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The world-famous Park Hyatt Tokyo has announced it will close for renovations starting May 7, 2024, with an expected (read: expected) completion date sometime in the second quarter of 2025.

We’re sad that one of Japan‘s most popular hotels will be closed for a good chunk of time as tourism really starts to rebound in the country. However, we have to admit that this remodel is way past due.

Our latest review of the property, from the summer of 2019, left our writer with mixed feelings, noting specifically that the hotel “felt dated and stuffy” and, upon entering the room, saying to herself, “The 1990s called, and they want their Hyatt Place back.”

Not necessarily the best take on a hotel once considered by many to be the best in Asia — and a hotel that people book due to its major role in the 2003 Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson film “Lost in Translation.”

The hotel, which opened in 1994, has planned the renovations to coincide with its 30th anniversary (they were originally scheduled to happen after the Tokyo Olympics, but then the pandemic happened). As someone who recently turned 30, I can attest to the fact that after three decades of life, it’s a great time to reinvent yourself.

Though Hyatt is keeping hush on the specific changes happening to the hotel, we’re going to assume it’ll be a major facelift across the board, including rooms and public spaces. The enhancements will usher “in a new chapter for the hotel, aimed at elevating the guest experience and revitalizing its iconic ambiance,” Hyatt said in a statement, adding that “the forthcoming updates will bring a fresh, modern feel to the already-renowned property.”

Leading the charge on the refresh of the Park Hyatt Tokyo is Paris-based design firm Jouin Manku, which has worked on projects at other legendary properties like La Mamounia in Marrakech (of “Inventing Anna” fame), as well as the cruise ship Celebrity Edge and the terminal 2F Air France lounge at Charles de Gaulle.

While we should expect many changes, the hotel also notes that the new look will respect “the beloved design philosophy of the hotel’s notable original interior designer, John Morford.”

If you have plans to visit Tokyo during the next year, this might be your last chance for a while to stay at the much-loved hotel. It’s currently a World of Hyatt Category 7 property, meaning award nights start at 25,000 points per night (cash rates fluctuate wildly, but expect to pay close to $1,000 per night if paying with cash.)

However, if you’re visiting after the hotel closes for the renovation period, don’t fret: Tokyo is an exceptional city with plenty of fantastic hotels. Hyatt loyalists might consider the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills, where award nights start at 25,000 points. Luxury lovers can also check into the new Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi or the ultra-luxe Bulgari Hotel Tokyo. There are also plenty of other name-brand hotels, like the Marriott‘s Ritz-Carlton, the Mandarin Oriental, not one but two Edition hotels and many, many more. 

For a slightly less-staggering price tag, however, there’s the Conrad Tokyo, which got glowing reviews from TPG in 2019; the Hyatt Regency in Shinjuku; and the ANA Intercontinental Tokyo, an especially great value for IHG One members.

Either way, now that Japan is back in action, we here at TPG will keep you updated on the latest goings on in the Land of the Rising Sun’s vibrant hotel culture — and on what’s happening with the Park Hyatt Tokyo.