HOSHINOYA Tokyo is structured like a tower where every floor functions as a 6-room ryokan, an exclusive domain accessible only to guests staying on that floor. Most activity takes place in the ochanoma--a lounge that is seamlessly connected to every room on the floor via a tatami-matted corridor. Like in ochanoma at classic ryokans, a wide selection of refreshments--seasonal teas and confectionery during the day--are set out for guests staying on that floor to enjoy at any time. Guests are encouraged to treat the ochanoma as their own living room, where they may read a book, do some work, or relax and pass the time. Rooms combine traditional design with contemporary furnishings, but the lighting is classically Japanese. Windows hidden behind shoji screens can be opened during the day to let the light project elegant shadows on the tatami floors; lights concealed behind walls and in paper-like casings produce soft illumination. Baths are wide and deep so that guests may fully soak themselves in the water.
Soft sunlight pours in through the paper window screens in these south-facing corner rooms, which are about twice as large as the Yuri and Sakura rooms. Furnishings include a dining table, a small desk, and a sofa that is wide enough to lie on. The bathroom features a satisfyingly deep bathtub and a shower stall, with windows that can be opened to bring in cool winds. Up to three Japanese futons can be laid out on the bed stand.
These corner rooms feature double beds, tatami floors, and sofas with ornate cypress frames--each is a piece of contemporary furniture decorated with traditional Japanese craftwork. Guests can relax by soaking in the deep bathtub located in the bathroom, which is also furnished with a sink and shower stall, or by basking in the warm sunlight filtering through the shoji paper screens that grace the living area windows. It is a space that offers both privacy and quiet.
Closets and sofas featuring tasteful cypress craft and windows concealed by shoji paper screens provide these rooms with a traditionally Japanese aesthetic. Sakura rooms are located near the ochanoma lounge to entice guests to frequent the lounge--the traditional center of activity in an authentic ryokan. Guests may choose between a twin or double bed; both are designed to resemble a Japanese futon to enhance the Japanese atmosphere.