Review: TRUNK(HOTEL)

How did it strike you on arrival?
Pocketed in between Shibuya and Harajuku, TRUNK(HOTEL)’s two low-rise buildings are four stories each. The exterior look of glass, black steel, and stone is softened by the timber decks and ferns that line each floor's wraparound terrace. It’s a showstopper, for sure, but one that feels part of neighborhood. Inside, a subdued vibe takes over common areas—all of which feel like a lounge, equally suited for a MacBook, a latte, or a cocktail.

What’s the crowd like?
If all of the young and beautiful guests gathered at the same table, they could easily start their own creative agency—it seems to lure stylish, successful types.

The good stuff: Tell us about your room.
The Living Suite is spun from a hipster’s daydream. The lofty suite actually includes a lofted space for additional guests (up to four), while the interiors are all crafted by Japanese designers. It could easily be called the party suite, considering its mini bar is actually quite large and in the form of a bonafide L-shaped counter (sake, anyone?). A record player brings sounds, and a ceiling projector brings motion-pictures.

Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?
Free Wi-Fi.

Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.
There are only 15 rooms spread across two buildings—meaning there’s more to this place than beds. The open lobby cafe and bar slings just as many lattes as cocktails, and the main restaurant, TRUNK(KITCHEN), brings local flavor to international staples (burrata, for example, made in a shop in Shibuya).

Bottom line: worth it, and why?
Hardly a stone’s throw from some of Tokyo’s most hipster streets, it’s a high cost, but you’re really booking a whole lifestyle.

Anything left to mention?

A wedding venue first and foremost, TRUNK’s incredible popularity as a hotel venue has encouraged its founder to expand throughout Tokyo, first with TRUNK(HOUSE)—an incredible, single-room hotel set along the cobblestone alleys of Kagurazaka—and soon with a second proper hotel near Shibuya that promises an infinity rooftop pool overlooking Yoyogi Park.