When the Keio Plaza Hotel opened on June 5th, 1971, Tokyo was entering an exciting new phase of its history. After having achieved remarkable economic expansion, Japan's capital was finally becoming an international city.
Although most urban hotels in Japan at the time were focused on only "providing accommodations," the Keio Plaza Hotel aspired go beyond the norm and to become a "plaza" for guests from all over the world. The hotel had many banquet halls and more than 20 bars and restaurants—a number rare among competitors in those days. The Keio Plaza Hotel was the tallest hotel in Japan and the first skyscraper in western Shinjuku, an area that was still "Tokyo's new frontier" in those years, although it has since come to be known as the "new center of Tokyo." The observation deck on the 47th floor became the talk of the nation, featuring a long line of people waiting to enter the deck day after day.
Throughout its 40 years of history, the Keio Plaza Hotel has been providing numerous guests with fine accommodations, restaurants serving dishes from around the world, banquet halls for both formal dinner parties and friendly get-togethers, international conference halls characterized by advanced information technology, and much more.
Despite the passage of years, the Keio Plaza Hotel still embraces the principle of "providing every guest with the best possible comfort and peace." The commitment is evident, for example, in the hotel's efforts to go barrier-free, as with universal rooms, multi-purpose lavatories, and the rooms built exclusively for breast-feeding that were installed last autumn. This February, the hotel opened a new wedding floor, equipped with remodeled and enlarged dressing rooms for wedding guests, among other new features. In the years to come, the Keio Plaza Hotel will continue with its ceaseless dedication to ever-increasing improvement and guest satisfaction.

The Keio Plaza Hotel's in-house events have long been appreciated as gateways to new cultural and artistic experiences. The hotel has hosted numerous exhibits focusing on specific aspects of fine art or Japanese traditions, as well as regional fairs that bring fine foods and crafts from across the nation to the heart of Tokyo.
From May 1st through 31st, the hotel be the site of "The Lladro Museum at the Keio Plaza Hotel—A Feast of Arts by Designers and Chefs." The porcelain works of Lladro, a prestigious Spanish company, will be brought together with offerings that have been crafted based on the world's great culinary traditions by the chefs of seven Keio Plaza Hotel restaurants.
The admission-free event will include some 150 works of porcelain, with rare masterpieces from the Lladro Museum in Spain that were created when the company was first starting up in the 1960s. A gigantic work exceeding 1.3 meters in length will be on view, along with the "Lladro Designers Art Collection" of experimental works the company has been creating since 2006 in collaboration with renowned designers from across the globe. The hotel's event is the first-ever occasion for the whole of this collection to be displayed.
At each participating restaurant, the head chef has created special dishes for this occasion. Each is cooked and served based on a different concept, ranging from "French cuisine of flowers and amour" to "fantasy Italian." Restaurants will also display Lladro works carefully chosen for the occasion. Renowned for their artistry, Lladro's masterworks have found their ways into museums worldwide. Their delicate designs and gracious colors have won numerous, faithful adherents. Be sure to experience the marriage of art and cuisine at the Keio Plaza Hotel.

Soba, or buckwheat noodles, have long been cherished in Japan. Today, at along many city streets or in train stations, it is often easy to find so-called tachigui soba (literally, "stand-and-eat noodles") shops serving quick and casual meals.
There are two basic ways of eating soba—dipping the noodles in a thick, soy-flavored sauce, or consuming them in a bowl of hot soup (the latter being most commonly seen at noodle stands). In both cases, the noodles are boiled before serving. At many noodle stands, a number of optional toppings are available, such as vegetable tempura or egg.
At most stands, a customer first buys a ticket from a vending machine at the entrance inscribed with the menu. Then, he or she swaps the ticket in exchange for noodles at the counter, consumes them while standing, and leaves—such eateries have no chairs. In the past, these noodle stands were often populated mostly by adult males seeking quick, pocket-friendly meals. Today, however, it is also becoming common to see more women at soba stands.

Business Hours:
Dinner: 5:00 P.M. to 10:30 P.M.
(Orders welcomed until 10:00 P.M.)

10 seats in all, all facing the counter
* Advance reservations are recommended.

Located inside Japanese Cuisine Kagari on the 2nd floor of the Keio Plaza Hotel, Sake Bar Amanogawa proudly offers a tempting variety of the choicest brands of sake, carefully selected by a kikizakeshi, or sake sommelier. Upon request, the kikizakeshi is able to suggest the brands that best complement a selected meal, regardless of whether the diner has chosen seafood or meat dishes. Amanogawa always has some 40 brands in stock, each selected in accordance with the current season, and this array allows even beginners to enjoy the very best from sake breweries all over Japan in a casual environment.
Kikizakeshi Masaki Tada says: "Before suggesting a sake brand, I carefully listen to customer preferences, in as much detail as possible. Choosing and serving the correct sake is a subtle art. For instance, the same brand of sake can have a very different taste when served warm than when served cold, and each has its own distinctive appeal. Noting complements the chef's dishes, which make the most of fresh ingredients, quite like carefully chosen sake."

Bonitos are cherished in Japan for their rich, distinctive taste and the tasty broth that can be made using this type of fish. Especially appreciated are those that swim up north along Japan's Pacific coast in the spring and early summer. Known as hatsu-gatsuo ("first bonitos"), they yield all the taste of bonito without any excess greasiness—a quality that has made them popular in Japan for quite some time.
Unlike raw slices of many other types of fish, which are usually eaten with soy sauce and wasabi (green horseradish), slices of bonito go particularly well with soy sauce and mustard or ginger. Using the tataki method of preparation, one quickly broils raw bonito meat, cuts it into slices, then eats it with a special dip and seasonings.
In autumn, bonitos swim south along the nation's Pacific coast. These are called modori gatsuo ("return bonito"), and they are appreciated for their rich, non-fatty taste. It is thus possible to savor two different types of bonito in a single year. Be sure to explore this unique flavor at the Keio Plaza Hotel, where selected restaurants are currently offering a tempting variety of bonito dishes.

Special Room Rates for EIC Members
Customers staying with us at EIC member rates will be entitled to many special services and privileges, including use of The Club Lounge, free breakfast, and free extension of checkout time to 3:00 P.M.

Room Rates in yen

*Plaza Comfort rooms are located on the 28th through 33rd floors of the South Tower.
*The above rates include service charge and consumption tax.
*Figures in parentheses are accommodation tax charges added to the general rates.
*Rates are subject to change without notice.

Use of The Club Lounge
The Club Lounge is open to EIC members staying with us at member rates, as well as their guests. In the lounge, guests can enjoy coffee, tea, and other amenities in a self-service environment during business hours.

Location:
South Tower, 34th Floor

Seating Capacity:
28 (20 in the lounge area and a private room with 8 seats)

Hours:
1:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.
Free for EIC members staying with us at member rates; 2,000 yen for each additional guest

* Meeting Room is also Available (up to 8 people):
1:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.
8,000 yen for the first two hours; 4,000 yen for each additional hour
*Use of meeting room is available only to customers staying at EIC member rates.
*Meeting room cost includes self-service drinks and snacks.
*Advanced reservations are recommended.
*To use or make a reservation for a meeting room, please contact The Club Lounge staff.

Complimentary Breakfast for EIC Members
To EIC members staying with us at member rates, we offer free breakfast at the Cocktail & Tea Lounge on the 3rd floor of the Main Tower. The Lounge, bathed with an abundance of morning sunlight, caters only to selected guests during breakfast hours. In this spacious, relaxing area, enjoy a buffet-style breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausages, and more. Breads and cereals of many different kinds, fresh fruits, coffee, tea, juices, and other selections are also provided.

Free Extension of Checkout Time
Upon request, EIC members staying with us at member rates can have their checkout time extended up to 3:00 P.M., depending on the room reservation situation.

On March 27th, the Keio Plaza Hotel held a special concert in the hotel lobby to raise money for recovery efforts in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
The concert featured former players of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra of Tokyo, and the musicians' performances were marked by expressions of heartfelt compassion for the people affected by the recent earthquake. The performers offered their condolences for the victims of the tragedy, and called upon the audience to donate generously and help those who continue to suffer. All donations collected at the event were given to the Yomiuri Light and Humanity Association and other charity organizations. Some TV crew from NBC of the US came to the site of the concert as well, to report on it in a news program named "Nightly News." In addition, the Keio Plaza Hotel has placed donation boxes at the front desk, in restaurants, and elsewhere.
At the base of the Keio Plaza Hotel building in Tokyo, the earthquake intensity measured 5.0 on the Japanese scale. We are extremely relieved to be able to report that no guests or hotel staff members were injured in the quake, and the hotel has been operating as usual with no interruptions or undue difficulties.

We hope you have enjoyed this newsletter. We would appreciate any comments that you might have about the newsletter or the hotel.
Please send your comments to:

Customer Relations
Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo
2-2-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8330 Japan
E-mail: customer-rlt@keioplaza.co.jp
Fax: +81-3-5322-8118

Personal Information received from Members (hereinafter called "Personal Information"), such as names, addresses, company names, and e-mail addresses, will be used for the purpose of sending newsletters about our services to such Members. The Keio Plaza Hotel chain will obtain, use, and store personal information about Members (such as names or addresses) only for the Keio Plaza Executive International Club (EIC), and will never use such information for any other purpose.

Carju Rajah, a luxury esthetic salon on the 8th floor of the South Tower, opened on December 1st, 2008. The salon has quickly become known for its excellent skills, sincere hospitality, and refined interior. Individual treatment rooms equipped with showers provide true relaxation for both males and females. Discount rates are even available for visitors who are staying with us. For more information, please contact Guest Relations.

The Business Center has opened on the 3rd floor of the Main Tower, where the lobby is located. The Center offers rental cell phones, fax and photocopy services, arrangement of interpretation and translation as well as of international delivery services, business card printing, and other conveniences. Windows PCs (connected to the Internet) and printers are also available. The Center has been renewed to provide everything necessary for efficient business activities.

Joining is easy. Simply stop by the front desk, visit our web site, or write to the Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo.
http://www.keioplaza.com/eic/index.html

Earn miles when using the following Frequent Flyer Programs. Points will be provided at eligible room rates or higher. To claim points, simply present your FFP membership card upon check-in.