by Yuka Ohtani

The 21st room to be finished (#3129) depicts the stunning lesser travelled region of Akita prefecture where Ms Ohtani is based. Rich with breathtaking nature, history and renown for it’s beautifying onsen waters, Akita is a place people should make the time to visit (I’ve adored my time in Akita! ).

Beautiful elements of traditional Japan adorn the room, from the shoji doors made and wooden frames made from Akita cedarwood to the beloved camellia flowers whose oil is used often in natural skincare and other beauty products.

Festival by Nanami Ishihara

This is one of my favourite Artist Rooms. Celebrating Japan’s love of the summer festivals; MATSURI; the artist wanted to “paint a festival that never ends’. With its vivid colours and rich imagery, the collage that covers this room is just truly breathtaking with so many features & intricate details throughout, making the room almost seem alive with it’s matsuri participants, ocean waves, floating whales, rabbits, elephants and gods conveying the excited, happy vibes of festivals that the Japanese and visitors love to attend. Ishihara-san created the room with the sincere wish that those who visited it would be reborn. It was the 8th room to be completed

WEB: PARK HOTEL TOKYO | INSTAGRAM: @PARKHOTELTOKYO