Park hotel Tokyo
 |
| Looking up to the Park Hotel Tokyo |
The Park Hotel – welcome to the Shiodome
The Shiodome area was originally a tidal marshland separating the Imperial palace from Tokyo Bay. During the Edo Period (1603-1867) the marshes were dried up and developed into residential land. Shiodome literally means “halt the tides”
One entire floor of the hotel has been given over to the Artist in Hotel project. Each room on the 31st floor is being decorated with a work of art by a Japanese artist. We were treated to a view of some of the amazing rooms.
Broadly themed on “Japanese aesthetics,” artists draw on the walls and decorate the rooms with their original paintings and art objects. A finished Artist Room is a pure art form encapsulating the creator’s passion and views.
Themes for the rooms include the Dragon room where a great fiery beast curls around the walls, and the Zen room which is very spiritual and peaceful. One artwork is inspired by the might of the Sumo wrestler and one by the beauty of the Cherry Blossom season. Another room becomes a forest of bamboo. One represents a colourful, public bathhouse, complete with views of Mount Fuji and comic characters taking a dip in the waters.
 |
| Taking a dip in the Public baths |
Park Hotel Tokyo – Art meets hospitality
Ms Narita said “When I looked out of the window, I felt like I was inside an aquarium.”
The fish give the feeling of floating. In ancient times a dream of being in a room surrounded by goldfish that are lucky charms, would bring good luck to the customers who stayed there. It is stunning.
 |
| Gorgeous Geishas |
The Park Hotel – the Zodiac room
The Zodiac room is where painter Ryosuke Yasumoto decorated a room themed on the 12 signs of the Zodiac, while staying at the hotel for 11 days last year.
“I will be happy if the guests can sense the world of the humorous, old folk tale of the 12 signs of the Zodiac,” said Yasumoto about the room filled with lively images of the animals.
The cat and weasel, which are not included in the 12 signs but appeared in the folk tale about how they missed out on being chosen, are included in the room decoration.
Yasumoto makes the most of the three-dimensional canvas. Visitors lying on the bed can make eye contact with the tiger painted on the back wall through a mirror or spot a monkey hiding behind the curtain.
 |
| Tiger taming in the Zodiac room |
Every room in the Park Hotel Tokyo has its own fabulous view out over this unique city. Right outside the hotel is a first class view of the famous Tokyo tower which is modelled on the Eiffel tower in Paris. The tower has its own impressive illuminations at night and it stands out among the stunning space age skyline. At 333m high it is 13m taller than the French tower and is a symbol of the city’s post WWII re birth. It looks rather retro among the other ultra-modern buildings.
 |
| Reception with a view |
Tokyo shopping
The hotel is in a great location close to the world renowned shopping district of Ginza. There are lots of up market stores, including the biggest Uniqlo in Japan which we had to pop in to. There are also of art galleries and theatres nearby, including the Kabuki-za Theatre.
 |
| Smart shopping at Uniqlo |
By contrast, just around the corner under the railway tracks near Shimbashi station is a network of little alleyways with tiny stand up bars and restaurants. Here, crowds of office workers descend to eat drink and talk. Another fascinating snapshot of alternative Japanese culture.
 |
| Mini stand up restaurant |
The staff at the Park Hotel Tokyo make you feel very welcome indeed. They are super attentive, have very good English and are actually quite charming. One lady on the desk even apologized for our recent earthquake experience! If you are going to the Far East and looking for Tokyo accommodation, I cannot recommend this fabulous hotel highly enough for your very own lost in translation experience.
Check out the full earthquake experience story here
Check out GOTOKYO