In Japanese culture, spring heralds the true beginning of the year.
A season that, since ancient times, has represented renewal, new beginnings, and the fleeting beauty of sakura, the famed cherry blossom bloom. But it seems that Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi has taken this idea of rebirth to a different level, debuting an entire renovation – Elite Traveler has the exclusive first look inside.
Having reopened at the end of April following an extensive property-wide transformation that began in July 2025, the boutique luxury hotel has returned with a distinctly softer, more residential identity. The redesign comes courtesy of celebrated Hong Kong-based interior architect André Fu and his studio, whose luxurious aesthetic has already shaped some of Japan’s most refined addresses, from Waldorf Astoria Osaka to Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto.
And timing, of course, is everything. Tokyo’s luxury hotel scene has entered a new era of reinvention, with several landmark properties undergoing ambitious redesigns as demand for Japan continues to surge among international travelers. The reopening of Park Hyatt Tokyo earlier this year marked one of the city’s most closely watched hospitality returns; now, Four Seasons Marunouchi follows, except here the hotel has been designed, in Fu’s own words, to evoke ‘a deeply personal sanctuary above the city.’
Located steps from Tokyo Station, the hotel has long occupied a unique position within the city’s luxury landscape. While many of Tokyo’s best-known hotels trade on dizzying skyline views and sprawling scale, Four Seasons Marunouchi leans into its intimacy. With just 57 rooms and suites, the property feels deliberately removed from the capital’s intensity.
See also: The 9 Best Hotel Suites in Tokyo
Fu’s redesign deepens that atmosphere. Guests now arrive through a reimagined lobby inspired by a contemporary Japanese tea lounge, where textured washi paper walls, bronze accents, and muted earth tones create an immediate sense of calm. Elsewhere, references to sakura appear throughout the interiors in the form of delicate floral marquetry, while warm woods and mid-century-inspired furnishings soften the previously corporate feel of the space.
The rooms themselves have been entirely reconceived, with interiors that now feel intentionally cocooning. Of course, the floor-to-ceiling windows continue to frame the kinetic energy of Marunouchi below, but the rooms’ decor of richly toned timber and soft teal textiles brings a newfound warmth.
Yet while the hotel’s aesthetic may have evolved, one cornerstone remains unchanged: its culinary prestige. The property is home to SÉZANNE, the three-Michelin-starred French restaurant that claimed the top spot in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2024. The restaurant remained open throughout renovations and now enters a new chapter under British executive chef Stephen Lancaster.
Lancaster, who took up the position at the beginning of the month, is set to bring a ‘new perspective’ to the established restaurant – though, as general manager Jens Wycisk comments, he will ‘build on SÉZANNE’s foundation and continue evolving, with respect for what has been created and excitement for the future.’
See also: The Best Restaurants in Tokyo
