The Capitol Hotel Tokyu

A Shrine-Side Hill That Hosted Tokyo's First Foreign Hotel

Long before it was a hotel, this hilltop beside Hie Shrine was known as Hoshigaoka, Star Hill, and in the early twentieth century it held Hoshigaoka Saryo, an exclusive members' restaurant run by the gourmet and artist Kitaoji Rosanjin that drew Tokyo's political and business elite. The site became a hotel in 1963, when the Tokyo Hilton opened here as Japan's first foreign-chain hotel ahead of the 1964 Olympics, with the Beatles famously staying during their 1966 tour. The Hilton contract ended in 1984, and the property ran for more than two decades as the Capitol Tokyu Hotel before closing in 2006 and reopening in 2010 as a new 29-story tower, its design developed in collaboration with architect Kengo Kuma.

Why It Works

We picked this hotel because its design treats its own history as material rather than decoration. The tower is built around bamboo groves at the entrance, latticework that echoes temple architecture, and water motifs carried through the textiles and carpets, all developed to sit comfortably next to the three-hundred-and-fifty-year-old Hie Shrine the hotel overlooks. That commitment has been recognized externally too: the hotel has held a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating since 2021 and belongs to Preferred Hotels and Resorts. It is also simply a hotel that keeps its own history visible, down to the Beatles memorabilia still displayed in its bar.

Why This Location

The hotel sits on the Nagatacho and Akasaka border in Chiyoda-ku, directly beside Hie Shrine and within walking distance of the National Diet Building. Two subway stations, Tameike-sanno and Kokkai-gijidomae, sit close enough to reach on foot, linking guests to four different lines without a taxi. The neighborhood is one of central Tokyo's quieter pockets, defined more by government buildings and a centuries-old shrine than by crowds, which makes the short walk out to Hie Shrine's grounds, especially during its mid-June Sanno Festival, feel like stepping into a different Tokyo than the one most visitors picture.

Fast Facts

• Price: EUR EUR EUR EUR / design heritage

• Vibe: Shrine-side calm, bamboo and lattice design

• Rooms: 251, across floors 18 to 29 of the tower

• Best For: Travelers wanting quiet, design-forward luxury away from the busiest districts

• Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: The Beatles memorabilia still on display at the Capitol Bar

• Dining: Suiren for kaiseki and teppanyaki, Star Hill for Chinese, ORIGAMI for all-day dining

• Amenities: Spa with 20-meter indoor pool, fitness center, garden tea ceremony service

• Attractions: Hie Shrine, National Diet Building, Tameike-sanno and Kokkai-gijidomae stations

Bamboo, Lattice, and a Design Built Around a Shrine

Kengo Kuma's collaboration on the building shows up before guests reach the lobby: a bamboo grove lines the entrance drive, and the tower's exterior uses latticework that deliberately recalls temple architecture rather than a conventional glass facade. Inside, the public spaces are arranged to echo the layout of the neighboring shrine, and water appears as a recurring motif across carpets, drapery, and wallcoverings, tying the building back to the hilltop's older identity as a quiet, elevated retreat. Guestrooms continue the theme at a smaller scale, with fusuma sliding screens and shoji paper panels separating the entry, bedroom, and bath in a restrained palette of beige and gray.

From Teppanyaki to a Bar With Beatles History

Suiren, the hotel's Japanese restaurant, covers teppanyaki, sushi, and kaiseki across six private dining rooms as well as open counters, while Star Hill serves Chinese cooking under a name borrowed from the site's own Hoshigaoka history. ORIGAMI handles all-day dining for guests who want something less formal. The Capitol Bar overlooks the lobby and keeps a small collection of Beatles memorabilia on display, a nod to the band's stay here in 1966 when the hotel was still the Tokyo Hilton. The hotel's spa adds a 20-meter indoor pool and a fitness center, and the garden hosts a traditional tea ceremony service for guests who want one more quiet ritual before heading back out into Nagatacho.