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Hotel Okura Tokyo celebrates its 50th anniversary in May 2012

20th February 2012 Print

On 20th May 2012, the five-star Hotel Okura Tokyo, flagship property for Japanese hotel company Hotel Okura Co. Ltd, will proudly celebrate its 50th anniversary. To celebrate this landmark event, the hotel has created a series of special events and services.

These include the ‘50th Birthday Stay Plan’ which has been especially put together for people who were born in 1961 and 1962, the year Hotel Okura started its operation. Guests who became 50 years old in 2011 or are to celebrate their 50th birthday in 2012 can enjoy a 50% discount off a superior room or above. Guests also receive a Hotel Okura original photo frame per room, a breakfast discount coupon and free late checkout. Birth certificates must be presented on arrival and valid for a maximum of 10 nights stay.

Hotel Okura Tokyo began operation in 1962 in Tokyo’s Toranomon district, with the vision of offering a unique Japanese-style international hotel. Since then the hotel has become is one of the city's landmark buildings and was introduced to the western world decades ago by Ian Fleming in You Only Live Twice, when secret agent 007 checked in, back in 1964.

Over the years, the hotel has embraced the spirit of change and innovation as Japan’s hotel leader and have welcomed countless guests including various musicians and celebrities such as founder of Apple, Steve Jobs who regularly stayed at the Hotel. The hotel has also hosted many major international events, press conferences and world leaders. Past guests include British actor Sir Richard Attenborough, gold medallist Ian Thorpe, ex British Prime Minister Lady Margret Thatcher, musician Ray Charles, Hollywood actor Harrison Ford and an array of others.

Today, the hotel comprises 833-rooms, including the Garden Wing where guestrooms overlook the hotel's Winding River rooftop Japanese garden and offers rooms on the luxurious Grand Comfort Floor, which is adjacent to the spa where a wide variety of relaxation programmes are offered.

Yet the foyer still retains its 60’s chic with a vast floor space that is minimally decorated with lantern style lights spiralling from the ceiling and low slung armchairs.

It is in this space that the hotel hosts a free musical concert each month. These have been held on the 25th day of every month since 1987, providing a performance stage for Japanese artists such as Mr.Nobuyuki Tsujii, Ms.Mami Hagiwara and Mr. Hibiki Tamura to share their talents. On 25th November 2011 the monthly concert celebrated its 300th show with a special programme under the supervision of Mr. Naoto Otomo, a concert master from the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, and included a performance by Ms. Noriko Ogawa, a world famous pianist and also the recipient of the 5th Okura Music Award (2003).

The annual music award was instituted to nurture and support the growth of promising musicians and to assist Japan’s artistic and cultural advancement. The 2012 Hotel Okura Music Awards will held on 25th March with a presentation of a grant and supplementary prize to two new musicians who have made outstanding achievements and have a promising future

A superior room costs from £335 per room per night (JPY 42,000). For further information on Okura Hotels visit okura.com.