As you make your way toward the Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel, you’ll find yourself surrounded by the canals of the bay itself. Somehow, while still in Tokyo, this area is like a quiet waterside town, away from the crowds and never-ending noise you’ll find so easily elsewhere in the center. It is precisely this bay location that inspired much of the hotel’s décor and motifs.
Creativity in a Waterside Post Town at Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel
The central theme at the Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel is the concept of “Mizube Shukubamachi” or a “Waterfront Post Town.” This comes from the days when Tokyo was once called Edo. At the edges of Edo were these post towns, and four thrived during that time: Shinjuku, Shinagawa, Itabashi, and Senju. The hope is that Shiomi will be a fifth thriving post town, acting as a connecting point between the Maihama area and central Tokyo.
From that theme comes the hotel’s inspiration for its characteristic décor. Walking in from the Shiomi Station side, you’ll immediately understand that style is important at this hotel. Walk through the moodily lit corridor to see paintings lit up before you, taking you through the Edo Period to the modern day. Watch out for the seabird perched atop the lamp. Then, turn the corner to find yourself in a large, spacious, and oh-so-stylish lobby.
Your eyes will be immediately drawn to the high ceilings decorated with bulbs and ship steering wheels. See how many of these nods to seafaring you can find throughout the lobby, as an important part of the motif is in Edo’s shipbuilding history.
However, the giant floral designs on the lobby walls are built on the connection between the Edo Period and the modern-day. A famous saying about feminine beauty in the traditional performance art of Rakugo is “She sits and stands a peony and walks a lily.” So here you’ll find a huge peony and lily. This features designs inspired by Edo Komon, a signature fabric of the time when luxury was banned, and hidden elements of luxury and fun were snuck into everyday items.
A Spacious Bathhouse and Relaxing Rooms
The artful motifs are carried on throughout the hotel, not least in the large bathhouse area.
On your visit to the baths, you will first walk through a serene area of neutral colors and natural forms. This is the rest area to let the relaxation truly hit after the baths, but it doubles as an invitation to decompress as you make your way to the baths themselves.
Separated into men’s and women’s areas, both have a luxurious 200m2 area with two spacious baths. The men’s area also has a stone sauna and water bath, while the women’s area has a steam sauna. The artistic creativity follows through into these baths, too, with a modern take on the famous Hokusai’s Ukiyoe, “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” which is a series of “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji “ in the men’s bathroom, and a modern pop piece inspired by Monet’s “Water Lillies” in the women’s bathroom.
Both areas have amenities provided by THALGO’s “La Mer,” as well as lockers and hair dryers. You can even check the status of the baths from the TV set in your room if you’d like to go when things are a little quieter.
Of course, the sense of style and artistic flair also continues on the guest room floors. Exiting the lift to your floor, you’ll find one of six designs in the elevator lobby. Two are inspired by the seasons, while the rest are stylish takes on maps of Tokyo throughout the years.
The rooms are surprisingly spacious for a central Tokyo hotel, with ample room to feel at ease. But what design you get will be a surprise, as there are all sorts of room designs based on various cultural elements of Tokyo. Some rooms have a geometric pink flower design based on cherry blossom viewing, while others have a blue design with a bright autumn moon, based on “TSUKIMI” or the culture moon viewing. Of course, there are still nods to the shipbuilding history, such as the bubbles in the lampshades.
More Than Just Fish at This Seafaring Inn
While the shipbuilding theme certainly doesn’t stop at the restaurant, it is by no means a seafood-only establishment. “Restaurant & Bar Tide Table Shiomi” offers an array of high-quality dishes, from traditional assorted appetizers to black wagyu steak.
An important part of “Waterfront Post Town” is a fish market, from which TIDE TABLE Shiomi’s decor originates. But the food itself combines Japanese ingredients and French culinary techniques. This once again brings elements of Edo into the modern day.
TIDE TABLE Shiomi offers both set course and a-la-carte options, with the Chef’s Special Course featuring seven dishes, including a main meat dish. While the food changes with the seasons, at the time of publishing, the set course had items such as “Hassun style” seafood appetizers, Japanese black wagyu beef with a miso red wine sauce, and a fig dessert.
This is all alongside a varied drinks selection, with several different whiskies and spirits to choose from. But if you’re going to sample their beverages, you may as well go all out at the bar with their impressive cocktails. The bar serves classics like a Tequila Sunrise and a Moscow Mule. Still, the highlight is, without a doubt, their original seasonal cocktails.
Whether through creative cocktails and cuisine or the relaxing baths, elements of Edo culture and modern creativity pop up throughout your stay. The staff takes the importance of the hotel’s unique artistic side seriously. This is especially so for the General Manager, Yoshihiro Yano. He leaves us with these words: “The combination of tradition and history with art and creativity is a rare combination even in Tokyo. This, alongside our focus on providing welcoming hospitality, is what we on the team take particular pride in.”
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2-8-16 Shiomi, Koto-ku 135-0052
03-6660-3222
