Established in 1890 during Japan’s period of Westernization, the Imperial Hotel opened in Tokyo’s Hibiya area to serve as Japan’s guest house for visitors from abroad. Its founding was led by prominent figures in the business world, including Eiichi Shibusawa, who would later serve as the hotel’s first chairman. It was also supported by the Imperial Household Ministry and Japan’s leading financial conglomerates of the time. It was a hotel born of a rare unity between government and the private sector, symbolizing national prestige and a testament to Japan’s aspirations on the world stage.

Later, in 1923, the hotel unveiled its second-generation main building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the most famous architects of the 20th century. This building, affectionately known as the “Wright Imperial,” became a cultural crossroads where East met West, and welcomed distinguished guests such as Charlie Chaplin and Helen Keller. In 1933, the Imperial Hotel, Kamikochi, Japan’s first full-fledged mountain resort, was established. In 1996, with the opening of Kansai International Airport as a new gateway to the world, the Imperial Hotel, Osaka opened in a city poised to grow into an international metropolis.

Today, Kyoto is home to five geisha districts, and particularly Gion Kobu stands out as the oldest and most tradition-rich. Yasaka Kaikan, born from the hard-earned money of maiko and geiko, embodies their shared pride and enduring pride. In that sense, it echoes the origins of the Imperial Hotel, which was also built through the passion and vision of those striving for a modernization.

The similarities go far beyond that. Both the Imperial Hotel and Yasaka Kaikan have long served as cherished gathering places. As Teruko recalls, “When I was a child, Kyoto didn’t have other places like here. It was a valuable and special place where people could enjoy entertainment.”

“I remember climbing the spiral staircase outside the theater with my brother and neighborhood kids to watch foreign films like Ingrid Bergman movies and all sorts of roadshows. Such fond memories. When I became a maiko, I remember Takara Beer had a rooftop beer garden up there. Oh, and in the summer, they used to hold bon-odori dances in the plaza out front.”

With their shared roles as cultural landmarks and their deep-rooted histories, the meeting of the Imperial Hotel and Yasaka Kaikan feels almost destined. Their bond, forged through tradition and community, marks a new chapter in the story of Japanese hospitality.

Following seismic assessment conducted in 2014, Yasaka Kaikan underwent partial renovations and structural reinforcements in 2017, and had since been used as a venue for experiencing traditional Japanese performing arts. Reflecting on that time, Teruko says, “It was heartbreaking to see the aging of the theater. The tiles were coming off, and it looked so forlorn.”

“That’s why I felt so grateful when the Imperial Hotel decided to come in and bring new life to the place. Gion doesn’t have the same strength it once had—

Because there are fewer teahouses and fewer geiko and maiko in Gion, it’s no longer possible to do things the way we did back when the theater was first built. So to receive help like this and have the hotel and the town support each other, that’s what I hope for. I feel a deep sense of gratitude toward Gion, where I was born and raised. The Imperial Hotel is the finest in Japan. I believe it will bring fresh energy and a new flow of visitors. And as for us, we’ll continue to refine our spirit of hospitality as we always have, and look forward to welcoming a new era.”