Ryūgū-jō, in a classic Japanese folktale, is the mythical undersea residence of the Sea God, aka the Dragon Palace Castle.
According to the books, this fabulous palace is home to Princess Otohime. For many Japanese people, the legendary tale of the exquisite building beyond the blue sea with coral walls is as real as Godzilla sitting atop the Hotel Gracery in Tokyo's famous Shinjuku district.
When Hotel Gajoen Tokyo opened its doors in 1928, people were so awed by its richly decorated premises that it reminded them of the mystical underwater residence and nicknamed it "The Palace of the Dragon God."
The Meguro River borders the hotel on one side with a lush Sakura (cherry blossom) garden.
It's about a 3-minute walk to the Meguro metro station, which will be your getaway to explore the more distant parts of Tokyo during your stay.
In Tokyo's art hotel, you can spend the day walking through its museum-like corridors and reading classic literature in its dedicated library filled with books.
Hotel Gajoen Tokyo is famed for its incredible pre-war art collection. About 2,500 pieces of traditional Japanese artwork are scattered around its premises - many are wall-sized.
The grand entrance to the hotel resembles a "tori", a traditional Japanese gate, which symbolizes the departure from this earthly world into a sacred place. What could be a more appropriate gateway to a hotel often called the 'The Palace of the Dragon God'?!
Library Lounge
Chinese Restaurant "Shunyuki"
Executive Lounge "Ouka"
New American Grill "Kanade Terrace"
Japanese Banquet Room "Chikurin"
In this part of the building are seven historical rooms displaying a bygone era with opulence that's rare to find in today's world.
"Hyakudan Kaidan" stands for "100-step staircase" in Japanese. There are 99 steps in reality, but let's not get lost in the details.
Most importantly, the wooden staircase was awarded a listing at the Tangible Cultural Asset of Tokyo for its historical significance - along with some of the rooms it leads to.
One of them is the hyperkitsch Gyosho Room, with wood carvings and paintings on its pillars, walls, and ceilings.
Ambassador Suite
Japanese Room
This room is named after the Japanese waka poet Sagami, born in the 11th century and considered one of Japan's most influential writers.
These traditional Japanese-inn (ryokan) style rooms have tatami mats and warm wooden ceilings and are equipped with a whirlpool bath and a steam sauna - just like all the other suites in this hotel.
Gajoen Suite – Momiji
The hotel's largest and plushest suite spans 2,583 square feet (240 square meters) and has a dining room that accommodates fourteen guests.
1 Chome-8-1 Shimomeguro, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0064, Japan
