Japanese Culture Meets Danish Design At Trunk(Hotel) Yoyogi Park

By Nicola Venning

5 months ago

Tokyo is on your doorstep

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Trunk(Hotel) by leafy Yoyogi Park in Tokyo smoothly mixes Japanese culture and Danish design, enabling guests to unwind and recharge in cool comfort, says Nicola Venning.

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Review: Trunk(Hotel) Yoyogi Park, Tokyo

The exterior of TRUNK(HOTEL) YOYOGI PARK

STAY

The third property in the Trunk group, you can find this hip, new-ish hotel (it opened in September 2023) in Tomigaya, a residential area with a funky cosmopolitan vibe: there are embassies, international schools and, unusually for Japan, western-style coffee shops, pizza parlours and wine bars alongside, of course, dumpling and noodle bars. Relatively quiet, it is only about a 20 minute stroll from busy Shibuya Crossing.

The hotel is compact with an entrance so discrete, it is easily missed – which would be a shame. The rooms are light and airy with Scandi blonde wood and neat pastel blue and green furniture. Hanging lights and bedside lamps are inspired by Japanese lanterns; there are light tatami styled rugs and a bedroom wall resembling earthy volcanic rock. Colourful ‘naive’ artwork from Atelier Yamanami, an art studio for disabled artists, decorates the walls and is also for sale, and many of the room’s accessories – including tumblers, coasters, blankets and flipflops – are made from recycled materials.

Park View Standard and Balcony room at Trunk

Park View Standard and Balcony (© TRUNK/Tomooki Kengaku)

Floor to ceiling windows overlook verdant Yoyogi Park and space is particularly well utilised: my suite had two small but inviting terraces, one by the living area, the other leading off the bathroom. The small outdoor space also allowed me to enjoy wonderful horizon-wide views while wallowing in the bath. While there is no gym, the park opposite is a healthy substitute and the staff refer to it as the ‘big gym’.

The standout feature of Trunk Hotel, Yoyogi Park is the stunning open-air roof top pool which is heated all year round. I loved splashing down a length while admiring the leafy treetops.

Pool Club (© TRUNK)

DO

Trunk(Hotel) Yoyogi Park is just moments from Yoyogi-koen station and the whole of Tokyo is on your doorstep. Closer to home, Yoyogi Park opposite the hotel leads to the forest surrounding the Meiji Shrine. The Meiji Jingu Museum, newly opened in 2019, is also nearby.

Heaving Shibuya Crossing and all the shopping it offers is a brief 20 minute stroll away. In the other direction, neon-lit Shinjuku awaits with its upscale restaurants, clubs, karaoke bars and Golden Gai’s atmospheric, if touristy, alleyway bars and eateries.

A hidden gem near Shinjuku Station are the winding alleyways of Omoide Yokocho with tiny, one counter cafes and sizzling grills, where you can enjoye yakitori and a beer next to your Japanese neighbour.

EAT

Trunk(Hotel) Yoyogi Park has an Italian restaurant, Pizzeria e Trattoria L’Ombelico, on the ground floor, which is also open to the public; the pizza and light Italian bites are deservedly popular with the international crowd that visits.

The rooftop bar on the sixth floor, next to the pool – where the hip, New York barman is very welcoming – serves cocktails and fresh seafood including oysters from Japan, Australia and the US. Our pizza (ordered up from the restaurant) and wine tasted even better while enjoying views of Tokyo’s night-time skyline.

Breakfast is western-style with bacon and eggs or cereal, and it was particularly pleasant waking up slowly with coffee and gazing at the distant NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

THE FINAL WORD

Trunk(Hotel) Yoyogi Park is stylish and very comfortable hotel in an attractive, fun location with understandable appeal to the international guests that visit.