Fashion can reveal a lot about a city. In Tokyo, it reflects the relationship between tradition, craftsmanship and contemporary design. Palace Hotel Tokyo explores this connection through Couture Tokyo: The Art of Japanese Fashion, a new stay experience that introduces guests to the people, places and ideas shaping Japanese fashion today.
The experience is part of the hotel’s Best of Japan series and is curated by fashion and luxury culture scholar Kaori Nakano. Guests can choose from three private fashion tours across Daikanyama, Ginza and Omotesando/Ura-Harajuku, with each route offering a different look at the city’s fashion landscape.
The stay includes two nights at Palace Hotel Tokyo, daily breakfast, a special kaiseki dinner at Wadakura, an original hotel tote bag by Japanese textile brand suzusan, a privately guided fashion tour with private car service and a gift from one of the brands featured on the selected route.
Three Sides Of Tokyo Fashion
In Ginza, the tour begins with Wako, one of Tokyo’s longstanding retail institutions. Housed in the landmark Seiko House, Wako brings together Japanese craftsmanship, jewellery, fashion and design. Its second-floor Jewelry Square features pieces from its own jewellery brands, while the gallery-like basement presents exhibitions by established and emerging Japanese artists.
The route can also include Dover Street Market Ginza, offering a different side of the neighbourhood through its mix of contemporary fashion and streetwear.
Daikanyama takes a closer look at Japanese design and craftsmanship. One of the stops is the flagship boutique of Jun Ashida, a pioneer of Japanese prêt-à-porter whose approach to elegant and practical clothing has continued through his daughter, Tae Ashida.
The nearby MIZEN TOKYO Atelier + Showroom takes another approach, built around the idea of “Slow Fashion, Slow Luxury”. Its workshop and boutique are combined in one space, allowing visitors to see the relationship between making and the finished garment.
Meanwhile, the Omotesando and Ura-Harajuku route looks at the relationship between traditional Japanese dress and contemporary fashion. Guests can visit Kimono Yamato, KIMONO ARCH and Y. & SONS, each offering a different interpretation of kimono and how it can be worn today.
The route also includes CFCL, which uses 3D computer-aided knitting technology to create contemporary knitwear, and PORTER, where visitors can see Japanese artisans working at the brand’s flagship store.
A Dinner Inspired By Kenzo Takada
The connection between fashion and Palace Hotel Tokyo also continues at Wadakura. The stay package includes a special prix-fixe kaiseki dinner featuring a shabu-shabu presentation that was a favourite of the late designer Kenzo Takada during his stays at the hotel.
Takada was the first Japanese designer to achieve widespread acclaim in the Parisian fashion scene. His work helped bring Japanese design into the international fashion conversation, making his connection with the hotel a fitting part of the experience.
The package also includes an original Palace Hotel Tokyo tote bag created by suzusan, a contemporary Japanese textile brand.
For guests looking for a more personal experience, the fashion tour can be led by a guide trained on Nakano’s curated routes. At an additional charge, guests can also be accompanied by Nakano herself alongside an interpreter. A separate half-day tour can also be arranged around individual interests.
Seeing Tokyo Through Its Fashion
What makes Couture Tokyo: The Art of Japanese Fashion different is its focus on the stories behind the clothes. The experience moves beyond the usual shopping itinerary to look at the designers, artisans and techniques that continue to shape Japanese fashion.
From the long history of kimono to new approaches in knitwear and Japanese tailoring, each route offers a different perspective on how tradition continues to influence contemporary design.
The package is available for stays from now, subject to availability, with prices starting at JPY 372,000 based on double occupancy. Booking requests must be made at least 14 days in advance.
