Japan Archives - Offshore

Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi is Revamped and Reopening

March 10, 2026

After a major redesign by André Fu Studio, the boutique Four Seasons steps back onto Tokyo’s luxury scene this spring with just 57 rooms, refined Japanese design and one of the world’s top-ranked restaurants.

One of Tokyo’s most intimate luxury hotels is preparing for a stylish return.

The Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi, a boutique property steps from Tokyo Station, will reopen on April 29, 2026 following a comprehensive redesign that refreshes its rooms, suites and public spaces while preserving the residential feel that made the hotel a favourite among in-the-know travellers.

With just 57 rooms and suites, the hotel remains one of the smallest luxury properties in Tokyo — a rarity in a city known for towering hotels. The renovation, led by Hong Kong–based André Fu Studio, reimagines the space through a lens of relaxed luxury inspired by Japanese aesthetics and cosmopolitan design.

Guests will arrive into a lobby conceived as a modern Japanese tea lounge, where washi panelling, muted furnishings and views of a tranquil rock garden create an immediate sense of calm. Throughout the hotel, warm woods, mid-century silhouettes and subtle craftsmanship details give the interiors the feel of a contemporary city residence.

Guest rooms and suites have been redesigned as serene retreats above the energy of Tokyo, with thoughtful touches including cast bronze lighting and delicate sakura-inspired marquetry.

Even as the hotel unveils its new look, one signature highlight remains firmly in place: SÉZANNE, the hotel’s acclaimed three-Michelin-starred French restaurant, consistently ranked among the best dining destinations in Asia and the world.

In a luxury hotel landscape increasingly defined by scale, Four Seasons Tokyo at Marunouchi continues to offer something different — a refined, boutique-style stay in the heart of the city, where personalised service and understated design take centre stage.

Reservations are now open for stays beginning April 29, 2026.

Japan’s Coolest Island Escape

November 4, 2025

The island of Hokkaido is a wonderland of snow-dusted landscapes, crystal-clear lakes and rich traditions.

Hokkaido feels like a seasonal snow globe. In the warmer months, brightly coloured flowers blanket rolling hills, while autumn’s rich tones sweep across mountain towns. Come winter, snow glistens on the water, casting a magic that’s hard to replicate.

The country’s northernmost island is also its least developed — though far from barren. Sapporo, home to the beer of the same name, is Hokkaido’s most famous city, where visitors can explore the brewery’s free museum and learn about Japan’s beer-making history dating back to 1876. It’s also the ancestral home of the Indigenous Ainu people, whose culture centres on living in harmony with the land. The result is a natural retreat, highlighted by the deep-blue, crystalline waters of Lake Shikotsu, among the clearest in Japan. Enjoy it warmed or chilled — either way, it’s a perfect après-soak indulgence.

In winter, the lake — tucked inside Shikotsu-Toya National Park — is ringed by towering ice sculptures, formed by spraying and freezing its own waters. The annual Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, usually held in February, features an ice slide, skating (in boots or skates), horse rides for children, and dips in traditional Japanese onsen (hot springs).

Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to explore. Hokkaido offers an impressive network of hiking trails, from mountain loops to snowshoe-friendly paths. Shiretoko National Park, Akan-Mashu National Park, and Daisetsuzan National Park reward visitors with sweeping wildlife and wilderness views. In Sapporo, the Olympic Museum — a legacy of the 1972 Winter Games — invites guests to trek up the ski hill for panoramic city vistas. Curated itineraries from companies like Remote Lands combine skiing in the Japanese Alps, onsen tours in Noboribetsu, historic streets in Hakodate (one of Hokkaido’s oldest cities), stargazing under clear night skies, and more experiences that evoke a profound sense of peace.

For a stay that mirrors the snow globe effect, Lake Shikotsu Tsuruga Besso Ao no Za hotel pairs traditional Japanese hospitality with sweeping lake views. The hotel offers a kaiseki dining experience — multiple chef-driven courses showcasing locally sourced, artistically plated dishes — and a teppanyaki restaurant serving rice, vegetables, meat and abundant seafood. Hokkaido’s scallops and salmon are highlights, alongside crab and prawns. Don’t miss the wagyu beef, paired perfectly with local sake.

Japan has no shortage of postcard-perfect views, but few match the stillness of Hokkaido under a winter sky. And with the island just 90 minutes by flight from Tokyo, its wild beauty is closer than you think.

3 WAYS TO WARM UP IN HOKKAIDO

Soak in an onsen
Slip into restorative hot springs in Noboribetsu — famous for its varied, mineral-rich waters born from volcanic hell-valley — or in scenic Jōzankei nestled in Shikotsu-Toya National Park.

Tuck into a bowl of Sapporo miso ramen
Hokkaido’s signature miso ramen delivers rich, savoury broth with hearty toppings like butter, corn, chashu pork, bean sprouts — and sometimes local seafood — for the ultimate winter comfort.

Sip local sake
Hokkaido’s sake breweries craft crisp and pure pours using mountain spring water, from the Daisetsuzan range to local rivers.