Chosen as the top Tokyo hotel by Travel + Leisure in 2020, HOSHINOYA Tokyo is a unique luxury hotel that brings the best aspects of the ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) into a tower building. The hotel is already known for combining traditional Japanese and modern aesthetics in innovative ways, but their most recent dining proposal showcases their creativity even further.

Although the number of novel coronavirus infections in Tokyo has decreased, caution is still required. Clear partitions often seen in restaurants may provide a certain level of protection, but they also intrude on the dining experience. For premium dining experiences where decor, aesthetics, and presentation are crucial to their enjoyment, such partitions are an eyesore.

Hoshionoya Tokyo's new "Lantern Dining Experience" proposes an ingenious solution, enabling guests to enjoy a refined Japanese dining experience without the unsightly presence of a square partition panel in front of them. Taking a cue from Japanese paper lanterns, which have traditionally been used not only as a light source but also to display family crests or other information, HOSHINOYA Tokyo created beautiful partitions in the guise of giant lanterns with a part of the washi paper replaced with thin, transparent vinyl. According to HOSHINOYA Tokyo, they were created for their practicality and functional beauty as well as their accordance with the aesthetics of the dining space.

As a soft light illuminates their faces and their meals, diners are free to remove their face masks and enjoy conversations with the full benefit of seeing the facial expressions and clearly hearing the voices of other members of the group. Of course, guests can also feel safe knowing that microdroplets are blocked.

At the same time, whether by design or by coincidence, when viewed at certain angles and lighting, these unique lanterns with their pod-like shapes and ribs in their transparent vinyl material creating what looks like energy fields with floating rings around the diners have something of a sci-fi vibe to them.

Characteristics of the "Lantern Dining Experience"

To create these unique partitions, HOSHINOYA Tokyo collaborated with Kojima Shoten, a long-standing Kyoto lantern manufacturer established during the Kansei era of the Edo period. The framework and illustrations were created by craftsmen. With a diameter of 75 cm (2.5') and a height of 102 cm (3'4"), they allow guests to comfortably enjoy meals with enough space around them and their flexibility allows easy entry and exit. Thanks to the thin, transparent vinyl (0.15mm), guests can enjoy conversations while looking at each other, illuminated by a gentle light source affixed to the top of the lantern.

Dining at HOSHINOYA Tokyo is usually only open to guests staying at the property. However, for the "Lantern Dining Experience," guests can invite friends and family to join them. This is an excellent opportunity for people who might have lost opportunities to have birthday, wedding, or anniversary celebrations, or business dinners due to the restrictions of the pandemic.

Guests can feel safe during the "Lantern Dining Experience." Not only is it hosted in a private space with an area size of approximately 40 square meters (431 square feet), the space is ventilated about 5.5 times per hour or about 11 times more than the minimum established by the Building Standards Act. In addition, the vinyl sheeting prevents infections by microdroplets and the back is open to help with ventilation.

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"Lantern Dining Experience": A focus on fermented foods

About 60% of immune cells that keep our body healthy are present in our intestine so it is said that ingesting fermented products can strengthen the immune system. Japan has a wide variety of fermented products, mainly seasonings such as soy sauce and miso, and preserved foods such as pickles and salted fish.

Diners participating in the "Lantern Dining Experience" will enjoy a special "Nippon cuisine" course focusing on Japan's rich tradition of fermented foods. Fermented and aged ingredients are combined with seasonal and rare ingredients from all over Japan, then cooked with French culinary techniques, highlighting the appeal of the ingredients and bringing out new flavors in the process.

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HOSHINOYA Tokyo Head Chef Noriyuki Hamada

• 1975 Born in Totori Prefecture
• Entered the world of Italian cuisine from the age of 18 and moved on to French cuisine at age 24
• 2000 Participated in FFCC French cuisine Competition
• 2004 Won the Bocuse d’Or Japan as the youngest winner in history
• 2005 Participated in Bocuse d’Or World Competition
• 2007 Selected as one of the academy members of Bocuse d’Or
• 2010 Third place in Le Taittinger – Prix Culinaire International
• 2012 Second place in Bocuse d’Or Asia
• 2013 Third place in the Bocuse d’Or World Competition
• 2016 Head chef at HOSHINOYA Tokyo
• 2017 Served a dish using fish to 1500 guests at the gala dinner for the 30th anniversary of Bocuse d’Or World Competition
• 2020 Participated in the development of milk jam to help curb food waste
• 2021 Judge at the Bocuse d’Or World Competition

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"Lantern Dining Experience" Details

• Price: 30,000 JPY per group (includes tax and service charge) | Nippon Cuisine Dinner Course 21,780 JPY per person (includes tax and service charge)
• Reservation: Required at least 5 days in advance
• Capacity: One group per day
• Eligibility: Open to staying and non-staying guests of HOSHINOYA Tokyo
• Notes: In accordance with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's infection control policy at the time of reservation, the maximum number of people per group will be determined. The facility has obtained a certificate of approval issued by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to restaurants implementing suitable infection prevention measures.

HOSHINOYA Tokyo

• Address: 1-9-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 104-0004
• Number of Rooms: 84
• Check-in: 3:00 pm/ Check-out: 12:00 pm
• Price: Starting from 102,000 JPY per night per room (includes tax and service charge, excludes meals)
• Directions: Approximately 10 minutes by walk from Tokyo Station, 2 minutes by walk from Otemachi Station
• Website


Used with permission from © Hoshino Resorts, Inc.