For the latest in its Best of Japan series, Palace Hotel Tokyo launches Couture Tokyo: The Art of Japanese Fashion, a stay experience created to elevate travelers’ understanding of Japanese culture and aesthetics through the lens of fashion and textile artistry.

Designed to highlight the substance and creativity behind Japanese fashion design and sensibilities, the experience is anchored by an insider’s introduction to some of Japan’s most exemplary brands with a selection of tours curated by Kaori Nakano, a scholar of fashion and luxury culture.

The experience includes two nights of accommodation; daily breakfast, with choice of in-room dining or at Grand Kitchen; a special kaiseki course dinner at the hotel’s Wadakura restaurant, inspired by fashion icon Kenzo Takada; an original Palace Hotel Tokyo tote bag by Suzusan, a contemporary Japanese textile brand; a privately guided fashion tour (approximately three or four hours, inclusive of private car service); and a special gift from the brand featured in guests’ choice of tours.

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Tours present guests with the opportunity to explore their choice of one of three of the city’s most celebrated fashion destinations. Each tour unveils the rich narrative of Japan’s fashion evolution through the history of the neighborhood, driven by bespoke experiences meticulously crafted exclusively for Palace Hotel Tokyo guests by three iconic brands: Glitzy Ginza is arguably one of Tokyo’s most famous shopping districts, home to Wako, a venerable institution housed in the landmark Seiko House where timeless Japanese elegance and design innovation converge. On its second-floor Jewelry Square, the selection of sophisticated, high-end pieces includes those by Wako’s own jewelry brands.

Having stood the test of time since 1947, Wako not only represents an incomparable retail experience but is also a stalwart advocate for the preservation of Japanese artistic culture. Its gallery-esque basement level is dedicated to celebrating the rich tapestry of Japanese art and aesthetics, with exhibitions showcasing works by living national treasures and up-and-coming young artists alike.

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Following a privately guided tour of Wako, guests can opt to swing by Dover Street Market for a striking contrast. Artistry in fashion is evident across the outlet’s seven retail floors, where urban chic meets trendy streetwear.

Kicking off the tour in stylish Daikanyama is a visit to the flagship boutique of Jun Ashida. As the renowned pioneer of Japanese prêt-à-porter, Ashida’s interpretation of “elegant and practical” endures more than half a century after he first arrived on Japan’s fashion scene and garnered international acclaim. For his contributions to fashion, Ashida was awarded Japan’s distinguished Order of the Rising Sun and purple ribbon Medal of Honor, France’s Order of Arts & Letters, and the Order of Merit from Italy and Luxembourg. Today, his legacy lives on through his daughter, Tae Ashida, who now spearheads the fashion house and whose own contemporary designs reflect a synthesis of innovation and her father’s take on refined elegance.

The nearby MIZEN TOKYO Atelier + Showroom encourages mindful contemplation of the true value and craftsmanship behind its creations by seamlessly blending workshop and boutique.

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Tantamount to Tokyo’s Champs-Élysées, Omotesando is a haven for those with a love not only for luxury retail but also the architecture and interiors in which they are showcased. Here, world-class brands and works by starchitects coexist alongside avant-garde boutiques situated in the warren of backstreets branching out from Omotesando’s tree-lined boulevard and intersect with Ura-Harajuku.

Anchoring this tour is a visit to the boutiques of Kimono Yamato as well as that of KIMONO ARCH and Y. & SONS. At Kimono Yamato, guests learn how the company has carried forward the legacy of Japan’s deeply layered kimono culture by melding heritage and innovation into the design of garments that can be incorporated into daily life. From the casual to the ceremonial, each piece is underpinned by over a century of expertise. At menswear Y. & SONS, pieces are designed to be paired with Western attire, while KIMONO ARCH’s more playful creations cater to both men and women.

Other Japanese brands in the area beckoning discovery include CFCL (Clothing For Contemporary Life), which reimagines knitwear through advanced 3-D, computer-aided, knitting technology to create garments balancing functionality, comfort, easy care and contemporary elegance while minimizing material waste.

PORTER is renowned for its meticulously handcrafted bags, each one carefully made by skilled Japanese artisans. At its flagship store, an on-site workshop is seamlessly integrated into the elegant, two-story space. Here, visitors watch artisans at work, experiencing firsthand the craftsmanship behind the company’s philosophy of “Isshin-Nyūkon” (Heart and Soul into Every Stitch).

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In addition to choosing a preferred shopping destination to explore (from the three detailed above), guests can choose between being accompanied by a guide trained on the tours curated by Kaori Nakano or opting for the rare opportunity to be hosted by Nakano herself alongside an interpreter (additional charges apply).

For guests who wish to venture beyond one of the three fashion destinations, there is a separate option (at additional charge) to book a half-day (approximately six hours) tour with Kaori Nakano that would be entirely tailored to their interests (in lieu of the tour included in the experience).

At Wadakura, the hotel’s signature Japanese restaurant, the fixed-price kaiseki dinner included in the stay experience features a special shabu-shabu presentation that was a favorite of late fashion designer Kenzo Takada whenever he was in residence at Palace Hotel Tokyo (currently only available upon request, advanced notice required).

The Couture Tokyo: The Art of Japanese Fashion experience is bookable for stays through the rest of 2026 onward (subject to availability).