From 1 November 2025, TOKYU HOTELS will launch its own original Japanese whisky, the “Single Malt TSUNUKI Special Edition Gotoh”, available at 15 TOKYU HOTELS properties. This special bottling comes from the Hombo Shuzo Mars Distillery in Kagoshima.
Since its establishment in 1960 in Tokyo’s Ginza district, TOKYU HOTELS & RESORTS CO., LTD (THR) has placed a strong focus on fine food and drink crafted from the finest local ingredients. Alongside preserving traditional and regional cuisine, it has created new signature dishes, adapted to accommodate dietary needs such as allergies and vegan preferences, and, for over 20 years, hosted an internal cooking contest for chefs to continually refine their culinary skills across the hotel group.
In line with this heritage, THR partnered in 2024 with Hombo Shuzo Co., Ltd, which “produces authentic whisky based on Japan’s unique climate and terroir”, to create a signature beverage that embodies the spirit of its hotels and is served at their bars.
THR is a Japanese operator of hotels, restaurants, and membership-based resorts, with a network of 61 hotels in Japan and three overseas.
This whisky initiative reflects THR’s corporate Purpose, which is “creating moments with people and the community, fulfilling hearts and minds.” By connecting with guests through distinctive experiences such as introducing whiskies, the company aims to “create heartwarming moments together with its guests.”
In March 2024, a four-member project team led by THR’s then CEO, Jun Murai, travelled to the Mars Komagatake Distillery in Nagano. This distillery is owned by Hombo Shuzo, a renowned producer of shochu and other alcoholic beverages based in Kagoshima, which was founded in 1872 and has been producing whisky since 1949.
For the first of the five whiskies in the series, the team chose a base spirit distilled in 2015 at the Mars Komagatake Distillery. It was matured for nine years in new American white oak barrels and released in November 2024 as the TOKYU HOTELS original Japanese whisky, “Single Malt KOMAGATAKE Special Edition Gotoh.”
The second whisky in the series uses a base spirit from the Mars Tsunuki Distillery in Kyushu, southern Japan – a region celebrated for its abundant natural resources and water perfectly suited to whisky making.
“Single Malt TSUNUKI Special Edition Gotoh” is a cask-strength (62%) whisky that has been matured for seven years in cognac barrels and, unusually for a Japanese whisky, has a robust peat PPM of 50. This highly distinctive whisky is likely to challenge whisky aficionados’ expectations for a Japanese whisky. It balances a confident peatiness with a gentle brandy cask aroma of red fruit, the tartness of raspberry, and the fragrance of soft, ripe plums. It may be drunk straight, on the rocks, or one part water to one part whisky to release its complex bouquet.
The whisky, limited to a single cask will be available at 15 TOKYU HOTELS properties across Japan as single drinks or “bottle keep” (when guests purchase a bottle to store at the bar).
As Japanese whisky becomes ever more popular around the world, this project is a chance for visitors to Japan to experience unique whiskies in unique settings of omotenashi hospitality. These whiskies are an expression of gratitude from THR to its guests. It is the company’s hope that they will create unique and precious moments of connection.
Comment from Hombo Shuzo
“Following TOKYU HOTELS & RESORTS previous visit to our Komagatake distillery, we were delighted to welcome them to the Tsunuki distillery and collaborate with them on this project. We sincerely hope that guests will enjoy this TOKYU HOTELS original Japanese whisky. It is a single cask carefully selected from our diverse range of malt whiskies that allows them to experience the unique terroir of Kagoshima.”
