Marufukuro (Review)

Ideally located a hundred meters away from Shosei-en garden in the center of the ancient imperial city, Marufukuro is hosted in former facilities of the Nintendo company that were built in the early 1930s. Left disused for many years, they were recently renovated to open as a hotel 🏨 combining the Art Deco style and the memory of the former owners.

Nintendo’s former headquarters in Kyoto

Nintendo was founded in 1889, initially as a company producing hanafuda card games. Its success allowed its 2nd generation CEO, Sekiryo Yamauchi (1883 – 1949), to open "Marufuku" in 1933. The place was both a shop, a workshop, a warehouse and the residence of the Yamauchi family, and was used as the company’s headquarters until 1959. Then, its buildings remained unused until the early 2020s, when a large refurbishment is endeavored by the PDS Hotels group, in collaboration with Tadao Ando and SUPPOSE DESIGN OFFICE architectural practice.

The 3 old buildings were renovated and a new one was built to complete the hotel’s infrastructure, in a more contemporary style but in harmony with the existing structures. One of the hotel’s lounges showcases a model scale of the complex, made in LEGO bricks, for a better understanding of the project.

A maximum of details have been preserved both outside and inside the buildings. The hotel mainly kept its Art Deco style that was trending at the time of its construction, and its name is derived from Marufuku. The former establishment’s logo, made of the kanji character 福 fuku, meaning "luck," in a circle, is displayed at the front of its main building and on its doors.

Some parts have been modified to better fit today’s needs: the lobby was enlarged, and the interior of the warehouse partitioned to create new rooms. Regardless, the original decoration and the retro atmosphere of the early Showa era (1926 – 1989), that the Japanese love, have been preserved. The new building designed by Tadao Ando is standing in a formerly empty part of the plot and adds a contemporary touch.

A luxurious and comfortable "boutique hotel"

The hotel has 18 rooms, characterized by their large superficies (from 33 to 75m²) spread over the 4 buildings. They all have a Western-style bedding, a private bathroom 🛁 and toilet 🚽, a lounging space and at least 1 TV set. Unlimited drinks are available at the mini-bar.

4 of these rooms or suites are particularly interesting, whether they are located in the older buildings or in the new annex:

• The Japanese suite, established in the former Yamauchi residence, spreads on nearly 70m² and is characterized by a Japanese aesthetics, with the only tatami room of the hotel and a rotenburo outdoor bath;
• The Balcony King room, occupying 45 m² at the upper floor, has a balcony with an unobstructed view on Higashiyama;
• The residential suite, is a 75m² furnished with a kitchenette and a washing-machine. Located in the newest building, its ambiance dabbles on the modern side; and, lastly,
• The Marufukuro suite, at the top of the new annex, spreads out over nearly 78m², combining Japanese and contemporary aesthetics, with a spacious terrace opening on the mountains of Higashiyama.

Each room is tastefully furnished and decorated in the style of the 1930s. In Tado Ando’s building, some of the architect’s favorite aesthetic touches were added, such as concrete pillars in plain view or large openings for natural light.

A special attention to details

Every effort is put so that guests feel at home, and details are particularly well-thought: such as the decoration, the cosmetics and toiletries available in the rooms, the range of snacks always available, or the hotel’s postcards. Even the room key comes with a key-ring looking like a miniature of an old Nintendo shop sign.

Several lounge spaces are shared living areas designed for relaxing:

• The Guest Lounge, in the old buildings, used to be a reception room and can welcome about 10 persons. Drinks are freely available at any time of the day;
• The Dining Lounge, in the new building, is open 24/7 for small snacks and hosts the breakfast room. It is decorated with artworks, some of which offered by Tadao Ando.

Lastly, the library is a very special place: it is entirely dedicated to Nintendo and its history. In a large and comfy sitting room, international and Japanese books on the video game company, its history and its products, are displayed and available for browsing while enjoying a drink prepared at the bar. There are also vintage game systems and byproducts showcased as artworks.

Guided tours in Japanese or in English are offered on the morning to customers willing to learn more about the hotel’s history. Being a Nintendo fan is not required to enjoy the place, as its retro charm can be liked as much by art amateurs or people who love quiet and less touristy places in Kyoto.