The latest inclusion of the ‘Best of Japan’ series, ‘Couture Tokyo: The Art of Japanese Fashion’ is a stay package created to elevate travelers’ understanding of Japanese culture and aesthetics through the lens of fashion and textile artistry.

Highlighting the substance and creativity behind Japanese fashion design, the experience is anchored by an insider’s introduction to some of the country’s most exemplary brands. The selection of tours is expertly curated by Kaori Nakano, a renowned scholar of fashion and luxury culture.

Available July 22 (Wed.), 2026 through June 30 (Wed.), 2027
Reservations accepted from July 1 (Wed.), 2026 through June 16 (Wed.), 2027
*Reservations required at least 14 days in advance.

‘Couture Tokyo: The Art of Japanese Fashion’ includes:

• Two nights of accommodation
• Daily breakfast—choice of In-Room Dining or All-Day Dining Grand Kitchen
• A special prix-fixe kaiseki dinner at Japanese Restaurant Wadakura inspired by fashion icon Kenzo Takada: featuring a special shabu-shabu presentation that was a favorite of the late designer
• An original Palace Hotel Tokyo tote bag by suzusan, a contemporary Japanese textile brand
• A privately guided fashion tour, crafted exclusively for Palace Hotel Tokyo (approximately 3-4 hours, inclusive of private car service)
• A special gift from the brand featured in the selected tour

Package rates start at JPY 372,000 (based on double occupancy)*

^{*Prices are inclusive of consumption tax and subject to an additional 15% service charge & Tokyo Metropolitan Accommodation Tax of JPY 200 per person per night.
*Package is subject to availability. T&Cs apply.}

Fashion Tour Options

Perfect for fashion aficionados and enthusiasts, the fashion tours meticulously crafted exclusively for Palace Hotel Tokyo present the opportunity to explore one of the city’s three most celebrated fashion destinations. Each tour unveils the rich narrative of Japan’s fashion evolution through the history of the neighborhood, and is driven by bespoke experiences by three iconic brands—Wako, Jun Ashida, and Kimono Yamato.

In addition to selecting a preferred shopping destination, the experience offers a choice between a trained guide or the rare opportunity to be hosted by Kaori Nakano herself alongside an interpreter.
*Subject to an additional charge of JPY 320,375

Alternatively, an upgrade to a half-day curated tour with Kaori Nakano tailored to specific personal interests is also available at an additional charge.

Glitzy Ginza
One of Tokyo’s most famous shopping districts, Ginza is home to Wako—a venerable institution, founded in 1947, housed in the landmark Seiko House, where timeless elegance and design innovation converge. Its second-floor Jewelry Square features sophisticated, high-end pieces crafted by in-house artisans, while its basement gallery champions Japanese artistic culture by showcasing living national treasures alongside emerging artists.

Following a privately guided tour of Wako, the optional visit to Dover Street Market offers a striking contrast. Leaning into the edgy and eclectic, the seven-story retail space blends urban chic with trendy streetwear.

Stylish Daikanyama
The tour kicks off with the flagship boutique of Jun Ashida, the renowned pioneer of Japanese prêt-à-porter and recipient of Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun and purple ribbon Medal of Honor, France’s Order of Arts & Letters, and the Order of Merit from Italy and Luxembourg. His interpretation of ‘elegant and practical’ endures over half a century after his debut. Today, his legacy lives on through his daughter, Tae Ashida, who spearheads the fashion house with contemporary designs reflecting a synthesis of innovation and her father’s take on refined elegance.

The nearby MIZEN TOKYO Atelier + Showroom follows a philosophy of ‘Slow Fashion, Slow Luxury’, encouraging mindful contemplation of the true value and craftsmanship behind its creations by seamlessly blending workshop and boutique.

Upscale Omotesando & Eclectic Ura-Harajuku
Tantamount to Tokyo’s Champs-Élysées, Omotesando is where architecture meets retail. Its tree-lined boulevard gives way to the backstreets of Ura-Harajuku—the hub of Japanese subculture and free-spirited fashion. This tour segment highlights Kimono Yamato and its sub-brands, KIMONO ARCH and Y. & SONS. Backed by over a century of expertise, Kimono Yamato modernizes traditional kimono culture for daily wear, from casual to ceremonial. Nearby, Y. & SONS tailors men’s kimono designed to pair with Western attire, while KIMONO ARCH offers playful creations for all genders.

In the area are other Japanese brands including CFCL (Clothing For Contemporary Life), which reimagines knitwear through computer-aided 3D knitting technology. Their garments balance functionality, comfort, easy care, and contemporary elegance while minimizing material waste. The PORTER flagship store showcases bags handcrafted one-by-one by skilled Japanese artisans. The two-story space integrates an on-site workshop, allowing an up-close look at the craftsmanship and skill of the artisans.

Kaori Nakano

Kaori Nakano is a scholar of luxury culture. Her work reads tailoring, fashion, royal dress, and traditional craftsmanship as cultural expressions that mirror the values, aesthetics, authority, and spirit of their times. Moving fluently across history, philosophy, and business, she reframes what luxury and elegance might mean in the twenty-first century. She has contributed a column to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun for over a decade, alongside extensive writing and broadcasting across leading media.

A graduate of the University of Tokyo Graduate School and a former Visiting Scholar at the University of Cambridge, she has held appointments as Specially Appointed Professor at Meiji University and Visiting Professor at Aoyama Gakuin University, among others. In 2022, she served on the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Council on the Future of Fashion. Her many publications include An Introduction to Elegance, A History of Apparel Through Its Innovators (revised and expanded edition), and Royal Style: A History of British Royal Fashion, as well as the co-authored New Luxury: Ten Lectures on the Economy that Culture Creates.