Kamimura Restaurant

Reflecting the contemporary, chic, and non-culture-specific character of Chef Kamimura’s culinary art, the design of the Michelin-starred restaurant, by Interior Design Principal Atsuko Itoda, showcases Kamimura’s unique cuisine. Simplicity, taste, elegance, and contemporary multi-cultural aesthetic in the interior detailing parallels Yuichi Kamimura’s unique culinary style. The sparse palette of materials, strategic lighting, axial approach to the main dining lounge all serve to focus the guest’s attention on the artistry of the cuisine and elegance of the dishes.

The arrival experience begins at the entrance lobby with a backlit white counter and narrow beam spot, highlighting art on a pedestal at the entrance to the formal promenade to the dining lounge. This discretely lit, dark-stained oak hallway takes one past a glass enclosed wine cellar as well as private dining room, transformable by tall, sliding glass partitions, into a virtual indoor terrace perched above the main lounge.

The promenade terminates at a bright orifice of white Corian and light oak, and a series of cascading steps in front of an open flame. This glass-enclosed fireplace sits on a black pedestal and forces the visitor to pause and take in the high-ceilinged room and expansive views beyond. The tall floor-to-ceiling windows face the famous volcano Mt. Yotei. This dramatic view is backstopped by the wall opposite, which consists of a backlit grid of light-stained oak display cases above the waiters’ stations.

The precise detailing of joinery, wall edges and corners, cabinetry and doors adds multiple dimensions to the layering of spaces and processional experiences in this intimate restaurant. Like Kamimura’s cuisine, the interiors are multi-dimensional and full of surprises, beautiful from a distance and rich at close inspection.