Edition launches second Tokyo hotel
Ian Schrager’s Edition Hotels has unveiled its second hotel in Tokyo, this time in the district of Ginza.
The brand has once more joined forces with Japanese architect Kengo Kuma to bring The Tokyo Edition, Ginza to life, just three years after Edition’s first foray into Japan with The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon. The new hotel sees Schrager orchestrating a delicate balance between the rich traditions of Japanese culture and the avant-garde Edition ethos.
Spread over 14 floors in a tower clad in vertical gardens and a latticed facade woven from metal, the hotel’s 86 guestrooms feature clean-lined interiors that weave Edition’s timeless designs with Kengo Kuma’s distinct Japanese finesse, resulting in a modern marriage between Schrager’s New York sensibilities and the sharp, traditional detailing that Kuma is known for.
Floors and walls bedecked in walnut timber form a minimalist foundation for bespoke furnishing in travertine and cream-colored leather, while green marble basins and chrome fixtures in every bathroom nod to the district’s glossy varnish. Features of each guestroom include signature Edition faux-fur throws in white and art by Sayaka Maruyama and Takay Photography.
The Penthouse Suite, the hotel’s crown jewel on the 13th floor, unfolds into an open-plan living room, dining area and a fully equipped pantry kitchen to cater to comfortable long-stays and intimate social gatherings.
“Ginza is a district where the cutting edge of the world and traditional Japanese culture are interwoven,” says Kuma. “It’s an area where various city functions overlap and are woven together. Inspired by the concept of ‘weaving’, we have designed The Tokyo Edition, Ginza in this human-scale and walkable city as a new landmark weaving Ginza together and connecting it to the world.”
With its striking vestibule entrance and soaring floor-to-ceiling corner windows, the double-height, street-level lobby is home to a signature Edition bar. The gold-coloured bar, surrounded by ivory fabric armchairs and a sweeping statement sofa, serves up coffee with beans from a local roastery alongside pastries and fresh-pressed juices. Set against the backdrop of a large-scale early 20th century Japanese folding screen, the hotel’s check-in desk stands adjacent to a floor-to-ceiling two-tone lightbox color panel adorning the elevator walkway.
Taking pride of place in the lobby is a sculptural staircase cast from white metal that leads up to Punch Room, the inaugural Japanese outpost of Edition’s punch-focused bar concept. The intimate space on the lobby’s mezzanine floor flows into a moody bar area where coffered walls and ceilings from dark walnut provide an elegant backdrop to tufted couches and chairs upholstered in jewel-hued brocade glinting like topaz and sapphire.
On the 14th floor, Sophie at Edition pays homage to Japan’s abundant seasonal ingredients and rich culinary traditions through the lens of a modern brasserie. Contrasting the intimate, sultry ambiance of the lobby and bar on the lower floors, the restaurant’s straight-lined interiors from blonde oak and white stucco emphasize light and airiness, while pops of color adorning the private dining rooms add a playful touch. A statement feature is the main back wall, embellished with a collection of Tokyo Street photography by seven artists.
One floor up, The Roof delivers a green retreat from the street-level bustle. Hemmed by lush vertical fern gardens and olive trees, the rooftop oasis opens to intimate plant-fringed seating nooks and long communal tables. As Ginza’s first natural wine bar, The Roof fuels social gatherings with biodynamic champagnes, rare orange wines and fizzy and bottled cocktails.
