With Tokyo’s hotel scene brimming with options, standing out takes more than plush beds and modern amenities. Hotel The Celestine Tokyo Shiba does it with subtle storytelling: It draws on the history of its location. It was once the Edo residence of the Shimazu family, lords of Kyushu’s Satsuma domain (now Kagoshima Prefecture).
Between the mid-17th century and the mid-19th century, Edo (modern-day Tokyo) was dotted with the grand estates of regional daimyo. The site of The Celestine Tokyo Shiba was once occupied by one of Japan’s most prominent families — the Shimazu. Hotel The Celestine Tokyo Shiba weaves this connection through the hotel, from Kagoshima-inspired dishes to traditional crafts subtly woven into the interior design.
Nestled in a quieter pocket of Minato Ward, the hotel offers calm without sacrificing cosmopolitan convenience. Tokyo Tower is just a short walk away, as is Shiba Park, home to the impressive Zojoji Temple and the even older Shiba Maruyama Kofun, a fifth-century keyhole tomb. A 10-minute ride by taxi brings you to Hamarikyu Gardens, a former feudal and imperial retreat, where seasonal flowers frame a quaint teahouse.
With Mita and Shibakoen stations less than five minutes away on foot and Hamamatsucho Station just 15 minutes away via a scenic stroll through tree-lined streets, Tokyo’s many attractions are at your fingertips. Here, history and urban elegance meet, offering a refined base for travelers seeking both culture and comfort.
Rooms Infused with Heritage
The Celestine brand is defined by spaces that feel like a “second home,” combining modern luxury with touches of Japanese tradition. Nowhere is this more apparent than in its guest rooms, each outfitted with Serta mattresses. At Hotel The Celestine Tokyo Shiba, the gentle warmth of wood seamlessly blends with leather and marble. Design elements pay homage to the Shimazu family’s Edo komon — a pattern once reserved for their exclusive use.
The hotel’s finest room is Tsumugi, an executive corner twin room with a city view, two double beds, a couch and a dining table. Its name honors Oshima Tsumugi, one of the world’s three great textiles, produced on Amami Oshima island in Kagoshima Prefecture. Legend has it that a meteorite impact millions of years ago blessed the island’s soil with the exceptionally high iron content required to create the mud-dyed silk’s rich black hues. Inside the room, Oshima Tsumugi adorns the headboards and cushions, blending Shimazu heritage with a subtle cosmic touch.
Satsuma-Imbued Culture and Heritage
Dining at The Celestine Tokyo Shiba is as much a cultural journey as a culinary one. In the evening, Celestine Dining La Pelouse Tokyo offers Japanese-inspired modern French cuisine using seasonal ingredients from Kagoshima, with a sommelier available for expert wine pairings. Breakfast is a buffet of both familiar and unique options: the hotel’s signature curry, Tokyo Keihan (a chicken-and-rice dish inspired by Amami Oshima), fresh fruits and salads, and natural yeast breads, including selections from Maison Kayser.
Cafe & Bar Lounge Celecroix is ideal for lunch, afternoon tea and evening drinks, with comfortable chairs, high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that bathe the space in light. Its interior features design elements inspired by Kagoshima Prefecture and the Shimazu family, like the Kiriko Wall, a fine example of Satsuma kiriko cut glass, and the Kommon Screen — a partition patterned with the Shimazu family’s Maru ni Juji crest and the sakura-kikko Edo komon.
The Celecroix menu ranges from entrees and desserts to light bites such as curry, fish and chips, Satsuma fishcakes, jamon Serrano with olives and mixed nuts with dried fruit. Drinks both hot and cold, as well as a few alcoholic options, are available throughout the day. Afternoon tea is by reservation only.
As evening sets in, original cocktails and mocktails made with Kagoshima shochu or black vinegar draw you closer to the homeland of the Shimazu family. You’ll also find a variety of domestic and imported liquors, beers, wines and spirits, plus an impressive array of classic cocktails.
Sanctuaries of Relaxation
Sit back with a drink and a good book in the Guest Lounge, a cozy living room-style space open 24 hours a day. The lounge, which also boasts attached patios, has a collection of Japanese and Western books on art, culture and the hotel’s heritage. Guests can enjoy tea and coffee at any hour, while soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are offered during evening hours.
Meanwhile, at Spa Amustas (“Satsuma” spelled backward), you’ll find Japanese comfort with a Kagoshima twist — a theme that asserts itself immediately thanks to the aroma of Kagoshima tea filling the air of the entranceway. The spa’s offerings include massages, hot stone treatments, facials, full-body scrubs and reflexology. Both one-bed and two-bed treatment rooms are available — perfect for a blissful escape, solo or shared.
A stay at Hotel The Celestine Tokyo Shiba combines convenience, tranquility and culture in equal measure. No matter how you prefer to unwind, the hotel has you covered. It’s the perfect base for exploring Tokyo, a gateway for discovering Satsuma culture and an ideal setting for absolute relaxation. It is, simply put, a celestial stay for a Tokyo vacation.
More Info
Hotel The Celestine Tokyo Shiba
3-23-1 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0014
T: 03-5441-4111
For more information or to book a stay, visit Hotel The Celestine Tokyo Shiba’s website.
