Akekure (Hotel Kaie)

Chef Ishiyama Norihiro is an excellent chef. But at the same time, he is so much more than that. He currently serves as chairman of the All Japan Culinary Association, is recognized for his overall career contributions by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, and is honored as a master craftsman by Kyoto Prefecture. For those with any doubt about his credentials, Chef Ishiyama’s skill is displayed through his preparation of kaiseki cuisine in the traditional style of the old capital. In the restaurant Akekure in the Tokyo East Side Hotel Kaie, he captures Kyoto’s beautiful culinary tradition through colorful small plates, exquisite fish and legume courses, and dazzling mains such as succulent wagyu or fragrant pots of steaming shabu-shabu. Set on the hotel’s ninth floor, Akekure’s atmosphere is inspired by art and music, making heavy use of classical kumiko latticework, such as the striking asa-no-ha hemp leaf pattern. Earthy tones and an abundance of natural light give it an intrinsic style all its own, a beautiful mixture of contemporary and traditional.