Tokyu Hotels & Resorts Co., Ltd. (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Takashi Takei) has announced the third whisky in its original series, created in collaboration with Hombo Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture; President and CEO: Kazuto Hombo): "Yakushima Aging Blended Malt Japanese Whisky Special Edition Goto" (hereafter "YA Goto"). YA Goto goes on sale on Sunday, November 1, 2026 at the restaurants and bars of the 15 hotels Tokyu Hotels & Resorts operates, and at Tokyu Department Store.
With Japanese whisky growing in popularity, demand from guests remains high at many of the hotels Tokyu Hotels & Resorts operates. Following the well-received original whiskies made with Hombo Shuzo in 2024 and 2025, another one has been created and will go on sale this year.
Tokyu Hotels' Original Whiskies So Far
First Edition (announced in 2024)
Single Malt Komagatake Special Edition Goto
Produced at Hombo Shuzo's Mars Komagatake Distillery (Kamiina District, Nagano Prefecture) and aged for nine years in new American white oak barrels. It has a gorgeous aroma and suits a variety of situations, whether before, during, or after a meal.
Second Edition (announced in 2025)
Single Malt Tsunuki Special Edition Goto
Produced at Hombo Shuzo's Mars Tsunuki Distillery (Minamisatsuma City, Kagoshima Prefecture) and aged for seven years in cognac barrels. Peated at 50 ppm and bottled at a cask strength of 62%. Combining power with a distinctive character, it is a whisky that could be called a connoisseur's choice.
The Third Edition: How "YA Goto" Came to Be and Its Character
YA Goto is a blended malt made from three whiskies: "Tsunuki 2020," born at Hombo Shuzo's Mars Tsunuki Distillery, and "Komagatake 2019" and "Komagatake 2021," born at Mars Komagatake Distillery. Each of these malts crossed the sea to be aged at the Mars Yakushima Aging Cellar on Yakushima in Kagoshima Prefecture. Maturing slowly in a warm, humid environment surrounded by the sea and trees gave the whisky a distinct Yakushima character: a vibrancy reminiscent of tropical fruit, along with a faint minerality that evokes the sea. "The words 'tropical and salty' suit it well," says Tatsuro Kusano, blender at Hombo Shuzo.
Hombo Shuzo's Mars Yakushima Aging Cellar
The selection meeting for the third original whisky
As with the first and second editions, the selection was made at a meeting of Tokyu Hotels & Resorts' project members, Hombo Shuzo's staff, and its blenders.
While tasting a number of malts, two candidates stood out: "Tsunuki 2020," with a solid structure and depth and a slight touch of peat at just 5 ppm, and "Komagatake 2019," with an elegant fruitiness and a gentle flavor. These two contrasting whiskies were blended first. "Even in this state it was already a delicious whisky, but we were curious about what would happen if we balanced several whiskies, so the members exchanged opinions and finished it together," recalls Shigeki Yoshida, Beverage Director of BELLUSTAR TOKYO, A Pan Pacific Hotel, who has taken part in the selection every time since the first edition.
Next, "Komagatake 2021," a malt fermented in wooden vats that had also been highly rated by the members, was added as another candidate. It is said to have changed the character of the two-malt blend. To the faint peat aroma and strong, deep structure of "Tsunuki 2020" and the elegant fruitiness of "Komagatake 2019," the milky, creamy roundness of "Komagatake 2021" was added, and the three personalities came together as one flavor. By choosing three malts that are each appealing on their own and combining them while preserving their individual character, the team created a complexity and balance that a single malt could not.
The Flavor of "YA Goto" After Further Aging Since the Selection
Shigeki Yoshida, Beverage Director, BELLUSTAR TOKYO
The whisky opens with sweet aromas like milk chocolate and milk caramel, layered with a bright aroma reminiscent of Ceylon tea. In the middle, the solid depth brought by "Tsunuki 2020" emerges, and in the latter half comes a nuance like the savory umami of dashi, evoking a sea breeze that is typical of Yakushima aging. The finish is very soft.
The story behind YA Goto (Japanese)
Tokyu Hotels of Food: Initiatives Leading to the Original Whisky
Since its founding, Tokyu Hotels & Resorts has valued the enjoyment and richness of food at its hotels. Beyond serving delicious meals, it has focused on passing down traditional cooking, developing signature dishes, and accommodating allergies and vegan diets. To support the staff behind this, the company has held an in-house cooking contest for more than 20 years. Since 2024, it has also held a Restaurant Service Contest and a Cocktail Competition to develop restaurant service staff and bartenders and improve service. Under the banner of "Tokyu Hotels of Food," it carries out various initiatives both inside and outside the company.
Top prize winners of the Cocktail Competition and others
Top prize winners of the Restaurant Service Contest and others
Top prize winners of the Cooking Contest and others
The original whisky project was launched in 2023 with the aim of creating a beverage that represents Tokyu Hotels. It was made possible with the cooperation of Hombo Shuzo, which aims to make "authentic whisky that makes the most of Japan's climate and terroir." The concept, rooted in the company's purpose of "creating moments that fulfill the heart, with people and communities," is "to stay close to guests and create time that fulfills the heart." The project began from a wish to create memorable time together with guests through whisky, at the many points where the hotels meet their guests.
Comment from Hombo Shuzo
"Following the Mars Komagatake Distillery two editions ago and the Mars Tsunuki Distillery last time, we are delighted that everyone from Tokyu Hotels & Resorts has come to Tsunuki again this time and that we could work together. We would be honored if you would enjoy Tokyu Hotels' original whisky, a special blend of whiskies born in Komagatake and Tsunuki and raised on Yakushima, a World Natural Heritage site."
Hombo Shuzo's Mars Yakushima Aging Cellar
Where to Buy "YA Goto"
YA Goto goes on sale on Sunday, November 1, 2026. It is served by the shot and offered as a bottle keep at the restaurants and bars of 15 Tokyu hotels, and is also sold at Tokyu Department Store's online store and the liquor departments of its stores. Tokyu Hotels & Resorts says it will continue developing products that delight its guests.
At Tokyu Hotels
Product Name: Yakushima Aging Blended Malt Japanese Whisky Special Edition Goto
Hotels offering shots and bottle keep:
- The Capitol Hotel Tokyu
- Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu
- Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel
- Nagoya Tokyu Hotel
- Kyoto Tokyu Hotel
- SHIBUYA STREAM HOTEL
- Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu
Hotels offering shots only:
- Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel
- Hakuba Tokyu Hotel
- Izu Imaihama Tokyu Hotel
- Miyakojima Tokyu Hotel & Resorts
- BELLUSTAR TOKYO
- SAPPORO STREAM HOTEL
- THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA
- Futakotamagawa Excel Hotel Tokyu
Prices (both including service charge and consumption tax):
- One shot: from 1,500 yen
- Bottle keep: from 51,300 yen
At Tokyu Department Store
Online Store: https://online.tokyu-dept.co.jp/
Store Liquor Departments:
- Tokyu Department Store Kichijoji
- Tokyu Department Store Tama Plaza
- Tokyu Department Store Hiyoshi
- Shibuya Tokyu Food Show
- Aobadai Tokyu Food Show
Sales at both the online store and the store liquor departments start at 10:00 AM on November 1 (Sunday). For sales prices, please contact Tokyu Department Store.
