Enjoy art and a classic teatime at the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo

The Imperial Hotel, Tokyo is known for having stars from all over the world stay there. Opened in 1890, the hotel has a long history and it first served as the State Guest House. Staying there is a dream, but anyone can of course enjoy a fabulous tea time without staying overnight. On top of that, you can also enjoy gorgeous works of art!

The Imperial Hotel, Tokyo

After strolling around Hibiya Park, I entered the hotel through the main entrance. The smiling hotel staff greeted me while I walked towards the gorgeous chandelier and beautiful flower arrangement in the center of the lobby.

A seasonal lobby flower arrangement using fresh flowers. It’s also a popular photo spot.
The gorgeous chandelier right above the flower arrangement! It is called “Golden Rose (Minami Tada, 2001)” and was built using 368 glass pieces. It is one of the symbols of the hotel.
A “Wall of Light” at the Rendez-Vous Lounge
The “Rendez-Vous Lounge”. The carpet with a geometric design is so unusual and nice!

The Rendez-Vous Lounge in the hotel lobby is an open space with a calm atmosphere. It is a good place for a wide range of situations such as meet-ups, business meetings, small family gatherings, and tea parties with friends.

The interior is also amazing! The huge artwork “Reimei” (meaning dawn, also called “Wall of Light” by Minami Tada, 1970) that covers the entire wall is really impressive and you don’t get tired looking at it. The colorful glass blocks shine in delicate color gradations expressing a “seaside scene at dawn”. Beautiful!

The “Wall of Light” with a height of 8m and a width of 25m is a BIG masterpiece! Approximately 7,600 individual blocks of glass were chemically treated to create the uneven surface and variations of colors. Look closely: about 60 colors have been used for this masterpiece!

Trying the superb cake!

Eventually, I sat down and had not one, but two kinds of their recommended cakes. The table in the corner is a special seat of the Rendez-Vous Lounge that allows you to get a look at the “Wall of Light” up close!

My first cake choice was the “Japanese Chestnut Cake”. I really enjoyed the light sweetness which made the taste feel very polished. The Japanese chestnut cream, sponge cake, whipped cream, and the nuts were exactly what you would expect when you think of an autumnal taste!

The “Japanese Chestnut Cake” is an autumn-only menu. It is available until November 30, 2020
Commended by the prestigious Japan Tea Association as a purveyor of fine teas, the tea in the Rendez-Vous Lounge was delicious! Choose one of their 6 kinds of tea.

The next cake was the hotel’s famous “Blueberry Pie”. The popular product has been baked using the basically same recipe since the opening “Gargantua” (1971) ー a hotel shop that sells takeaway cakes and souvenirs.

The famous Blueberry Pie. The pie has so many devoted fans, that the hotel decided to create pie-patterned items that are available at the souvenir shop!

Back to the pie. The pie is made by combining two different types of puff pastry finished with a buttery flavor. The crispy pie, the rich-tasting blueberry filling, warmed up for the perfect harmony together with ice cream and whipped cream, what else do you need?

The hotel’s original tote bag has a blueberry pie design (Available from November 1st)

Whether you stop by after a walk in Hibiya Park or for a break after a shopping spree, the lounge of the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo is the perfect place for a special tea time surrounded by beautiful artworks!

 

Imperial Hotel, Tokyo

https://www.imperialhotel.co.jp/j/tokyo/
1-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/gpf4qbacz8JeJwa68
Nearest Stations: Hibiya Station, Uchisaiwaicho Station, Ginza Station, Yurakucho Station, Shimbashi Station