Luxury at new Hyatt Regency Naha

The Hyatt Regency Naha Okinawa opened on July 2 as the very first Hyatt hotel in Okinawa. The hotel is located just three minutes off Kokusai Dori, a two-km street with shops, hotels and restaurants that cuts through the heart of downtown Naha.

The hotel has 294 rooms of eight different types, including suites, finished in bright colors such as red and blue and adorned with handicrafts such as yachimun Okinawan ceramics and Ryukyu glass.

The hotel has four restaurants and bars, including "Milano," an Italian restaurant offering dishes made with seasonal local ingredients and "The Bar" on the uppermost 18th floor where guests can enjoy a view of the city.

The luxurious hotel, which has an outdoor pool and a gym, is suitable for any occasion; business or pleasure.

The Hyatt Regency Naha Okinawa is 20 minutes by car from Naha Airport or seven minutes from Makishi Station on the Okinawa monorail "Yuri Rail." For more information and reservations, call 098-866-8101, or visit naha.regency.hyatt.jp.

Love is in the air at Ritz Carlton, Tokyo

The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, in the heart of Tokyo's Roppongi district, will feature an evening tea menu, offered exclusively during the Tanabata Matsuri (Star Festival) season through July 7, in the lobby lounge on the 45th floor.

The Star Festival is a celebration for mythical lovers Orihime (the star Vega) and Hikoboshi (the star Altair) who are eternally separated by the Milky Way. The two are only allowed to meet once a year on the night of July 7. Young couples and children especially treasure the romantic festival.

To celebrate this occasion, the Ritz is offering set menus that include finger food such as shrimp tartlets, crepe-wrapped asparagus, foie gras terrine, cheesecake, and mango tartlets, all perfect for Champagne.

The first course, paired with Dom Perignon is offered at ¥35,000 (excluding tax and service charge) per couple, and the Ritz-Carlton private cuvee course is priced at ¥18,000 (excluding tax and service charge) per couple.

The menu will be offered between 8 p.m. and midnight.

The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo can be accessed directly from Exit 8 of Roppongi Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya and Toei Oedo lines. For more information, call 03-6434-8711, or visit www.ritz-carlton.jp.

Imperial Hotel offers Indian delights

The Imperial Hotel, Tokyo will hold an Indian food fair, "Temptations from India," at its all-day dining restaurant, the Parkside Diner, from July 4 through July 10.

Supported by the Indian Embassy and supervised by executive chef Rajan Loomba of The Ashok, one of the oldest five-star hotels in New Delhi, the Indian culinary promotion offers authentic Indian dishes popular at The Ashok.

The spicy and exotic Indian specialties include a cottage cheese kebab for ¥1,500, spicy roast lobster for ¥3,000 and tomato-flavored butter chicken curry for ¥2,300.

From July 11 through the end of August, the Parkside Diner will also hold an Asian Fair, offering seven kinds of dishes from Asia such as Thai-style mint-flavored shrimp and eggplant salad; Vietnam-style shrimp and avocado sandwiches; nasi goreng Indonesian-style pilaf, and a moussaka-like eggplant and zucchini gratin.

Imperial Hotel, Tokyo is three minutes from Hibiya and Uchisaiwaicho stations, or five minutes from Ginza and Yurakucho stations. For more information and reservations, call 03-3539-8046, or visit www.imperialhotel.co.jp.