Moritomi Japanese Cuisine Japanese Restaurant

Moritomi Japanese Cuisine Japanese Restaurant

Moritomi Japanese Cuisine Japanese Restaurant is a distinguished architectural and interior design project located adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage site Himeji Castle in Japan, representing a masterful interpretation of traditional Japanese architecture through contemporary design elements. The 330-square-meter establishment, completed in September 2019, showcases an innovative approach to materiality and spatial design by reinterpreting the castle's stone fortification patterns through diverse materials including rough and polished stones, black oxide-coated steel, and traditional tatami mats. The restaurant's design philosophy centers on the harmonious fusion of historical elements with modern aesthetics, featuring a distinctive entrance with resin-coated gravels symbolizing the castle moat and a wooden lattice-decorated door that creates a transitional space between exterior and interior. The spatial organization spans two levels, incorporating intimate dining spaces, private rooms accommodating 4-6 guests, a counter seating area with kitchen visibility, and an upper floor housing a divisible VIP room for 12 guests alongside a versatile banquet space. The interior palette primarily employs black and white tones, complemented by sophisticated materials such as platina sheets, dark mirrors, and Joly-pat, a plaster-based material embedded with light-reflecting glass beads that references traditional Japanese earth walls. This Silver A' Design Award-winning project in the Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design category demonstrates exceptional achievement in balancing traditional Japanese architectural elements with contemporary design sensibilities, while maintaining functional excellence in hospitality space planning.

japanese restaurant design, traditional architecture interpretation, contemporary interior space, hospitality design, cultural heritage inspiration, material innovation

— Adam Dawson

CITATION : "Adam Dawson. 'Moritomi Japanese Cuisine Japanese Restaurant.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=453677 (Accessed on July 17, 2025)"