The shinmonzen

Just spent our Christmas Eve dinner here and I must say I’m puzzled by the one star. We ate at two restaurants in Tokyo with a one star during our trip both great experiences. We had high expectations for our meal this evening. Love Villa Lacoste as we live in the south of France and know what to expect from a food standpoint but in Japan the level of service is very high and here, we felt it fell short. The food was very good but not great. The service was the real problem. People seemed to be going through the motions with no passion for the food or the wine. Seemed like no one was in charge of the room. We did the wine pairing and usually enjoy the story telling and relationship to the dishes. The food was not well timed and I personally felt rushed at times. Wine on the table and no food then food on the table no wine. Sadly no report was established and we felt we had a good meal but not an extraordinary experience. When we left no one asked how was your meal. We were handed a little bag with a cake in it and told merry Christmas. Almost like out you go. Not how I hoped to end my Christmas holiday in Japan. Here’s to the New Year! This will be a meal we remember and not for the good experience.

I have never been to a 5-star boutique hotel that welcomed us like the Shinmonzen did. It is a beautiful property that sits right on a serene canal, just steps away from historic areas of Kyoto in the Gion district. From the moment we entered, Dana-san and many others who we met when making the reservation and at the hotel (Luna, Mami, Hina, Yoshi, Yuma, Ziyo) made us feel like we had just arrived at our own home. I have never experienced service at that level that was so personal and genuine. While the staff and their level of service would be a reason on its own to stay at the Shinmonzen, the property and the area around the hotel were such a unique blend of old and new. The hotel is both modern (designed by Tadao Ando) with striking and interesting abstract and other art and traditional; the surroundings include shrines and buildings that show the thousands of years of Japanese history. We tried both the Japanese and American breakfasts, on our room balconies. One of my favorite dining experiences of all time at a hotel. I felt like I was starting the day with such health and serenity. Instead of the hotel restaurant (where we had drinks most days, but not meals), we opted instead to try options that were much more casual around the city -- all of the recommendations made by the hotel, including tempura, mackerel, and ramen/soba, were absolutely stellar. Of all the hotels I have stayed in while traveling for work or vacation in Japan over the years, this is by far the best hotel I have been and I hope someday to return.

The phrase that comes to mind to describe the Shinmonzen js “exquisite perfection”. we have stayed at a number of hotels at similar price level, yet the Shinmonzen stands out in its elegant blend of the old and the new, its perfection down to the most minute details, beautifully crafted furniture in the room that doubled as art, its location right in the heart of the Gion district, and of course warm hospitality. As a masterpiece by Tadao Ando, it is one of the most beautiful and unique hotels in the world.