Park Hyatt Tokyo, Japan

The Park Hyatt Tokyo is one of the most luxurious and prestigious hotels in the city. The hotel is situated in the high rise Shinjuku Park tower, which is Tokyo’s second tallest building at 52 storeys (233m, 763ft), and it occupies the top 14 storeys. This gives the hotel superb views over the city and to the scenery beyond. Mount Fuji can be seen from the top of the tower on a clear day.

The hotel has been open since 1995 and has gained a reputation for an excellent level of service from the staff, superb restaurant food and an unsurpassed level of luxury. The hotel has five restaurants and bars, which offer a variety of cuisine from Japanese sushi to New York Grill. The 154 room (23 suite) hotel has an excellent spa facility, a delicatessen, a variety of shops, a library, a magnificent Venetian ballroom and also its own wedding chapel on the 40th floor. Sofia Coppola's 2004 film ‘Lost in Translation’ was set and filmed at the Park Hyatt Tokyo.

SHINJUKU PARK TOWER

The hotel occupies the top 14 floors of the 52 storey (five basement storeys) Shinjuku Park Tower, which is an innovative and environmentally responsible building owned and developed by Tokyo Gas Co Ltd (Tokyo Gas Urban Development Company) and designed by the Japanese architect Kenzo Tange (Kenzo Tange Associates). The skyscraper was constructed on an old industrial site that contained Tokyo’s municipal gas tanks.

In addition to the luxury hotel occupying the topmost floors, the design called for a multi-purpose hall, restaurants, upscale shops, and exhibition and office space. The structure was substantially complete in April 1994 and at 235m is Tokyo’s second tallest building.

The Shinjuku Park Tower has three elements including the S tower, which is 235m (771ft) tall with 52 storeys, C tower which is 209m (686ft) tall with 47 storeys and N tower which is 182m (597ft) tall with 41 storeys. Floors 1–8 are occupied by retail stores, floors 9–37 are office floors and floors 39–52 are occupied by the luxury Park Hyatt Tokyo hotel. Construction work on the towers was carried out by Taisei Construction Co Ltd, Shimizu Corporation, Kajima Corporation and Campolonghi Italia S.r.l.

ARCHITECTURE

The building’s basic shape is three cascading towers each tapering slightly via setbacks, and topped with pointed forms similar to three-dimensional stars. The top 13 storeys are where the Park Hyatt Hotel is based, with its famous views of the twinkling Tokyo skyline. The other 38 floors are occupied by offices, meeting space, a medical clinic, restaurants, and the other assorted businesses. Inside, these pyramidal atriums are perhaps the most dramatic of Park Hyatt Tokyo’s spaces. The three-tower, stepped-back design is distinctive and also minimises the unwelcome effects of skyscraper construction on sunshine and wind flow.

The offset configuration of the three towers gives an aesthetically pleasing impression of slenderness. Regular variations in the angles of the exterior surfaces of the three towers, which are slightly offset from each other, help to reduce wind vortices on the ground. The building is also angled and its footprint is tapered to prevent it from casting too much of a shadow on a nearby park, that is popular with office workers for their lunch breaks. The building was designed for continuity with the surrounding business district, large city park, and future cultural district planned around the New National Theatre.

HOTEL INTERIOR DESIGN

Inside the Park Hyatt, efforts are made to allow water, light, stone, and organic life to infiltrate the space. Granite gives the public spaces an earthy feel while mirrors bring in light or reflect the sky. The warmth of wood is used to make sterile furniture arrangements more attractive, and natural textiles line the walls for a cosy touch.

The lobby of the hotel is on the 41st floor of the building and contains jester sculptures by actress Mieko Yuki. The hotel’s interior design is by John Morford. The hotel rooms are panelled with ‘water elm’ from Hokkaido – trees that are salvaged from the bottom of lakes and rivers. In some cases, the trees have been under water for 2,000 years before being used for the hotel project.

HOTEL RESTAURANTS AND BARS

The hotel has five fine restaurants, including the New York Grill situated on the 52nd floor, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows offering breathtaking views of Tokyo. The menu features a wide selection of prime quality Japanese and imported beef, market-fresh seafood and poultry. Kozue is the Japanese restaurant. The menu features only the finest seasonal ingredients for the hearty, home-style dishes which are uniquely presented on beautiful earthenware, porcelain and lacquer ware. There is also an extensive sake list.

Girandole is a French brasserie offering all day dining and simple, delicious fare that is satisfyingly authentic. The Peak Lounge features a skylit bamboo garden, and serves luscious desserts and fresh homemade cakes, classical English afternoon tea, light cuisine and cocktails.

The New York Bar is one of Tokyo’s most spectacular venues for live music. The bar offers classic and original cocktails, premium cognac and brandies, and the largest selection of American wines in Japan, in addition to a casual dining menu. The Peak Bar, with its bamboo garden softly lit by more than 50 washi paper lanterns overlooking a glittering sea of city lights below, offers classic cocktails and light cuisine.