Situated 200 metres above the ground, with panoramic views of the Tokyo skyline, the grand penthouse space of the Bellustar features five unique penthouse suites, a spa and three restaurants – a spacious dining restaurant, a sushi restaurant and a teppanyaki restaurant. Each space perfectly balances traditional Japanese culture and contemporary comfort with soft furnishings, subtle hues and delicate textures. These elements are painted against the backdrop of glimmering sky rises and the silhouette of Mount Fuji in the distance.

The use of organic forms and natural materials like woods and stone reflects the two architecture firm’s affinity with nature, with Norm Architects managing director Katrine Goldstein expressing, “We focused on bringing natural elements and their inevitable patina into our modernised lives, which serve to remind us of our place in nature and create a distinctive calming effect.”

Each of the restaurants boast their own unique character and material palette. The main restaurant features a three-storey atrium and window seats that allow guests to soak in the unbroken views of the skyline. Offering more intimate experiences, the sushi restaurant is bathed in the warm hues of Hinoki wood, while the Teppanyaki restaurant feels moody with its dark textured brick walls.

The penthouses offer an experience unlike traditional five-star hotels, bringing an understated and earthy design language to the fore. “The idea behind the penthouses is to create a new form of urban retreat that avoids the cliches of luxury hotel design,” Katrine says. “With the hotel being located in the heart of Shinjuku, known for its vibrant city life, we hope that the guests staying at the penthouses will experience a counterpart to just that – a space to recharge and enjoy a feeling of serenity.”