The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Atami opened in October 2016 in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, a short trip by train from Tokyo.
The Ryokan Collection is pleased to announce a new member of its group of fine ryokan – The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Atami.
A new property in The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts group, The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Atami opened in October 2016 in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, a short trip by train from Tokyo. With a focus on dining and art, the Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Atami is a ryokan with a modern edge, and offers a new and appealing destination for discerning travelers and lovers of fine cuisine.
The unprecedented concept of the brand is “European Ryokan” – that is, Western-influenced styling, with Japanese touches and premium omotenashi – traditional Japanese hospitality. Mr. Hiroyuki Hiramatsu, Executive Chef and Founder of Hiramatsu Inc., decided to incorporate an exclusive, high-end French auberge concept to Japanese ryokan, taking roots from 35-year history of Hiramatsu Inc. as a leading fine dining restaurant group in Japan.
At The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Atami, of course, the focus is on cuisine. Chef Katsuya Miura who led restaurant Paul Bocuse Daimaru Tokyo works culinary magic with the local seafood and produce curating an artful fusion of French and Japanese sensibilities that has won him fans among Hiramatsu’s customers. The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts has built a solid reputation over many years with its group of fine restaurants – now numbering 33 – located all over Japan as well as in Paris. The group boasts a large and loyal clientele, made up of discerning food-lovers from Japan and overseas.
Enhancing the dining experience at The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Atami is the fabulous art collection. The art, surrealist works by Joan Miro and vivid landscapes by Tomoko Kataoka, perfectly complements the tone of The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Atami experience, by fusing modern/traditional as well as Japanese/European influences. The ryokan’s rooms and Japanese–style suites boast dynamic shodo works by renowned calligrapher Yuichi Inoue.
Architect Yasumichi Morita designed the ryokan around an existing besso, or country villa, built 40 years ago by master builder Koichi Kinoshita. The building, with the simple, elegant lines of sukiya zukuri traditional residential architecture, was thoroughly refurbished, and some necessary modern touches added, but Mr. Morita preserved intact the lovely and warm interior wood, as well as the exterior, beautifully weathered by the salt and wind of its coastal location.
In the guest rooms, all of the furniture faces the sea – an innovation that takes maximum advantage of the ryokan’s location, with its spectacular views over the bay. Amenities are by Bulgari, towels by Imabari, and the in-room bar is stocked with juice from the high-end French brand Armilia. The in-room hot spring baths are big and comfortable, and the floor-to-ceiling windows can be opened to the outside, allowing ocean breezes to waft over the bath and into the room.
Guests staying at the Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Atami will have special bespoke access to the area’s culture and surroundings, with opportunities to visit local farms, fisherman’s wharves and markets from which the fine ingredients are sourced. These bespoke experiences give insight into the effort, networks and stories, enriching their culinary focused stay.
The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Atami is the latest Hiramatsu property to join The Ryokan Collection’s group of member ryokan and small luxury Japanese hotels. The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Kashikojima in Mie Prefecture joined on December 1, 2016. the Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture will be joining The Ryokan Collection in the next few months.
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