A Sea of Clouds Appears in a Tokyo Garden!?

The site of our hotel has been known as "Tsubakiyama" since the Nanboku-cho period (1336–1392) and was depicted in Hiroshige Ando's "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo" and Tsukiomi Saito's "Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in Edo." Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo (Chinzanso) began when Prince Tomosada Yamagata, a prominent figure of the Meiji era, fell in love with this land and built his own garden and residence in 1878 (Meiji 11). It was passed on to Baron Heitaro Fujita, who held a leading position in the Kansai business world during the Taisho era, and now to Fujita Kanko. For over 140 years, this land has been preserved with a deep respect for nature.

These two initiatives mark the first phase of preparations for Chinzanso's 70th anniversary in 2022. With the wish to preserve this natural environment, which brings healing and spiritual enrichment, as the same breathtaking scenery that moved people in the Edo period and Prince Yamagata, and to continue being an oasis that invites people to moments of smiles through its gardens, the hotel aims to be loved and passed down as a garden full of nature for the next 70 years, with initiatives to be carried out over three years.

◇ "Tokyo Cloudscape" – A Miraculous, Breathtaking View Experienced in the Heart of Tokyo –

A cloud sea is a natural phenomenon where fog or stratus clouds form over a wide area due to radiative cooling in mountainous regions. It can only be witnessed when various conditions align, such as atmospheric layers, temperature, wind, and specific seasonal or temporal factors in spring or autumn. This event will recreate that miraculous phenomenon, allowing visitors to experience it while in Tokyo.

Looking down upon the mist-shrouded garden from the building, the green trees visible through the fog appear like islands floating on a sea, offering a view of a fantastical cloudscape. Stepping into the garden reveals a mystical space enveloped in mist, allowing for a special garden stroll.

While natural cloud seas typically appear from before dawn until early morning, the "Tokyo Cloudscape" will emerge several times a day (for a few minutes each time) in the morning, afternoon, and evening, offering different experiences depending on when you encounter it.

In the morning, the mist particles will sparkle, reflecting natural light, while at night, you can savor a profound beauty touched by moonlight. Occasionally, the mist will be dyed "golden" or "brocade," creating an otherworldly spectacle.

We invite you to experience an unprecedented, extraordinary moment in a garden created by mist on a scale rarely seen in Tokyo, blending rich nature with modern technology.

◇ "Thousand Lights Illumination" – A Mystical Nighttime Spectacle Evoking the Vitality of the Garden –
The garden's illumination began in 2008. This "Thousand Lights Illumination" is a renewal after 12 years. To allow visitors to appreciate the garden's natural beauty even at night, each tree is meticulously illuminated by 1000 LED floodlights, vividly showcasing the garden's charm.
The thousand lights illuminating the trees will constantly flicker, sometimes shining brightly, sometimes dimly, and sometimes fading, expressing the vibrant life force of the garden through dynamic light displays.
Additionally, historical sites such as the three-storied pagoda and Rakan stones, along with spots scattered throughout the garden like the pathways, the sacred tree, and the Gojō Waterfall, have been newly illuminated, making it possible to enjoy a mystical garden experience unique to the night.

◇ Implementation Overview
■ Start Date: October 1 (Thursday) – Year-round (tentative schedule at this time)
■ Times: "Tokyo Cloudscape" – Scheduled to appear several times daily
"Thousand Lights Illumination" – After sunset
*Accommodation plans and events related to the initiatives are also planned. Details will be announced later.

◇ About Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo

Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo is a hotel located within a forest-like garden, despite being in the heart of the city. With the concept of "There is Japan that welcomes the world," it offers spaces and experiences where guests can enjoy Japanese hospitality and world-class service standards amidst beautiful nature.

The 267 guest rooms are equipped with comprehensive amenities and functions for guests to relax as if in their second home, while also offering panoramic city views or garden vistas. The hotel also features nine restaurants within the garden and premises, a spa and treatment facility utilizing natural light, 38 banquet rooms accommodating up to 2,000 guests, a chapel, a Shinto shrine, beauty salons, and a photo studio.

The expansive gardens, perfect for strolling, feature a three-storied pagoda and tea houses designated as Important Tangible Cultural Properties, as well as historical sites. With cherry blossoms in spring, vibrant greenery in early summer, fireflies in early summer, the cool mist of waterfalls in summer, autumn foliage, and camellias amidst snowy landscapes in winter, guests can experience the unique charms of each season, making them forget they are in Tokyo.

Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo has received a 4-star rating in both the "Hotel" and "Spa" categories of the "Forbes Travel Guide" rankings, alongside other distinguished hotels. Furthermore, it has been recognized for providing memorable experiences with its exceptional facilities and services, earning its place in the "L.V.X. Collection" of "Preferred Hotels & Resorts."