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The vestiges of the Hotel Okura. “When you go through the lobby later, be sure to look at the walls. The light-brown stone is called Tako Ishi. It’s found only in Gunma Prefecture, and the designers of the hotel chose it not just for its unusual color, but also because the afternoon sun creates delicate shadows on its uneven surfaces. The shadows are said to resemble the dark brushstrokes of old Chinese landscape paintings.”