Retro Japan in Photos: Art along historic hotel stairway in Tokyo leaves visitors in awe

"The Jippo Room" along the "Hyakudan Kaidan" stairway at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo is seen in the capital's Meguro Ward on Jan. 6, 2021. On the ceiling are traditional Japanese paintings by "nihonga" artist Araki Jippo (1872-1944), which depict flowers and birds in the four seasons. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

The "Hyakudan Kaidan" stairway at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, which is known for its impressive ceiling paintings and wooden structure, which radiates warmth, is seen in Tokyo's Meguro Ward on Jan. 6, 2021. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

Fan-shaped plates, said to bring good luck, are attached to the corners of window frame grids to fortify them at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo in the capital's Meguro Ward on Jan. 6, 2021. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

The ceiling of "The Jippo Room," adorned with traditional Japanese paintings by "nihonga" artist Araki Jippo (1872-1944), which depict flowers and birds in the four seasons, is seen in this photo taken at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo in the capital's Meguro Ward on Jan. 6, 2021. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

This photo taken at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo in the capital's Meguro Ward on Jan. 6, 2021 shows the view from the top of the "Hyakudan Kaidan" stairway. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

"The Gyosho Room" along the "Hyakudan Kaidan" stairway at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, which houses colored wooden carvings and Japanese "nihonga" paintings, is seen in the capital's Meguro Ward on Jan. 6, 2021. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

Hotel Gajoen Tokyo is seen in the capital's Meguro Ward on Jan. 6, 2021. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

"The Soukyu Room" along the "Hyakudan Kaidan" stairway at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, which is the third room from the bottom, is seen in the capital's Meguro Ward on Jan. 6, 2021. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

Decorative ceiling paintings, which can be viewed while climbing the "Hyakudan Kaidan" stairway at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, are seen in the capital's Meguro Ward on Jan. 6, 2021. The second painting from the top depicts lotuses, whose strong vitality is said to symbolize an abundant harvest. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

"The Gyosho Room" along the "Hyakudan Kaidan" stairway at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, which houses colored wooden carvings and Japanese "nihonga" paintings, is seen in the capital's Meguro Ward on Jan. 6, 2021. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

"The Gyosho Room" along the "Hyakudan Kaidan" stairway at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, which houses colored wooden carvings and Japanese "nihonga" paintings, is seen in the capital's Meguro Ward on Jan. 6, 2021. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)