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Imperial Hotel is celebrating its 135th anniversary with clear milestones: the group will open Imperial Hotel, Kyoto in spring 2026, its first new property in thirty years, and continue with its major remodelling of the Imperial Hotel Tokyo.
Renewal for Imperial Hotel Tokyo
The anniversary arrives as the Tokyo flagship advances a major renewal under the Tokyo Cross Park Vision. The current Imperial Hotel Tokyo, with 909 rooms and suites near Ginza and the Imperial Palace, traces a storied history back to 1890. Its most famous chapter began on 1 September 1923 when Frank Lloyd Wright’s earthquake-resistant design withstood the Great Kanto Earthquake on opening day. The Wright era brought hotel weddings and dinner shows to Japan and cemented the hotel’s role as a cultural stage as much as a place to stay.
Sustainability has become a defining thread across the portfolio. In 2025, Imperial Hotel, Tokyo received Forbes Travel Guide’s VERIFIED Responsible Hospitality certification and the top 5 Sakura rating from Sakura Quality An ESG Practice, a system aligned with GSTC standards. The hotel has reduced plastics by reviewing in-room amenities, added vegan options across its restaurants and lounges, and moved to CO₂-free electricity. Kamikochi and Osaka also hold the 5 Sakura rating, while the company maintains Eco-Mark certification and has earned the Japan Hotel Association Chairman’s Award for Social Contribution for four consecutive years.
Imperial Hotel, Kamikochi
Beyond the capital, Imperial Hotel, Kamikochi has offered a seasonal retreat since 1933 within Kamikochi National Park, with 74 rooms and a programme now focused on carbon neutrality, food waste recycling and local partnerships. Imperial Hotel, Osaka, opened in 1996, brings the brand to western Japan with 378 rooms along the Okawa River, drawing guests for Tenjin Festival fireworks in summer and cherry blossom in spring. The Osaka property has participated in the TEAM EXPO 2025 Co-Creation Challenge, signalling an ongoing commitment to innovation and community work.
Chairman Hideya Sadayasu frames the expansion as part of a longer horizon to the 150th anniversary in 2040, with an emphasis on sustainability, cultural preservation and guest experience. “As we look toward the future, our goal is to create a new stage where the next generation of hotel staff can welcome guests with warmth, pride and innovation,” he said. “Imperial Hotel, Kyoto embodies everything we stand for, from legacy and craftsmanship to the enduring spirit of Japanese hospitality.”
Heritage remains the foundation. Established in 1890 by Eiichi Shibusawa and Kihachiro Okura under the guidance of Foreign Minister Kaoru Inoue, the original Imperial Hotel served as Japan’s private guest house for foreign dignitaries during a period of rapid modernisation. The brand later introduced the country’s first buffet-style restaurant, Imperial Viking, in 1958, and has hosted figures from Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin to Helen Keller and Babe Ruth. In 2012, it served as headquarters for the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings, underscoring its role on the international stage.
With Kyoto on the horizon and Tokyo mid-renewal, Imperial Hotel is closing its 135th year with momentum. The group’s message is straightforward: respect the past, invest in craft and service, and prepare the next generation to carry a storied name into its sixth decade of the century. Further details on opening dates, reservations and the Tokyo redevelopment timetable are expected in the months ahead.
