Palace Hotel Tokyo has received certification from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), becoming the first Japanese-owned and managed hotel to achieve the recognition.
The GSTC is an independent non-profit organisation that establishes international standards for sustainable travel and tourism.
Certification is awarded following an independent third-party audit assessing compliance with 167 criteria across four areas: sustainable management, social and economic benefits to the local community, cultural heritage, and environmental impact.
The hotel’s sustainability governance includes a Sustainability Liaison Group comprising department heads and led by senior managing director and general manager Masaru Watanabe. The group meets monthly to review initiatives, and all employees are required to complete training on the GSTC framework and the hotel’s sustainability policies.
Community initiatives include supporting Food Bank Net in Saitama Prefecture through the donation of excess baked goods. In 2025, 61 per cent of the hotel’s food ingredients were sourced domestically, while 73 per cent of fresh produce was grown locally.
Cultural engagement includes the use of locally sourced materials and traditional craftsmanship in the hotel’s design, as well as staff participation in the annual Kanda Myojin festival.
Environmental measures include cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment’s Kokyogaien National Garden Office to monitor and manage aquatic plant growth in the Wadakura moat, located adjacent to the hotel. The property has also implemented long-standing waste reduction and resource management initiatives, including converting kitchen waste into fertiliser for local farms. In 2025, the hotel purchased more than 1,000 kilograms of rice grown using this compost for use in its staff canteen.
Palace Hotel Tokyo has also been recognised as a Sustainability Leader by The Leading Hotels of the World.
Watanabe said: “To us, the GSTC certification is as meaningful as our Five Stars from Forbes Travel Guide and our Three Keys from Michelin. We are wholeheartedly committed to incorporating sustainability throughout our various pursuits as we endeavour to extend our distinctive omotenashi (Japanese hospitality) to our guests, our community and greater society in harmony with nature.”
