Imperial Hotel Tokyo

"Thierry Voisin brings traditional French cuisine in line with the Japanese milieu. Since coming to Japan, he has come to appreciate the rich array of ingredients available here and the importance given to seasonality in cuisine. Inspired by those ingredients, he comes up with dishes that display his sensibilities. Kombu and katsuo-bushi play a role in his creative preparations. Enjoy a fusion of Japanese and French cuisine in a classical dining room." - Michelin Inspector

"The credo of the Imperial Hotel, that tradition and innovation always travel together, finds a kindred spirit in Ishikawa Group, this restaurant’s parent company. Masayuki Takami gives tangible form to this conviction in assembling his menu. Tsukuri and nimono pursue delicacy of flavour, preferring to subtract rather than add. In contrast, bolder items such as caviar and minced scallops are mated with katsuo dashi and cream, adding together to create a mousse." - Michelin Inspector

"Stayed by Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio during their honeymoon in 1954, cementing Tokyo's status as a popular honeymoon destination."

"The Old Imperial Bar is an old-school Tokyo bar favored by some of Japan’s political and financial elite, who come for its demure and consistent service. The popular bar snack kaki pi —spicy rice crackers and peanuts—originated here and is still being served. Soak in the nods to Frank Lloyd Wright, who designed the original hotel: the Hopi-inspired carpet design, the terra-cotta grillwork, and the polychrome and gold-leaf fresco on the wall in the back of the room. Classic cocktails reign, such as a gin and tonic made with the Kyoto-distilled gin Ki no Bi, with notes of yuzu , green tea, and ginger."

"Opened in 1890 as an unofficial state guesthouse, the country’s first Western-style property built for the aristocracy to welcome an increasing number of foreigners, the Imperial Hotel has had a momentous history. Ravaged by a fire in 1922, it was rebuilt in 1923 by Frank Lloyd Wright in Maya-Revival style, though it fell into disrepair over the decades and was demolished in 1967. The blocky current version comprises a main building and a tower that together house 931 rooms, but the interiors stick to the property’s past with leather headboards and velvet-covered furnishings. The hotel boasts the largest executive center in Japan, but more leisurely activities await in the 20th-floor swimming pool and sauna, in the fully equipped music room (complete with Steinway piano), and in 11 restaurants that range from upscale French and traditional Japanese cuisines to snack-worthy sushi and confections."