Journal

Journal

Notes from the origin of SHIATSU — Namikoshi Shiatsu Salon, Imperial Hotel Tokyo.

  1. English Journal

    Anma, Massage, Shiatsu: Three Words, Three Beginnings

    Anma, massage and shiatsu all sit inside a single Japanese national licence, yet each word was born in a different co...
  2. English Journal

    SHIATSU: The Japanese Word That Stayed Japanese

    Shiatsu is pronounced shi-a-tsu: finger, pressure. English never translated it. How Toru Namikoshi's book carried the...
  3. English Journal

    Shiatsu Points Are Not Acupressure Points

    We are often asked if shiatsu is acupressure. It is not: our roughly 660 pressure points were located from anatomy an...
  4. English Journal

    Who Said “The Heart of Shiatsu Is a Mother’s Heart”?

    Many people in Japan remember the phrase long before they remember the man. “The heart of shiatsu is a mother’ [&hell...
  5. English Journal

    A Single Word: “Pressure”

    What "pressure" truly means in shiatsu — traced from founder Tokujiro Namikoshi's earliest memory of his mother. Vol....
  6. English Journal

    Where the Word “Shiatsu” Comes From

    The word "shiatsu" has a clear and specific beginning. In 1925, Tokujiro Namikoshi gave the act of pressing with the ...
  7. English Journal

    Namikoshi SHIATSU Now Available at FLUX CONDITIONINGS, Daikanyama

    Namikoshi Shiatsu is now available at FLUX CONDITIONINGS in Daikanyama, provided by the same practitioners as our Imp...
  8. English Journal

    Open Year-Round

    Namikoshi Shiatsu Salon is open year-round, 11:00-19:00. Reservations by phone.
  9. English Journal

    Open as Usual During Golden Week 2026

    Open as usual throughout the Golden Week period (April 29 - May 6, 2026).
  10. English Journal

    Our Official Website Has Been Renewed

    The official website of Namikoshi Shiatsu Salon has been renewed.

FAQ

What should I wear?

Sessions are usually given in a gown we provide. If changing is difficult, we will adjust to your needs case by case.

Can I walk in without a reservation?

Walk-ins are welcome if a slot is available. Reservations are accepted 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 period. Changes to hours are announced in News.

Do I need to be staying at the Imperial Hotel?

No. Both hotel guests and outside visitors are welcome to book.

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.

How do I get to the salon?

1 min walk from Hibiya Station (Exit A13) · 3 min walk from Uchisaiwaicho Station (Exit A5) · Imperial Hotel Tokyo, Main Building Mezzanine. From the Main Building lobby, take the stairs up one level, or come up by elevator (no steps between the elevator and the salon).

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.