There’s no flashy sign to announce you’ve arrived. In fact, you’ll only recognize this low-key and exclusive Japanese inn, surrounded by office high-rises in Otemachi, by paying attention to Hoshinoya’s subtle details, such as the metal lattice of kimono patterns decorating its exterior walls or the wavy, stone-patterned walkway leading to its discretely hidden back entrance. Opened in July 2016, Hoshinoya Tokyo is located in the center of Japan’s capital near Tokyo Station, and yet it’s worlds apart, offering tranquility and superb hospitality in the tradition of an exclusive ryokan (Japanese inn), most of which have sadly all but disappeared from Japan’s bustling capital.

Greeted at the front cypress door by a traditionally clad hostess, you’ll be instructed to take off your shoes, sequestered away during the duration of your stay in one of the decorative bamboo boxes that line the corridor entrance like works of art. That’s because soft and aromatic tatami rather than wood floors run throughout Hoshinoya (shoes and slippers are never worn on tatami), even in the elevator, and taking off your shoes is an invitation to relax and feel at home. Compared to Tokyo’s many deluxe hotels, Hoshinoya is intimately small, with only six rooms occupying each of the inn’s 14 floors of guestrooms for a total of just 84 rooms. And to mirror the superb hospitality that’s a trademark of an expensive ryokan, each of the inn’s guest floors has its own Ochanoma Lounge, which guests are invited to use as their own living room. Attendants are on hand to answer questions about everything from sightseeing to transportation; provide individualized service; and to offer tea, morning rice balls, saké and snacks.

Rooms, which range from about 441 square feet to 893 square feet, are decorated in a Zen-like minimalist style utilizing natural materials like wood, bamboo and paper, with attention to detail apparent in slate-colored papered walls, shoji sliding screens covering floor-to-ceiling windows, bamboo tissue holders and low-slung furniture. And yet rooms are also high-tech, with bedside controls for lighting and blackout shades. Although most Hoshino Resort properties do not have TVs, this one does, with a huge screen that appears in an otherwise black panel with the push of a button.

One highlight of a stay here is undoubtedly the hot-spring bath, a rarity in Tokyo, located on the top floor and featuring water drawn from 4,921 feet below ground. With an opening to the sky, guests may enjoy passing clouds or even falling rain or snow. The inn’s restaurant specializes in dishes using Japanese ingredients prepared in a French style, while breakfast is best enjoyed by ordering the Japanese meal served in your room, delivered in a bamboo box that comes apart to reveal Japanese delicacies.

In short, Hoshinoya Tokyo makes a great choice for road warriors in need of restive pampering or travelers wishing to experience traditional Japan in the heart of the capital.

Hoshinoya Tokyo

1-9-1 Otemachi
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100-0004
tel 81 50 3786 1144