The 290-room Palace Hotel Tokyo, which has been closed since January 2009, will reopen May 17 after a $1.2 billion renovation. The hotel, located near the Imperial Palace in the Marunouchi district on a moat-side location, will begin accepting reservations on Feb. 1.

The property succeeds two previous hotels, the Hotel Teito and Palace Hotel, which occupied the same site from 1947 and 1961, respectively. Like its predecessors, Palace Hotel Tokyo will preserve its independence and a distinct commitment to homegrown hospitality. "This hotel is Japanese through and through, from its ownership and management, to its service protocols and its picture-perfect location by the Imperial Palace gardens and moats," said Palace Hotel Tokyo President, Takashi Kobayashi. The hotel's Evian Spa Tokyo is only the second Evian Spa outside of France, and offers views of the city from its fifth-floor location.

The French restaurant Crown opens as collaboration with Patrick Henriroux, who runs two-Michelin-starred La Pyramide in Vienne, France. Within the hotel's Japanese restaurant Wadakura, the sushi operation will be managed by Shinji Kanesaka, who also owns the landmark, two-star Sushi Kanesaka in Ginza. And the Chinese restaurant Amber Palace will be operated by the Chugoku Hanten Group, which also operates Tokyo's two-star Fureika. In a city better known for its density of construction, the 23-story Palace Hotel Tokyo takes in long sight lines from every room and nearly all of the hotel's public space.

The hotel will have 12 suites and six categories of guest rooms, the smallest of which will be 45 square meters. Beyond the four destination restaurants, an additional six restaurants and bars round out the hotel's food and beverage opportunities. The uppermost of four basement levels will feature 17 retail outlets. The same level will also provide underground passage to the Otemachi subway station, which will be completed in the spring of 2013. The city's landmark Tokyo Station is within easy walking distance of the hotel.

The Imperial Palace, next door, is a 3.5-square-kilometer green space in the heart of the city. The area figures prominently in the city's heritage, dating back to 1603 when the Tokugawa Shoguns founded their capital here and established their residence at Edo Castle. The hotel's main entrance is located across the street from Otemon Gate, once the main gate of Edo Castle. One of the hotel's distinguishing architectural features is at its main entrance, where Aji stone walls echo the same stonework that lines the imperial moats. Palace Hotel Tokyo has secured a spot in the Leading Hotels of the World portfolio.