Before it was known as Japan’s Wall Street, Kabutochō used to be a swamp. Due to its location at the south bank of the Nihonbashi River, Kabutochō became a shipping hub. Trade was healthy, but what really set Kabutochō up for life was the establishment of Japan’s first national bank called, uh, the First National Bank.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange, and other brokerages and trading firms followed soon after, and turned Kabutochō into a financial district.
In recent years, the once stoic corporate locality has mellowed. Physical banks have moved out and found a home in the online space. Empty bank buildings, constructed during the Meiji- and Taisho-era, now house a vibrant community of start-ups, artisanal bakeries, cafes, natural wine bars, and, yes, even boutique hotels.
Presenting Exhibit A: Caption by Hyatt Kabutochō. Launched last year, Caption by Hyatt is the corporation’s expansion of a select-service hotel that’s also a social space to build community.
Ideally positioned, Caption by Hyatt Kabutochō is within walking distance of the Kayabacho Station (Hibiya and Tozai lines), Nihonbashi Station (Asakusa, Ginza, and Tozai lines), and Tokyo Station. Travel to both Haneda and Narita airports is just an arrow shot via the Asakusa Line.
Because Caption by Hyatt Kabutochō is set in the Nihonbashi Kabutochō district, one can witness an almost clear transformation of when the streets are bustling with professional-looking men and women going about their important business errands into a nightlife of calm, where bars are boisterous with cheers and conversation, and diners remain busy until closing.
Tarry at Omnipollos Tokyo, a Swedish craft brewery that’s famous for its dessert-style sour beers. Or Caveman, a restaurant that serves up an international menu centred on seasonal ingredients, and wood-smoking techniques. If you want to add some history to your dessert, there’s teal, located in the Nisshokan building that used to be the residence of Eiichi Shibusawa, who played a central role in turning Nihonbashi Kabutochō into a financial district. Try their Tico (grilled banana, vanilla, and passion fruit) or gelato.
The idea of Caption by Hyatt Kabutochō is “connection”—connecting with people, making connections with the neighbours. You’ll find that message in its design.
Four artists—MOTAS., Adrian Hogan, Shinjiro Tanaka, and Straft—were commissioned to come up with elements that exemplify “connection”. For the rooms, MOTAS. made murals that highlight the rhythm and connection between its present and its past. Adrian Hogan made custom pieces to bring out the liveliness of the neighbourhood, like the 12 different artworks on each floor of the 12-storey building. You can find Shinjiro Tanaka’s geometric mural in the hotel’s 24-hour fitness centre, and in each suite room, an installation made out of metal and straw by Straft.
Created with a playful, minimalist aesthetic in mind, you’ll find natural wood textures and earthy tones. There are 195 rooms and suites at the Caption by Hyatt Kabutochō; bathrooms have walk-in rain showers with Apotheke bath amenities.
This is a select-service hotel. So, for all your water and ameniti need, there are water dispensers on each floor, and amenities—toothpaste, Q-tips, facial cleansers, etc—are available in the lobby.
In the lobby is Talk Shop, a social space that acts as a restaurant, bar, and communal workspace. Talk Shop serves up Americana fare, with casual bites like cheeseburgers and a healthy selection of coffees and teas. Working with the tenants in Nihonbashi district, Caption by Hyatt Kabutochō would organise community-focused events, like jazz nights and free workshops. The last workshop held at Talk Shop was led by Haibara, a historic washi shop; during the sessions, guests get to create handcrafted keepsakes out of Haibara’s chiyogami. (Unfortunately, when we were there, our evenings were quiet, with the only kind of socialising being over a few beers.)
There’s a phrase from a Robert Frost poem, “Mending Wall”—“good fences make good neighbours”. It’s an admirable notion about boundaries and the unspoken respect for personal spaces, but a place devoid of gatekeeping, where brick and mortar built over marshland is now outfitted with an open door… now that is a place worth visiting.
Caption by Hyatt Kabutochō Tokyo is located at 12-1 Nihonbashikabutochō, Chuo City, Tokyo 103-0026, Japan
