"One of Tokyo’s most iconic pieces of art is not in fact in one of its museums—it’s in the lobby of the Peninsula Tokyo; the Lying Dragon Gate (which looks like a giant wooden eye) attracts legions of curious outsiders who sneak in for a glance. And when they walk through the lobby, they are immediately ensconced in the coziness of the entry’s dark wood and heavy fabrics. Although the hotel is Japanese inspired, the Peninsula Tokyo incorporates many pan-Asian elements—gilt finishes, flower petal motifs on the carpets, and cherry wood panelling, to name a few. Guests run the gamut from staycationing Tokyoites and moneyed Chinese travelers, to American and European clientele." - Brandon Presser
William Furniss