【原】DINZ德網 | 緒方慎一郎的食宿哲學

Auberge TOKITO is not a conventional hotel or guesthouse but a composite aesthetic space that combines a restaurant, tea rooms, and accommodation. The hotel features 16 tea rooms that reinterpret the ambiance of the tea ceremony in a contemporary way, reshaping the tranquility of the space. Its four exquisite guest rooms each come with a private open-air bath, allowing guests to relax and rejuvenate their bodies and minds naturally. 

The name "Tokito" implies "filling time with happiness," referring to the Japanese word for "time" and symbolizing the Japanese national bird, the crested ibis, carrying the aspiration for cultural ascendance.

The hotel's design philosophy is rooted in the cultural integration and sustainability advocated by Shinichiro Ogata. By integrating cuisine, culture, craftsmanship, and design, it takes "Meguru Megumi" as its core concept, emphasizing gratitude for nature's gifts and eliminating waste. Through sustainable ingredients, it advances the evolution of Japanese cuisine and lodging experiences, creating a Japanese aesthetic space that combines high-end dining with serene accommodation. The interior extensively uses warm woods and copper and bronze details, creating a serene, captivating, and emotionally charged atmosphere. Additionally, Chef and Producer Yoshinori Ishii collaborated with the Tachihi Group, spending a year refining and operating this private and exquisite urban luxury hotel.

The hotel entrance continues the traditional grandeur, preserving and restoring the ancient gate of the former owner, making the profound historical heritage the core of the hotel. Trees relocated during construction were repurposed to create handmade utensils, such as plates and bowls, that "breathe" with the seasons and temperatures.At the entrance stands an 80-year-old Japanese building harmoniously integrated with a tranquil garden featuring native plants. The building extensively uses wood and stone, presenting a subdued natural palette and creating an elegant, minimalist style. The interior is dominated by wooden tones, exuding an elegant Japanese ambiance. The serene space makes one feel as if time has stood still, allowing the body and mind to be healed.

Through in-depth cooperation with farmers and fishermen, the team continuously sources premium ingredients and breaks free from traditional kaiseki constraints to offer guests a unique and poetic dining experience.

Extending inward from the main dining area is a separate, fully functional multi-functional banquet space. This area maintains a suitable distance from the dining area, maintaining the overall design style while ensuring independence and privacy for events.

This space can accommodate group gatherings, private celebrations, and cultural exchange events. Its flexible layout and professional facilities adapt to banquets of varying sizes, providing guests with an elegant and comfortable gathering experience.

Hidden in the garden, the tea rooms resemble a secluded paradise. Pushing open the light-colored wooden door, a serene aesthetic world unfolds before your eyes, blending harmoniously with the surroundings like a beautiful painting. The interior uses dark tones to create a tranquil atmosphere, where guests can appreciate tea artisans interpreting Japanese tea culture, which has evolved due to regional, customary, temporal, and preparation differences, in a modern way, and immerse themselves in a leisurely tea-tasting experience.

The hotel is filled with exquisitely hand-forged crafts and artworks, most of which are exclusively customized for the hotel. Ceramist Kazuya Ishida uses natural elements such as soil and wood, applying unique aesthetics and skills to create utensils and tableware for the hotel, continuing the memories of the land and people to this day. Chef Yoshinori Ishii also handcrafts pottery in the hotel's studio, intuitively and inspirationally shaping unique plates for his seasonal dishes. The pottery wheel, clay, and tools are placed in a corner, creating a harmonious and focused atmosphere.

Auberge TOKITO features only four suites, each spanning 100 square meters with a spacious and open layout. They are named after terms describing changes in the sky, such as "Reimei" (dawn), "Asatsuki" (morning moon), and "Shinmei" (early light). The interior design is simple and serene, and each room comes with a private outdoor garden facing the guest room, allowing one to temporarily forget the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse in tranquil moments. The guest room living areas also offer a selection of vinyl records, enabling guests to freely enjoy pure and warm sound quality in a private space.

Each guest room is equipped with a private open-air bath and SPA space. The open-air baths are exquisitely designed and private, with a simple and steady overall style, allowing guests to focus on enjoying moments of tranquility and healing. The baths use pure "kakenagashi" hot spring water sourced directly from 1,300 meters underground, rich in minerals and beneficial to health.