The historic Book Tower in downtown Detroit, which is putting the finishing touches on a $400 million restoration, has added two authentic Japanese dining and cocktail venues — HIROKI-SAN and Sakazuki.
Conceptualized and managed by Philadelphia-based hospitality and development firm Method Co., the new destinations were designed in collaboration with Stokes Architecture + Design.
Distinguished by traditional Japanese flavors, design, and décor, HIROKI-SAN and Sakazuki enhance the growing downtown culinary scene, and complement the Book Tower’s food and beverage, residential, event, and extended stay hotel offerings (117-room ROOST Apartment Hotel). The Book Tower is located at the southwest corner of Washington Boulevard and Grand River Avenue.
HIROKI-SAN
Led by Executive Chef Hiroki Fujiyama, who trained under legendary “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto, HIROKI-SAN takes inspiration from the award-winning Philadelphia eatery Hiroki. Located on the lower level of the Book Tower, guests will discover a modern Japanese dining experience.
“My passion lies in crafting a culinary experience that goes beyond borders, bringing people together through the art of food,” says Hiroki. “We’ll be sharing the authentic Japanese food culture that extends from our roots in Philadelphia and Kyoto, Japan, and focusing heavily on seasonality and soulfulness.”
The Menu
Crafted from imports flown in fresh weekly from Japan, the expansive menu features a variety of small, shareable plates including, but not limited to:
- Robatayaki — wood-fired skewers and grilled items
- Wagyu — three regional varieties of the specialty Japanese beef
- Noodles/Shumai — broths, steamed and sauteed dishes
- Sushi — focused on a seasonal assortment of traditional sushi and maki rolls
- Specialties — Japanese Wagyu beef, Curry Katsu, Uni-Toro Maki and more
Accompanying the cuisine, cocktails, and mocktails at HIROKI-SAN take on classic Japanese libations with an emphasis on sake. Guests can enjoy cocktails such as the Bamboo Cutter (umeshu, chilled jasmine tea, peach) and the Chicka (blanco tequila, pear, lime & pineapple juices, vanilla, shiso), among others.
Design and Decor
The 4,100-square-foot HIROKI-SAN seats up to 108 guests — including nine seats at the sushi counter, 12 at the chef’s counter, 87 in the main dining room, and a 16-seat private dining room. Design notes include the Book Tower’s original plaster walls, a hand-hewn cypress beam ceiling, and customary Shoji (Japanese paper) screens.
Sakazuki
At street level is Sakazuki, a Japanese pub with a vast, by the glass sake menu, sandos — classic Japanese sandwiches — and small plates. Guests can snack on fun yoshoku (Western-style) bites like wagyu hamburgers, wagyu hot dogs, and ekiben (bento boxes commonly sold at train stations across Japan).
Japanese-inspired libations include the Yuzu Colada (yuzu sake, white rum, coconut, pineapple juice), the Sailor Moon (riku gin, lemon juice, Sakura, lychee), and the Hello, Kat (blanco tequila, midori, lime juice, vanilla, matcha). The venue offers 37 seats, including four at the bar.
Sakazuki’s design and décor is inspired by Japanese pop-culture, nightlife and anime, featuring vibrant, fluorescent colors. The restaurant’s custom ceramic tilework was curated by Architectural Ceramics of Japan, known as one of the country’s finest tilemakers.
“Our team has collaborated to bring together some of the best elements of Japanese culinary and beverage traditions, as well as design, art and music to create unique concepts that complement each other in a special way,” says Randall Cook, co-founder and CEO of Method Co.
“The goal of these concepts is to create an immersive experience, taking people away from their everyday lives for a bit and giving them a glimpse into some amazing aspects of Japanese culture and in doing so, enriching Detroit’s diverse dining scene. We are incredibly excited to be opening our doors and to welcome the city of Detroit in to enjoy each of these spaces, all in one night or also one at a time.”
The Book Tower is owned by Bedrock, a full-service real estate firm in downtown Detroit specializing in innovative city building strategies. Since its founding in 2011, Bedrock and its affiliates have invested and committed more than $7.5 billion to acquire, develop, and operate 140-plus properties in Detroit and Cleveland with landmark developments at the Hudson’s Site, Book Tower, City Modern, Tower City Center and the May Company Building.
Bedrock’s projects include new construction, adaptive reuse, and a portfolio totaling more than 21 million square feet of office, retail, residential, industrial, hospitality, and parking.
“Book Tower has quickly become a dining destination for impeccable cuisine, cocktail offerings, and exquisite design,” says Andrew Leber, vice president of hospitality at Bedrock. “The care and attention to detail extends to the newly opened HIROKI-SAN and Sakazuki, where guests will be transported by the authentic flavors and exceptional ambiance — a beautiful complement to the curated food and beverage selections.”
Initial hours of operation:
- HIROKI-SAN: Tuesday – Thursday, 5-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m.
- Sakazuki: Tuesday – Thursday, 4-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 4 p.m.-midnight
For more information about HIROKI-SAN, visit hirokisandetroit.com. Reservations, which are highly recommended, may be booked through Resy. For more information about Sakazuki, visit sakazukidetroit.com.
At the Book Tower, Method Co. also operates the ROOST Apartment Hotel, Le Suprême, Kamper’s Rooftop Lounge and Bar Rotunda. For more information, visit methodco.com.
For additional information about Bedrock, visit bedrockdetroit.com.
