THE RYOKAN COLLECTION

The design of the hotel is largely inspired by the aesthetic of the Tamozawa Imperial Villa next door. Its distinctive mix of traditional Japanese luxury and the international influences of the turn of the 20th century can be seen throughout, with the unexpectedly synchronistic juxtaposition of domestic and foreign, antique and modern, even analog and digital: every room features an antique gramophone retrofitted for use as a smartphone speaker. The hotel is also rife with the natural symbolism beloved in Japan. The imperial chrysanthemum and auspicious plum blossom often crop up, but other examples are subtler. In the entranceway, for example, guests are greeted by a 400-year-old cork azalea, emblem of Princess Aiko. It puts forth pure white flowers in May that represent a desire for sincerity and purity of heart. Learning about this iconography from the knowledgeable staff is one of the particular joys of FUFU Nikko.