Okura Hotel: Tokyo
Tokyo’s iconic mid-century Okura Hotel played host to a revolving cast of the world’s diplomats, power brokers, and politicians (including President Barack Obama) for decades following its 1962 opening.
It, therefore, came as a surprise when the hotel’s owners announced in 2016 that it would be demolished to make way for a rebuilt tower that would expand capacity by another 102 units. Following a public outcry, the owners announced they would preserve the original south wing of the structure and model the new lobby mezzanine and bar after the old.
