- Embraced by Okura Tokyo：A prestigious and tranquil approach
- To Sushi-ya Kyubei: A place where people of high quality gather
- A place where conversation and culture intersect: learning from the rich’s daily life
- The rice with its fine grains and the ingredients like an art form.
- Silently filling, until it is full.
- Private Wisdom Summary: True richness resides in unpretentious quality.
Embraced by Okura Tokyo：A prestigious and tranquil approach
The Okura Tokyo stands quietly in the heart of Toranomon, Tokyo. The approach to the hotel is enveloped in a serenity that sets it apart from the hustle and bustle of the city. The entrance to the building is a garden of lush greenery and water surfaces, and the architectural beauty of the building is a sight to behold. Like a boundary, everyday life is far away from the moment you step into the building.
To Sushi-ya Kyubei: A place where people of high quality gather
Today’s destination is the famous restaurant “Kyubei,” which is located in the middle of the area. Passing through the Japanese-style setup that resembles a prestigious ryotei (traditional Japanese-style restaurant), one is met with an atmosphere of understated sophistication. At the counter, a silver-haired gentleman was chatting with a refined lady next to him, who was using her Hermes Birkin in a natural way. It is a space that “exists” not in a glamorous way, but in a sense of affluence.
A place where conversation and culture intersect: learning from the rich’s daily life
What I saw in this space was the relaxed behavior characteristic of the “rich. There was no loudness, no pretense, just a natural way of spending time. Without saying much, the elegance exuded from them. We learned that luxury is not about decoration, but rather about the aesthetics of “fitting in” to a place.
The rice with its fine grains and the ingredients like an art form.
The true essence of Kyubei begins with the first piece of sushi brought to the table in front of you. The temperature of the rice, its fluffiness, and the degree to which each grain is cooked to stand out. The fish topped with the rice is as smooth as silk. Tuna, sea bream, and shiny fish. Each of them melts in your mouth and leaves an unforgettable memory.
Silently filling, until it is full.
The last scroll offered. I was already full, but I couldn’t neglect the handiwork of the artisans. One bite and I was already satisfied. Taste, air, and people all quietly seep into us. Perhaps luxury is not about fulfillment, but rather about acceptance of the margins.
Private Wisdom Summary: True richness resides in unpretentious quality.
Kyubei at Okura Tokyo is not just a high-class sushi restaurant. It is rooted in a culture of enjoying quality food in a natural way. Not glamour, but tranquility and politeness. It is a place where one can spend a truly rich time without adorning oneself. This attitude is the very essence of the “luxury with wisdom” that Private Wisdom conveys.
