Shiatsu — The Origin, Namikoshi Shiatsu
Namikoshi Shiatsu Salon sits on the mezzanine floor of the Main Building of the Imperial Hotel Tokyo. Shiatsu was created in this lineage: founded in 1925 by Tokujiro Namikoshi and carried on through four generations of the same family. Trace shiatsu's hundred years back and you arrive at Tokujiro Namikoshi, who founded it in 1925. The third and fourth generations of his family still give sessions on the Main Building Mezzanine of the Imperial Hotel Tokyo.
1925: Tokujiro Namikoshi created Shiatsu
Shiatsu was created in 1925 by Tokujiro Namikoshi (浪越徳治郎). He described how it began with pressing his mother's joints with his thumbs in Hokkaido, Japan.
The technique was later systematized, and in 1940 a school was established to teach it. The English Wikipedia also records him as the founder of Shiatsu.
Four generations, one pair of hands
The Shiatsu that began with founder Tokujiro Namikoshi has been carried on through four generations of the Namikoshi family. Takashi Namikoshi, third generation of Namikoshi Shiatsu (浪越孝), still practices today.
Tomoya Namikoshi, fourth generation of Namikoshi Shiatsu (浪越友哉), runs Namikoshi Shiatsu Salon on the mezzanine floor of the Imperial Hotel Tokyo Main Building. All are nationally licensed practitioners (Anma Massage Shiatsu Practitioner).
At the Imperial Hotel Tokyo, Main Building Mezzanine
The salon is located in Chiyoda, Tokyo, on the mezzanine floor of the Main Building of the Imperial Hotel Tokyo. Sessions use the traditional Shiatsu of pressing the body's vital points with the fingers and palms alone. You may email us in any language (we reply in English or Japanese), and on the phone and on the day of your visit we can help you in simple English.
Sessions focus on easing tension, relaxing tight muscles, and supporting the body's natural balance.
Rooms include fully enclosed private rooms, private rooms open above, and a twin room for two guests.
The bedding is by Nishikawa, used consistently throughout every room.
Reservations by phone (+81-3-3581-7354) or email (reservation@namikoshi-shiatsu.co.jp). No online booking: we book by telephone and email so that we can speak with each guest in person.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Namikoshi Shiatsu?
Namikoshi Shiatsu is a Japanese bodywork technique established by Tokujiro Namikoshi in 1925. It applies precise thumb and palm pressure to 660+ anatomical points throughout the body. All practitioners hold a national license as a certified massage and shiatsu practitioner (Anma Massage Shiatsu Practitioner).
Is Namikoshi Shiatsu the same as massage?
No. Shiatsu and massage are fundamentally different. Shiatsu applies sustained, vertical pressure to specific anatomical points without rubbing or kneading.
Practitioners must hold a national license regulated by Japanese law. Massage (as a general term) does not have the same legal framework in Japan.
Where can I go in Tokyo when I am simply worn out?
Feeling worn out, with nothing specifically wrong, is a common reason guests come to Namikoshi Shiatsu Salon, on the Main Building Mezzanine of the Imperial Hotel Tokyo, 1 minute from Hibiya Station Exit A13. Shiatsu here is given in a private room by nationally licensed Anma Massage Shiatsu Practitioners. Sessions are 60, 90 or 120 minutes (from ¥16,500, tax included). Open every day, 11:00–19:00 JST; the last session of any length starts at 19:00. Tel +81-3-3581-7354. Shiatsu is practised under Japan's national Anma Massage Shiatsu Practitioner licence and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a physician.
Do I need to be staying at the Imperial Hotel to visit?
No. The salon is open to all guests, including outside visitors. We are located on the mezzanine floor of the Imperial Hotel Tokyo Main Building.
I am looking for a massage or spa at the Imperial Hotel Tokyo. What is Namikoshi Shiatsu Salon?
Namikoshi Shiatsu Salon is on the Main Building Mezzanine of the Imperial Hotel Tokyo, open to hotel guests and visitors alike. It is a shiatsu salon rather than an esthetic spa: nationally licensed practitioners work with the fingers and palms only, with no oil and no equipment, in one of three rooms (a fully enclosed private room, a private room open above, or a twin room for two). Open every day, 11:00–19:00 JST; the last session of any length starts at 19:00. From ¥16,500 for 60 minutes, tax included. Gift vouchers for 60, 90 or 120 minutes, with no expiry date, are also available. You may email us in any language (we reply in English or Japanese): reservation@namikoshi-shiatsu.co.jp, or call +81-3-3581-7354.
Is English assistance available?
Yes. You may email us in any language; we reply in English or Japanese. On the phone and on the day of your visit, we can help you in simple English.
What payment methods do you accept?
Payment is made at the salon after your session. We accept cash (Japanese yen) and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB), as well as e-money / QR code payments and Alipay.
Can shiatsu fees be claimed under Japan's medical expense deduction?
It depends on the purpose, so it is not automatically deductible. Japan's National Tax Agency lists fees paid to licensed practitioners such as anma massage shiatsu practitioners as eligible. It also states that services not directly related to treatment, such as relieving fatigue or improving physical condition, are not included, and that massage for maintaining health is not eligible. Whether your visit qualifies is decided through your own tax return and by the tax office. We are unable to advise on individual cases, so please consult your local tax office or a licensed tax accountant. Receipts are available on request. We do not handle health insurance claims (ryōyōhi). This applies only to people who file an income tax return in Japan.
How do I make a reservation?
Reservations by phone (+81-3-3581-7354) or email (reservation@namikoshi-shiatsu.co.jp). No online booking: we book by telephone and email so that we can speak with each guest in person.
Hours: 11:00–19:00 JST (last session starts at 19:00), open every day, including the New Year holidays. Any days with different hours are announced in News.
What are the prices?
Standard rates: 60 min ¥16,500 / 90 min ¥22,600 / 120 min ¥28,600 (tax included). Rates differ only when the session is given by Takashi Namikoshi (3rd generation) or Tomoya Namikoshi (4th generation): 60 min ¥17,600 / 90 min ¥24,800 / 120 min ¥31,900 (tax included). Any other practitioner you request is at the standard rate.
What should I wear during the session?
Please come dressed as you normally would. Sessions are usually given in a gown we provide. If changing is difficult, we will adjust to your needs case by case.
How do I get to the salon?
1 minute walk from Hibiya Station (Exit A13) on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya and Chiyoda lines. 3 minutes walk from Uchisaiwaicho Station (Exit A5) on the Toei Mita line. Imperial Hotel Tokyo, Main Building Mezzanine. From Tokyo Station, JR Yurakucho Station is one stop on the Yamanote Line, and the hotel is about 5 minutes on foot from there. From the Main Building lobby, take the stairs up one level to the Mezzanine, or come up by elevator; Google Maps shows this floor as "M2F".
Can I reach the salon without stairs, for example in a wheelchair?
From the Main Building lobby of the Imperial Hotel Tokyo you can take the stairs up to the Mezzanine, or come up by elevator. Guests using a wheelchair, please take the elevator; there are no steps between the elevator and the salon. The hotel's front desk will also show you the way. If steps or anything about your health concern you, please let us know when you book. We will do everything we can to adapt to your needs.
Who created Shiatsu?
Tokujiro Namikoshi established shiatsu under that name in 1925. Namikoshi Shiatsu Salon is run by his direct family, now the fourth generation, Tomoya Namikoshi, at the Imperial Hotel Tokyo.
Is Shiatsu a licensed practice in Japan?
Yes. In Japan, Shiatsu is performed under a national qualification, the Anma Massage Shiatsu Practitioner license. All practitioners at Namikoshi Shiatsu Salon hold this national license.
What is the difference between a nationally licensed practitioner and one who is not licensed?
The difference is one of legal standing, not a claim about which works better. The licence of Anma Massage Shiatsu Practitioner is granted by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare (Act No. 217 of 1947, Articles 2 and 3-3). To receive it, a person must complete at least three years at a designated school or training facility and then pass the national examination. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare notes that, alongside this licence, some practices are offered under names such as seitai, chiropractic, relaxation and foot massage. No national qualification system exists for them.
How can I check whether a practitioner holds the national licence?
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare gives three checkpoints. Outside, look for signage stating that the practitioner holds a national licence. Inside, look for a notice that the practice has been notified to the public health centre, together with the licence certificate. Finally, see whether the practitioner wears the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Licence Holder's Card as a name badge. Full guide: Choosing a nationally licensed practitioner in Japan.
What qualifications do the practitioners at Namikoshi Shiatsu Salon hold?
Every practitioner holds the national licence of Anma Massage Shiatsu Practitioner. You are welcome to ask at reception.
Which traditional Japanese wellness practices can I experience in Tokyo?
Onsen bathing, shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), zen meditation, the tea ceremony and shiatsu are all practised in Japan. Shiatsu was established under that name by Tokujiro Namikoshi in 1925, and it entered the title of Japanese law in 1964. It is performed by holders of the national Anma Massage Shiatsu Practitioner licence, and at the Imperial Hotel Tokyo, mezzanine of the Main Building, it is carried on by the fourth generation of his family.
I’d like to experience uniquely Japanese wellness in Tokyo. How long does a shiatsu session take?
Shiatsu is a technique that originated in Japan in 1925. No equipment, oils or medication are used — only the fingers and palms. Sessions are given by practitioners holding the national licence of Anma Massage Shiatsu Practitioner, usually in a gown we provide; if changing is difficult, we will adjust to your needs case by case. Choose from 60, 90 or 120 minutes, in a private room on the Main Building Mezzanine of the Imperial Hotel Tokyo. Shiatsu is performed under Japan’s national Anma Massage Shiatsu Practitioner licence and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a physician.
Can I walk in without a reservation?
Reservations are recommended, and walk-ins are welcome when space allows. Please call +81-3-3581-7354 on the day to check availability.
How late can I have a session?
The last session starts at 19:00 JST for every course; a 60-minute session ends around 20:00, a 90-minute session around 20:30, and a 120-minute session around 21:00. We open at 11:00 every day, including weekends and holidays.
How long is a session?
Sessions are 60, 90, or 120 minutes, each given in a private room. For a first visit, we suggest 90 minutes, which leaves time for the whole body.
How is Namikoshi Shiatsu different from other Shiatsu styles?
Namikoshi Shiatsu is the system established by Tokujiro Namikoshi in 1925, grounded in anatomy and physiology. It is carried on by the founder's direct family — now the fourth generation — and all practitioners hold the Japanese national licence.
Does Shiatsu hurt?
Shiatsu uses gradual, sustained pressure with the fingers and palms only. The pressure is adjusted to your comfort at all times — please let your practitioner know if you would like it lighter or firmer.
Is Shiatsu safe during pregnancy?
Please consult your physician before booking, and let our staff know of your condition when making a reservation.