Hotel Gajoen Tokyo brand themselves as a "museum hotel" showcasing Japanese beauty. It is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The hotel is probably best known for being home to the Hyakudan Kaidan. Hyakudan Kaidan means "100 step staircase", but there are actually only 99 steps. It is a Tangible Cultural Asset of Tokyo, and just one of many veritable treasures inside the hotel.
The simple entrance to the hotel belies the magnificence within. Upon entering the lobby though, you soon get a taste of the grandeur. A wall with several beautiful carved paintings of women in traditional Japanese garb greet you. They are just a small collection of nearly 2500 pieces of art in total in the hotel. Apart from artwork, there is some truly remarkable interior design and architecture. The red moon bridge pictured is in one of the bathrooms!
The hotel has several eateries, including Patisserie "Lien 1928". 'Lien' means bond or connect in French, and 1928 was the year the hotel opened. There is a reasonably priced buffet in the hotel too. The lounge has a view of the hotel's waterfall, and is a lovely place to relax over a pot of tea. These are just a small sample of what is on offer at the opulent Gajoen, fondly nicknamed the Palace of the Dragon God.
Getting there
By public transport: The nearest station is Meguro Station on Tokyo's infamous JR Yamanote line that circles the city. The Tōkyū Meguro line, Namboku subway line and Toei Mita line also service this station. The hotel is located close to the west exit of the station. Diagonally cross the street at the traffic lights and go down the Gyonin Zaka slope until you reach the hotel. There are signposts along the way. If you are staying in the hotel, they have a free shuttle bus. Please ask the hotel directly for more information.
By car: There is limited parking at the hotel. If you can't find a spot at the hotel, there are three coin parking lots close by.
