Where to Stay, and Where to Eat Tempura, in Kyoto (Published 2019)

The Ace Hotel in Kyoto, Japan, set to open in spring, is drawing attention for its unique design and thoughtful amenities. This project is a collaboration between Ace Hotel's longtime partner Commune Design and local architect Kengo Kuma, known for his work on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic stadium. The hotel aims to blend traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern luxury, offering a fresh perspective on hotel room design. The guest rooms in the Ace Hotel Kyoto feature standard luxury elements such as minibars, lounges, and spacious vanities, but elevate them with distinct Japanese-inspired touches. These include tatami mattresses, Tivoli radios, and original artworks from local artists. A particular focus has been placed on optimizing storage solutions, ensuring both functionality and aesthetic appeal within the rooms. One of the standout design elements is the enhanced medicine cabinets in the bathrooms. Unlike typical apartment fixtures, these cabinets are crafted from tamo wood, a local wood similar to western American ash. They feature a sliding door at the bottom, which allows for discreet storage of everyday items while also providing an opportunity to display more visually appealing bottles or decorative elements. For rooms with double vanities, a column of integrated niches offers convenient storage for shared toiletries, addressing a common organizational challenge for couples. Another innovative feature is the multipurpose sofa bed, a simplified version inspired by traditional Japanese futon seating. This design addresses the common issue of cumbersome sofa beds in hotel rooms. The bolster cushion of this sofa doubles as a blanket, making it easy for guests to convert it for a quick nap or additional sleeping space without a complex unfolding process. This thoughtful detail emphasizes ease of use and comfort. Furthermore, the hotel reinterprets the room divider in its Historic guest rooms. Instead of conventional solid walls or partitions, perforated black shades are used. These shades can be rolled down to a desk partition, effectively dividing a large, open room into distinct, more private zones. This design choice offers flexibility in space usage and creates a sense of seclusion within the larger room, providing guests with a 'haven within a haven.' The overall design philosophy focuses on creating an experience that encourages guests to fully enjoy their hotel stay, making the room an integral part of their travel experience. #AceHotelKyoto #HotelDesign #JapaneseAesthetics #KengoKuma #CommuneDesign #LuxuryTravel #InteriorDesign #BathroomDesign #Kyoto

MESM Tokyo, a new addition to Marriott's Autograph Collection, offers a unique blend of traditional Japanese hospitality and modern, fashion-forward design. Located in the WATERS Takeshiba building in Hamamatsucho, the hotel occupies floors 16 through 26, providing guests with panoramic views of Tokyo Bay and the historic Hamarikyu Gardens. The hotel's design, orchestrated by Wilson Associates, draws inspiration from the dynamic flow of water and people along the Takeshiba waterfront, influencing its decor, color scheme, and art installations. Each room at MESM Tokyo is a fusion of contemporary and traditional Japanese aesthetics, designed to maximize the impressive views. Entryways feature bespoke consoles, and rooms are equipped with standalone powder rooms and collapsible closet cubicles for a sleek and efficient living space. For guests with a musical inclination, a Casio Privia digital piano is thoughtfully included in each room, adding a unique touch to the guest experience. Dining at MESM Tokyo is an experience in itself. The Chef’s Theatre restaurant offers French bistro cuisine prepared with fresh, locally sourced Japanese ingredients, all within a dining room that pays homage to kabuki theater. For a more relaxed atmosphere, Whisk provides cocktails, coffee, and light bites, centered around an elegant cantilevered marble bar. The hotel also caters to corporate and social events with a multi-function room capable of accommodating up to 90 people. Adhering to the Autograph Collection's philosophy of providing distinct experiences tailored to each destination, MESM Tokyo emphasizes showcasing the city's latest trends in fashion, art, technology, and lifestyle. This commitment is evident through the inclusion of locally sourced products throughout the hotel, such as men's skincare from Bulk Homme and coffee from the trendy Sarutahiko Coffee. These curated selections allow guests to immerse themselves in Tokyo's contemporary culture and stay current with local trends. In essence, MESM Tokyo represents a sophisticated retreat that marries luxurious accommodations with cultural authenticity. The strategic location, coupled with thoughtful design and bespoke amenities, positions it as a significant hospitality offering in the Japanese capital. The hotel aims to not only mesmerize its guests through its design and services but also to connect them with the vibrant pulse of Tokyo's innovative and traditional landscapes. #MESMTokyo #AutographCollection #LuxuryHotel #TokyoHospitality #JapaneseDesign #WaterfrontViews #HotelInterior #TravelJapan #TokyoHotels

This article highlights seven distinctive Airbnb properties across Japan, offering travelers unique accommodation experiences beyond conventional hotels. The selection ranges from tranquil Zen temple retreats to tropical treehouses and modern, themed apartments, each providing a memorable stay with a blend of traditional Japanese aesthetics and contemporary comforts. The first featured property is Temple Stay Zenso in Gunma, a renovated extension of the 700-year-old Horinji Temple. This retreat offers an immersive Zen experience with activities like Zazen meditation and Sutra scripture writing, while also providing modern amenities such as an outdoor dining area for barbecues and a lounge with a TV, balancing spiritual practice with relaxation. Next, in Kyoto, a Zen-inspired Machiya offers a blend of traditional and modern Japanese design within a refurbished 100-year-old townhouse. It features tatami flooring, sliding washi doors, a private garden, and a luxurious bathtub overlooking the garden, all while being conveniently located near a train station and popular tourist spots like Gion district and Heian Shrine. Moving south to Okinawa, Bansho no Ie is a bungalow surrounded by banana fields and lush jungle, offering easy access to the beach. This two-bedroom abode is also near various pottery studios, providing guests with opportunities to engage in local crafts. In Hokkaido, Tida House presents a quaint country cottage experience, designed with straw and concrete walls to ensure warmth during snowy winters. This humble two-bedroom home, reminiscent of a Ghibli film, offers a projector with Netflix for cozy indoor entertainment amidst a peaceful setting of neighboring homes and potato fields. Another Okinawan gem, Mori no Subako, is a dream treehouse getaway complete with a hammock, stunning ocean views, and a barbecue-equipped balcony. Despite its natural setting, a nearby café ensures creature comforts, and its location is a short drive from the historic Nakijin Castle ruins, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Yanaka Sow in Tokyo offers a hip guesthouse experience in Nippori, blending old and new with shared spaces like a kitchen, laundry room, and library. This property aims to foster a sense of community among travelers, offering guest rooms for four and six people with unmanned check-in and check-out, providing a local living experience. Finally, the Moshi Moshi Rooms in Tokyo’s Harajuku district provide three distinctively themed apartments. The third floor, Dosokoi, is inspired by traditional sento (public bathhouses) with a hinoki wood tub and a mural by a public bath painter. The floor above draws inspiration from origami, while the fifth-floor Sakura Room offers a modern, all-pink aesthetic, showcasing Harajuku's kawaii culture. These Airbnbs collectively provide a diverse range of accommodations, catering to different preferences and ensuring a unique and memorable stay in Japan. #JapanTravel #Airbnb #UniqueStays #TempleStay #Machiya #Okinawa #Hokkaido #TokyoAccommodation #Harajuku

This project details the construction of a compact office building situated within a residential area in Kitakyushu, Japan. The primary occupant is Ecoplan Corporation, a company specializing in wildlife and vegetation studies. The architectural design, a collaboration between Furumori Koichi architectural design studio and Daiju Kuwahara, was completed in 2024 and spans an area of 444 square meters. Kyoko Omori provided the photographic documentation for the project. The lead architectural team included Koichi Furumori, Kohei Hashisako, and Kenichi Anai, with Daiju Kuwahara also playing a key role. Structural engineering was handled by Kenichiro Takashima, while Tomohiro Urata was responsible for the landscape architecture. Azuma Kensetsu served as the general contractor for the construction. The project integrates into a residential neighborhood, emphasizing a design that harmonizes with its surroundings. The choice of Ecoplan Corporation as the tenant suggests a focus on environmental considerations, potentially influencing material selection and design elements. The building’s modest size indicates a tailored approach to meet the specific needs of the company, rather than a large-scale commercial development. The involvement of multiple specialists, including structural engineers and landscape architects, highlights a comprehensive design and construction process, ensuring both structural integrity and aesthetic integration with the site's natural elements. The architecture likely considers aspects such as natural light, ventilation, and material sustainability, given the tenant's focus on environmental research. Photographs by Kyoko Omori capture various aspects of the building, including interior spaces, exterior views, and possibly details of material use. The images, which include wood and glass elements, suggest a design that incorporates natural materials and maximizes transparency to foster a connection with the outdoors. The mention of beams in some image descriptions indicates structural expression within the interior, contributing to the overall aesthetic. Aerial views and cityscape images would provide context regarding the building's placement within Kitakyushu’s urban fabric and its relationship to the broader environment. Key design features potentially include a thoughtful integration of wood, which can offer warmth and a natural feel to the office environment. Glass components would allow for ample natural light, reducing reliance on artificial lighting and enhancing the working atmosphere. The phrase "Office in the Breeze" in the title hints at a design that facilitates natural airflow and promotes a comfortable indoor climate. This could involve strategically placed windows, balconies, or other architectural elements designed to harness prevailing winds. The building's category as "Commercial Architecture" within a residential context suggests a nuanced approach to zoning and community integration, possibly requiring sensitive design choices to blend functionality with neighborhood character. The collaboration between two design studios implies a rich exchange of ideas and expertise, likely leading to an innovative and well-considered architectural solution. The project serves as an example of contemporary commercial architecture in Japan, demonstrating how design can respond to both client needs and environmental considerations within a specific urban setting. The area of 444 square meters signifies a mid-sized project that allows for detailed attention to both functional layout and aesthetic quality, potentially incorporating flexible workspaces to support Ecoplan Corporation’s research activities. #CommercialArchitecture #JapaneseArchitecture #Kitakyushu #OfficeDesign #WoodArchitecture #GlassArchitecture #EnvironmentalDesign #KyokoOmori

Miyabi by Sunaba, situated at a bustling intersection within a modern complex in Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese tearoom designed to function as a versatile spiritual sanctuary. The project aims to celebrate the ancient Japanese tea ceremony while seamlessly transitioning between everyday commercial activities and traditional Japanese practices. The design integrates calming natural elements into an urban setting, creating a quiet space that evokes a Zen ambiance through a deliberate sequence of spatial movements, warm lighting, and traditional Japanese architectural features. The primary objective is to provide visitors with an immersive and extraordinary experience through carefully considered spatial development. Drawing inspiration from the traditional tea ceremony's concept of Shichu no Sankyo, which signifies a mountain retreat within the city, Sunaba incorporates a small tea garden, or Roji, to bring the tranquility of nature into the urban environment. A narrow Roji path, characterized by small rocks and dark wooden paneling, marks the transition from the city's hustle. This path guides visitors into the tearoom, enveloped in a contemplative atmosphere created by warm wooden interiors and stone-lined walkways. As individuals proceed through the softly lit space, corrugated glass diffuses natural light, contributing to a sense of spiritual purification. Inside Miyabi, the layout is structured around the sacred Koma space, which is the small, intimate area for the tea ceremony. This central space is surrounded by a Mizuya (preparation room) and the Roji, ensuring a quiet and secluded environment for the ritual. To further enhance the tearoom's privacy and serenity, the architects installed a 100 mm thick corrugated glass screen along the condominium's large glass wall facade. This screen effectively attenuates external sound and light, maintaining a peaceful atmosphere suitable for the tea ceremony. The design ensures that the space remains adaptable, capable of hosting various commercial activities while retaining its spiritual core and traditional aesthetic. #JapaneseArchitecture #TearoomDesign #ZenDesign #TokyoArchitecture #UrbanSanctuary #TraditionalJapanese #SpatialDesign #NatureInspired #SpiritualSpace