The interiors of The Kitano Hotel Tokyo, and (right) Mari Koike, the director and PR officer of the property.Japan, and Tokyo in particular, are becoming increasingly popular among Indian travellers. ET HospitalityWorld had an exclusive interaction with Mari Koike, Director and PR Officer of The Kitano Hotel Tokyo, a member of the Relais & Châteaux collection, to discuss the property and what it offers travellers from the subcontinent.“The Kitano Hotel Tokyo enjoys a unique location that combines convenience with tranquillity. We are easily accessible from both Haneda Airport and Tokyo Station, while also being close to Tokyo’s major shopping and cultural districts. At the same time, our neighbourhood offers a peaceful atmosphere and a strong sense of safety—something many guests truly appreciate after a busy day exploring the city.“Our hotel is an intimate, independently owned property. Although compact in scale, it offers all the amenities expected of a luxury hotel while providing highly personalised hospitality. We take the time to understand each guest’s individual needs, creating a stay that feels both comfortable and genuinely welcoming,” Koike said.For guests from South Asia, the hotel aims to provide more than simply a luxurious stay. Travelling in Japan can sometimes feel unfamiliar, so its team is committed to offering thoughtful assistance, from personalised sightseeing recommendations to accommodating a wide range of dietary requirements.“Whether dining in our own restaurants or recommending trusted venues throughout the city, we strive to ensure every guest feels comfortable, cared for and at home throughout their stay,” she added.Japan is widely recognised for its exceptional standards of hospitality, but luxury hospitality takes many forms, depending on a hotel’s history, scale and philosophy.“At The Kitano Hotel Tokyo, we believe true luxury lies in genuinely personal service. Because of our intimate size, we are able to remember our guests by name, understand their preferences and respond thoughtfully to their individual needs. That level of personal attention has become increasingly rare, particularly in larger hotels.“While we embrace the warmth and attentiveness associated with traditional Japanese hospitality, we also provide the modern facilities, comfort, cleanliness and safety expected by today’s international travellers. Our goal is to preserve the timeless values of Japanese omotenashi while presenting them in a contemporary setting, ensuring they remain relevant for future generations of travellers,” she said.The hotel also has a strong F&B presence in a city known for its many Michelin-starred restaurants. Koike said Tokyo offers an extraordinary culinary landscape, and many visitors arrive with a long list of renowned restaurants they hope to experience. With that in mind, the hotel’s role is not to compete with every destination restaurant in the city, but rather to create dining experiences that complement guests’ stays.“When developing our restaurants, one of our priorities was flexibility. We wanted to ensure that, whether guests were celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for a comforting meal after a long day, they could always find something suited to their mood and appetite. For that reason, we maintain an extensive à la carte menu alongside our signature dining experiences, with an emphasis on honest ingredients, carefully prepared dishes, and cuisine that is both refined and nourishing.“While maintaining high gastronomic standards, we also strive to create an atmosphere where guests feel comfortable enjoying even a single dish or a casual meal,” she said.“Despite being a boutique hotel, we offer a diverse collection of dining experiences—from our elegant French restaurant and tea lounge, where guests can experience a Japanese tea ceremony, to our rooftop bar overlooking Tokyo’s skyline. We also provide room service and have a respected sushi restaurant within the hotel, allowing us to accommodate a wide variety of guest preferences throughout their stay,” Koike added.On what Indian guests can expect during their stay at The Kitano, Koike said one of the hotel’s greatest strengths was its deep understanding of Japanese culture and its ability to introduce guests to authentic experiences beyond the ordinary. Thanks to the owner’s passion for Japanese traditions, the hotel can recommend exceptional cultural experiences, shopping destinations and artisans that many visitors may not easily discover on their own.“Our Japanese tea ceremony experience, for example, is led by knowledgeable practitioners using authentic utensils, ensuring guests gain a genuine appreciation of the tradition. Throughout the hotel, guests will also find museum-quality artwork that changes with the seasons, allowing them to experience Japanese aesthetics as part of their stay.“Whether a guest is searching for fine tea, handcrafted ceramics or other traditional items, we do not simply direct them to popular souvenir shops. Instead, we introduce them to carefully selected specialists and artisans who represent the highest level of Japanese craftsmanship,” she said.“Being an owner-operated hotel allows us to share these authentic experiences with a level of passion, flexibility and personal knowledge that is difficult to replicate elsewhere. We believe this is what makes a stay at The Kitano Hotel Tokyo truly distinctive for international guests, including those visiting from India,” Koike concluded.
