In 2021, the JAXURY Consortium was formed as a joint project involving academia, media, and various industries in Japan, based on research by the Authentic Luxury Lab at the Graduate School of System Design & Management in Keio University. Every year, the Consortium searches from the tip of Hokkaido to the furthest islands of Okinawa for brands that best exemplify Japan’s authentic luxury. According to its research, there are five themes of Japanese aesthetics—Imperfection, Harmony, Reverence, Purity, and Tranquillity—that inspire 10 perspectives of JAXURY: Craftsmanship, Sensitivity, Respect, Authenticity, One and Only, Aesthetic, Enrichment of Everyday Life, Myths and Legends, Blessings and Good Fortune, and Altruism. It’s not easy for a brand, product, or service to be designated as JAXURY; one may fulfil only one of the perspectives, another could fulfil a few more, perhaps. In fact, only three brands (as of press time) showcase all 10 perspectives, and one of them has been recognised for the fifth consecutive year by the Consortium: the Palace Hotel Tokyo.

If you look at a map of downtown Tokyo, the Imperial Palace is veritably its very heart. And the only hotel located amidst the Imperial Palace Gardens, with the prestigious address of 1-1-1 Marunouchi, is the Palace Hotel Tokyo. The wholly Japanese-owned and -managed hotel originally opened as the Palace Hotel in 1961, before undergoing a US$1 billion reconstruction from the ground up between 2009 to 2012. On 17 May 2012, the Palace Hotel Tokyo opened its doors as a luxury hotel, purveyors of the finest spirit of omotenashi (Japanese hospitality), and granting guests unparalleled views of the gardens and its resplendent greenery. It has the only Evian Spa in all of Japan, 10 F&B establishments (including the one-Michelin-starred Esterre by Alain Ducasse), and 284 keys, which include 18 suites, on floors 8 to 23. A majority of these accommodation options have a balcony with a view of the gardens; even its gym and fitness centre have floor-to-ceiling windows to ensure they’re never out of sight.

To further elevate and enhance guests’ appreciation and immersion of its award-winning hospitality—Three Keys from the Michelin Guide, Five-Star status from the Forbes Travel Guide for 10 consecutive years, among many—as well as Japanese craftsmanship, the Palace Hotel Tokyo earlier this year introduced the JAXURY stay package as part of its Best of Japan series. Guests will live, eat, and breathe the aforementioned five themes and 10 perspectives of authentic Japanese luxury through in-room products, exclusive dining menus, specially crafted cocktails, and off-site activities. Every little detail reveals a new glimpse into the facets of Japanese aesthetics and sensibilities: the comfort of Tenerita room slippers, the charm of an Azmaya tissue box, the wonders of Maison Cacao’s Aroma Nama Chocolate, and the flavours of a glass of Yamazaki single-malt whisky, to name but a few. These everyday encounters will reshape what true luxury really means—bringing sophistication into our daily lives, and not just for special occasions that we have to dress up for.

Through the JAXURY stay package, the Palace Hotel Tokyo can also organise optional off-site activities. These guided hands-on experiences include discovering the art of Edo Kiriko and glass-cutting with a third-generation craftsman at Horiguchi Kiriko; learning more about textile art and Japanese weaving techniques at Hosoo (founded in 1688); and visiting the atelier of Parfum Satori, the first independent Japanese fragrance brand to be featured in Perfumes: The Guide. Founded by perfumer Satori Osawa in 2000, the brand strives to promote Japanese culture internationally through perfumes and fragrances. In its flagship store, located about 15 minutes away by car in Roppongi, Reino-san, a store attendant, tells me that Parfum Satori expresses the spirit of Japan through five themes: Kodo (the way of incense), Kado (the way of flowers), Sado (the way of tea), Japanese cuisine, and Japanese literature. Before she begins a deep dive into Parfum Satori’s flagship products and latest collections, she advises me to “listen to the voice of the fragrance and not just smell them”.   

Its five core scents, and also among its most popular, are Satori, Sakura, Nobiyaka, Murasaki No Ue, and Hyouge. The latter has top notes of green leaf and tea, with notes of sweet citrus, and a woody finish. It’s reminiscent of matcha tea, inspired by traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, and is the inspiration for an original cocktail in Lounge Bar Privé, Palace Hotel Tokyo’s refined space to savour sumptuous spirits and views of the financial district, Tokyo landmarks, and, of course, the Imperial Palace Gardens. The beverage is served with a spritz of Hyouge as well as wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) by Higashiya; together, the sips, bites, and aroma guide me towards truly understanding the five themes and 10 perspectives of JAXURY.

The zenith of my JAXURY stay is, unequivocally, dinner at Wadakura, the hotel’s signature Japanese restaurant. The extraordinary kaiseki menu incorporates porcelain, woodware, and lacquerware from third- and fourth-generation craftsmen, as well as Grace Wine (founded in 1923 in Yamanashi prefecture) and Ippodo Tea (established in Kyoto in 1717). From the crab tofu appetiser to the white miso soup, and onwards to the seasonal sashimi, deep-fried butterfish, and sukishabu of Matsusaka beef sirloin, every course is a masterpiece of gastronomy. The wine pairings are divine—especially the 2021 Cuvée Misawa Blanc—while the tea is unlike any others I’ve ever drank. If I had any doubts that luxury could be experienced in its purest forms through fleeting, routine moments, those qualms are extinguished when I wash down the last morsel of Japanese pear compote with Gyokuro Tekiro tea. No longer do I merely enjoy Japanese authentic luxury—I revere it.

“Through the lens of JAXURY, there is poetry in the end-user—not the manufacturer, the craftsman or the service provider—ultimately determining the intrinsic value of a product or service,” Masaru Watanabe, general manager of Palace Hotel Tokyo, said in a statement. “It’s our hope that the JAXURY experience at Palace Hotel Tokyo will be enriching for our guests, sparking inspiration and curiosity, and deepening their appreciation of Japanese culture.”

The JAXURY at Palace Hotel Tokyo stay package starts from ¥477,000 for two persons for two nights, and is available until 15 March 2026. It includes daily breakfast, kaiseki dinner with pairings at Wadakura, the JAXURY cocktail with wagashi pairing at Lounge Bar Privé, and Suntory whisky and Maison Cacao chocolate at The Palace Lounge. The optional off-site activities start from ¥52,000 for two persons.

At the facelifted Club Lounge of the Palace Hotel Tokyo, you’re spoilt for choice. Suite and Club guests can enjoy access to the 172 sq m lounge, which offers an expanded F&B menu from morning until night. Enjoy a Japanese breakfast from Wadakura; a serving of the iconic 1-1-1 sake from Hakkaisan in the evening; and some chocolate from Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse during the nightcap service. The lounge and its attentive staff are warm and welcoming—perfect for you to relax, deal with an urgent work call, appreciate the Imperial Palace Gardens from its outdoor terrace, and live like an emperor.