Founded in 1928 and opened as “Meguro Gajoen” in 1931, this unique facility is full of beautiful cultural artifacts. Its founder, Rikizo Hosokawa, collected sculptures and ornaments, and brought in artists to decorate the walls and ceilings with murals and paintings. A visual pleasure, it quickly earned the nickname “Ryugu-jo of Showa,” the Showa Era Palace of the Dragon King of the Sea.
In recent years the facility has capitalized on specialties outside of weddings. So, in early 2017, it re-debuted as Hotel Gajoen Tokyo to embrace its potential for a new future.
“From venue planning to restaurants to staying overnight, we at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo want our guests to know they can do it all in one, here with us. We are happy to meet a wide range of needs. That includes business.”
Hotel Gajoen Tokyo has a structural style that is both functional and aweing. The ground floor showcases restaurants, from American grills, to Japanese traditional, and round-table Chinese, which are encompassed by a wall of glass facing a waterfall.
Passing by the waterfall, Ms. Rikitoku and I began our tour by stepping onto the center escalator.
“Every banquet hall is quite different,” she explained, “which can make for some pleasant surprises. They each have their own unique themes. Of course, all are available for business use.”
“Exhibits, seminars, conferences, meetings, banquets, there’s really no limit to what we can arrange.”
Dazed, I was also curious. These halls were a great deal grander than I was used to when touring business venues. “What kind of business events do you often have here?”
“Well, for example, let’s take a look at today.” As I wide-eyed stared at Kujaku, Ms. Rikitoku pulled a schedule from her folder and ran her finger down a list. “It looks like we have an automobile company hosting a seminar, a finance corporation representatives’ conference, a fast-food industry meeting, an NPO donors’ banquet, and…a photo shoot.”
“A photo shoot?”
“Oh yes. We often receive place rental requests from film makers, television producers, photographers, or the like who want to use our rooms as setting.”
Woah. Maybe I’d already seen some rooms in a tv show or music video.
“I think it’s the “wah” factor,” Ms. Rikitoku continued, “which attracts a lot of people. Before doing anything at all, the rooms themselves just make you go “wah” as soon as you walk in.”
I felt myself nodding vigorously.
“That effect is an appeal point for business events, as well, as the uniqueness really lends to the atmosphere. Events in these halls stand out. Not to mention, we also offer the benefit of being able to do everything, from start to finish, on one floor.”
That caught my attention. All on one floor? With a stirring of excited anticipation, I followed Ms. Rikitoku to another door
Looking around at the vastness of the room, which I was told could hold up to 1200 people, I marveled at a space this size in Meguro, a central area of inner Tokyo.
“After a keynote here, separate sessions can break off to the halls next door. Meetings can be held in the smaller rooms beside those, and then everyone can come back together for a banquet. An entire conference held on the same floor.”
A conference all on one floor, hosted at a venue within the Yamanote train line…
Were banquet dinners held in the same rooms I had just seen? I asked. As a favorite part of any conference, the party venue could be a clincher.
“Depending on preferences, we can arrange traditional seating on the tatami with low tables, or we can also arrange flooring and standing tables for a regal look. Either setting makes an impression.”
I wanted to live here. “You…mentioned earlier about staying overnight…”
“Yes, but upstairs,” Ms. Rikitoku laughed. “Let me show you to the private rooms.”
In the elevator, Ms. Rikitoku explained their suites and executive lounges. With their re-debut, Hotel Gajoen Tokyo increased their private rooms from 23 to 60.
“In the past, many event attendees would worry about good places to stay in Tokyo once all was finished. Now they can stay here, without worry. Our new suites on the 8th floor, at 80 square meters, can also double as meeting rooms for executive needs.”
On the way out, Ms. Rikitoku kindly led me to the entrance of the older part of their building, where their cultural asset rooms from 1935 were open for an artistic exhibition. There I asked for a few parting words. “This area, Meguro, has great history. In the Edo period, this was an area known for its view of Mt. Fuji, and “Meguro” built up with that consciousness. It’s in a prime location, and it’s beautiful.
We’d love it if Meguro came to mind more often when people choose a Japan location. And, we’d love it if we came to mind when they choose their Meguro venue.
(Maneki no Daimon, front) © 2014 Hotel Gajoen Tokyo
(Maneki no Daimon, Back) © 2017 Bigbeat, Inc.
(Hyakudan Kaidan) © 2014 Hotel Gajoen Tokyo
© 2012 Hotel Gajoen Tokyo
© 2017 Bigbeat, Inc.
(2F Hana Shizuka) © 2017 Hotel Gajoen Tokyo
(3F Orion) © 2017 Hotel Gajoen Tokyo
(4F Seifu) © 2017 Hotel Gajoen Tokyo
(4F Asuka) © 2008 Hotel Gajoen Tokyo
(4F Kujaku) © 2011 Hotel Gajoen Tokyo
(2F Maiogi) © 2017 Hotel Gajoen Tokyo
(4F Entrance to Japanese-style banquet halls) © 2007 Hotel Gajoen Tokyo
(4F Chikurin) © 2017 Bigbeat, Inc.
(4F Washi) © 2017 Hotel Gajoen Tokyo
(Picture of 4F Ushiwaka’s window taken from the 2nd floor) © 2017 Bigbeat, Inc.
(8F Momiji, Suite) © 2017 Bigbeat, Inc.
(8F Shisui, Private Dining) © 2017 Bigbeat, Inc.
“This area, Meguro, has great history. In the Edo period, this was an area known for its view of Mt. Fuji, and “Meguro” built up with that consciousness. It’s in a prime location, and it’s beautiful.
© 2017 Bigbeat, Inc.
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