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Imperial Hotel Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan · Imperial Hotels · Grand Luxury
The Imperial Hotel's original 1890 building was one of Japan's first Western-style hotels, built for foreign dignitaries visiting the Imperial court. Frank Lloyd Wright's celebrated 1923 replacement opened on September 1, the very day the Great Kanto earthquake struck Tokyo; its unusual floating foundation held while much of the city collapsed. That building was demolished in 1968; the 17-story tower that replaced it in 1970 is the hotel operating today, though Wright's lobby survives, rebuilt piece by piece at the Meiji-Mura museum near Nagoya.
- 909 rooms
- Opened 1890
- Neighborhood: Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku
- Rooms from 323 sq ft (30 m²)
- Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright
About Imperial Hotel Tokyo
- The hotel is one of Tokyo's 'three great hotels' (gosanke), along with Hotel Okura and Hotel New Otani, and the only one of the three that has operated continuously since before World War II.
- Princess Sayako, the only daughter of Emperor Akihito, held her wedding reception at the hotel in November 2005 after marrying a commoner and leaving the imperial family.
- Architect Frank Lloyd Wright left Japan in July 1922, a year before his Imperial Hotel building opened, leaving the final months of construction to his Japanese assistant Arata Endo.
- A planned redevelopment by architect Tsuyoshi Tane will eventually give the hotel a fourth main building, with completion not expected before 2036.
- Entry-level rooms start at 323 sq ft (30 m²).
History
The Imperial Hotel opened in 1890 as one of Japan's first Western-style hotels, built so foreign dignitaries could sleep within reach of the Imperial court. Frank Lloyd Wright's replacement opened on 1 September 1923, the morning the Great Kanto earthquake hit Tokyo. Wright had already left Japan in July 1922, leaving the last months to his assistant Arata Endo. The floating foundation held while much of the city came down.
That Wright building was demolished in 1968. The seventeen-story tower of 1970 is the house operating today, nine hundred and nine keys facing the palace moat. Wright's lobby survives piece by piece at the Meiji-Mura museum near Nagoya. Princess Sayako, Emperor Akihito's only daughter, held her wedding reception here in November 2005 after marrying a commoner and leaving the imperial family.
It is the one of Tokyo's three great hotels that has kept its doors open since before the war.
Restaurants and bars
- Old Imperial Bar — Bar
- The Imperial Viking Sal — Restaurant
- The Imperial Lounge Aqua — Bar
- Parkside Diner — Restaurant
- The Rendez-Vous Lounge — Bar
Experiences
- Discover Imperial: Audio-Guided Tour of Imperial History — Self-guided audio tour (Japanese or English) of artworks and exhibits throughout the hotel, about 20-30 minutes, using your own smartphone.
Amenities
- Spa
- Indoor pool
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Kids' club
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star (2026)
- Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards (2025)
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