Chef Chiharu Takei was born and raised in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. At the young age of 28, he left Japan for France to gain further experience from Michelin - Star level restaurants.

While in France he worked and trained at famed 3-Michelin-Star restaurants, including Joel Robuchon and la Maison Troisgros, as well as 1-Michelin-Star restaurant in Paris, l'Agapé.

In 1998 he returned back to Japan and joined Mikuni Marunouchi in Tokyo as their Executive Chef and later joined Arcana Izu, an Auberge style resort hotel in Izu, Japan in 2006 as Executive Chef. In 2010 he was called to open Sankara Hotel & Spa in Yakushima.

As Executive Chef of Sankara Hotel & Spa Group, he came to the Castle on the Hudson in 2011.

Chef Takei is leading Equus Restaurant by applying his wisdom and techniques to create new epicurean delights of the finest quality that can only be experienced at the Castle on the Hudson.

"Local production for local consumption" is the motto for which Chef Takei strives for as he works with the local community in his daily menu preparation.

We look forward to welcoming you!