Michelin Guide’s hotel and inn edition, “Michelin Key,” is now available, with six 3-key hotels, including “Gora Hanadan” and “Bulgari Hotel Tokyo,” receiving three stars.

On July 4, Michelin Tire Japan announced the “Michelin Key,” the hotel and inn version of the Michelin Guide, which introduces restaurants and eateries selected by the company’s researchers. In its first year, the company has certified 108 establishments.

The Michelin Guide also introduces accommodation facilities, and its hotel selection includes more than 6,000 hotels worldwide, but the Michelin Key is an initiative to “recognize even more outstanding hotels” among them. The hotels are rated on a three-level scale using a “key” (key symbol), equivalent to a “star” in the Michelin Guide.

Michelin has been presenting Michelin Keys in France, the U.S., Spain, and Italy since April, and this first Michelin Key in Asia lists 243 restaurants in Japan, of which 6 are 3-key restaurants, 17 are 2-key restaurants, and 85 are 1-key restaurants (108 restaurants in total).

Gwendal Prenek, Director of the Michelin Guide International, commented on the three-stage rating: “One key means an exceptional stay, two keys means a great stay, and three keys means a superlative stay. It took four years to create the selections, and all of the agents actually stayed at the hotels and evaluated the hotel experience from a variety of angles. It is not a checklist of amenities, but rather a reflection of what guests experience, how satisfied they are with their stay, and the memories they create,” he explains.

There are five evaluation criteria for selection. The first is “Can the hotel itself be a destination,” including whether it offers experiences that are unique to the area. Second is “whether the architecture and interior design are excellent,” and third is “whether there is uniqueness that reflects the personality and character of the facility.

The fourth is “Is the quality of service, comfort, and maintenance adequate?” and the fifth is “Is it genuine?” which measures whether the experience is worth the price.

The top three keys announced this time are the following six houses.

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