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Ryokan are Japanese-style inns found throughout the country, especially in hot spring resorts. More than just a place to sleep, ryokan are an opportunity to experience the traditional Japanese lifestyle and hospitality, incorporating elements such as tatami rooms , futon beds, Japanese-style baths and local cuisine , making them popular with both Japanese and foreign tourists alike.

There are many different kinds of ryokan, varying greatly in terms of size, cost and style. Some ryokan are small, family-run establishments with just a few rooms, while others are large, hotel-like facilities with hundreds of rooms. Ryokan also range from no-frills, budget varieties to costly establishments catering to the very wealthy.

While extremes exist, the average cost of a ryokan stay is between 15,000 and 25,000 yen per person, per night. Ryokan may not be cheap, but they are well worth indulging on at least one special night during your travels. Also keep in mind that ryokan stays usually include an elaborate dinner in the evening, followed by breakfast the next morning. Meals are typically kaiseki ryori (Japanese haute cuisine) that feature local and seasonal specialties.

Because of their emphasis on traditional style and atmosphere, ryokan may appear rigid and intimidating for the first-timer unfamiliar with the procedures and etiquette. In reality they are a special and relaxing experience that everyone should take the opportunity to try. In order to help set your mind at ease, the following pages offer an explanation of what to expect.

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The 15 Best Hotels in Japan to Book Right Now

As travel to japan continues to boom, we rounded up the 15 best hotels across the country, many located in sublime—and often less-visited—destinations..

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Aman Kyoto is set within a forest and is near Kinkaku-ji temple.

Courtesy of Aman Kyoto

One of the most profound experiences a traveler to Japan can have is an encounter with omotenashi , the country’s legendary approach to hospitality rooted in mindful care for someone else without expecting anything in return. Hotels and inns are one of the most all-encompassing ways to experience this singular part of Japanese culture.

With this in mind, we’ve carefully chosen the 15 retreats across the country that showcase the best lodgings Japan has to offer today. From a modern palace in an urban skyscraper to a traditional rural ryokan, or inn, the top hotels in Japan each immerse travelers in the places they’re visiting, often in less discovered regions. They also offer guests their own takes on omotenashi at every turn.

In no particular order, here are our picks for the 15 best hotels in Japan.

Aman, Tokyo

1. Aman Tokyo

• Location: Tokyo

Having become famous for its retreats in sublime natural settings, Aman Resorts made its urban debut in 2014 with Aman Tokyo , which delivers the brand’s imaginative cultural experiences and superlative service to the center of Japan’s capital. Elevators open onto a 33rd-floor lobby with a soaring atrium and a seasonal ikebana flower arrangement that floats over a reflecting pool. The 84 guest rooms, inspired by traditional Japanese ryokans and designed by Singapore-based Kerry Hill Architects , are among the city’s largest entry-level accommodations. They’re a minimalist’s dream, with chestnut floors, sliding shoji screens, floor-to-ceiling windows, and large stone furo soaking tubs worth clearing an entire afternoon for. The spa, which has onsen-style baths and a 98-foot pool with city views, offers treatments that embrace Japan’s traditional herb-based Kampo healing philosophy.

Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo is located in the historic Nihonbashi neighborhood.

Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo

2. Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo

Occupying the top nine floors of the Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, designed by renowned Argentine architect César Pelli, the Mandarin Oriental showcases postcard views of Mount Fuji to the west, Tokyo Skytree and the Sumida River to the east, and Tokyo Bay to the south. The hotel also turns to nature for its design inspiration. The property itself resembles a tree, with its entrance at the bottom of the tower representing the base; on the top floor, fabrics and carpets suggest leaves and branches, creating the feeling of a forest canopy. The 157 rooms and 22 suites were designed with such flourishes as bonsai trees and cherry blossom motifs. At the 37th floor spa, a signature “Totally Tokyo” treatment uses pine, bamboo, plum, green tea, and rice hulls to stimulate the senses and restore a sense of clarity. For dinner, choose between French, Cantonese, and Italian restaurants.

Hiiragiya is one of Kyoto’s most famous ryokans.

Courtesy of Hiiragiya

3. Hiiragiya

• Location: Kyoto

Established in 1818, this heritage Kyoto ryokan has been run like a sacred temple by six generations of the Nishimura family. Consider it a sanctuary where you can fully immerse yourself in the traditional Japanese inn experience—think low-slung lacquer tables, sliding fusuma doors, multi-course kaiseki meals, and pristine white shoji screens. Watch Japanese white-eye birds flit through the private camelia garden; bundle up in your yukata to dine in-room on abalone with miso egg yolk sauce and sea urchin chawanmushi (a savory egg custard) served on Kiyomizu ceramics; and drink a nightcap of sake before sinking into the freshly laid tatami mat in one of property’s 28 rooms.

Aman Kyoto, Japan - Suite Washigamine_3.tif

4. Aman Kyoto

The location itself is a major selling point: 80 acres of serene forest in the foothills of Mount Daimonji, 30 minutes from Kyoto Station and 5 minutes by car from Kyoto’s famous Kinkaku-ji temple. Here, Aman Kyoto’s 26 modern suites stretch across an old river bed blanketed in emerald. The forest is punctuated with native maples, cedars, and blue oaks, an ideal setting for forest bathing excursions. Much of the property was built with materials from the surrounding woods—cypress soaking tubs, heated stone bathroom floors, and bamboo dividers whose clean minimalist lines and varied textures offer a restorative setting.

5. Miyamasou

• Location: Hanase, Kyoto Prefecture

Getting to Miyamasou is an experience unto itself. The hour-long drive from Kyoto on a narrow road passes Japanese cedar forests, small towns, temples, and shrines. The ryokan is famous for its two Michelin-starred, multicourse kaiseki dinners that showcase ingredients from the forest like gingko nuts and carp sashimi from a nearby river. After a hot bath in heated mountain spring water, guests dine in their yukatas in private rooms. The five immaculate tatami-floored accommodations feature sliding doors that lead out to terraces that hang over a rushing river, whose sound lulls guests to sleep at night. Book well in advance, given the inn’s diminutive size and outsize reputation.

A hostess greets guests at Kayotei Ryokan.

Jennifer Flowers

6. Kayotei Ryokan

• Location: Yamanaka

There’s a reason why renowned chefs like Eric Ripert have visited Yamanaka, a hot springs town in Honshu’s seaside Ishikawa prefecture: to make a pilgrimage to Kayotei Ryokan, a 10-room private inn with onsen baths fed by natural mineral springs from the ground below it. Here, multi-course kaiseki meals are prepared mostly with the surrounding agricultural area’s organic produce, from the fish to the tofu. Every ingredient has a story: The rice maker uses ducks for pest and weed control in lieu of chemicals, and the midwinter nori , or seaweed, is harvested by brave souls who face the large waves and slippery rocks along the coast. Book one of the tatami-floored rooms with a private onsen, and be sure to check out the impressive collection of antique tansu scrolls and pottery throughout the retreat.

An ofuro bathtub in a suite at Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

Courtesy of Higashiyama Niseko, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

7. Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

• Location: Hokkaido

Located at the base of the laid-back Niseko Annupuri ski resort, the ski-in, ski-out Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, makes hitting the slopes easy with onsite gear rental, lesson booking, and lift pass sales in the lobby. It also offers priority access to a high-speed gondola leading to 70 runs and 2,191 acres of skiable terrain. The 50 guest rooms feature oversize windows that face either Mount Yōtei (Niseko’s symmetrical Mount Fuji) or the forested piste, which is just as lovely in summer when international ski bunnies depart and domestic visitation increases. A slate-clad ofuro tub in the bathroom offers a tranquil soak with a view, but is no match for the spa’s indoor and outdoor thermal baths, which feel restorative any time of year.

Aaron Jamieson

8. Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono

Park Hyatts in Japan are not only next level, they’re arguably the most Japanese of the international chains in the country, with generous touches of omotenashi throughout. Opened in 2020, Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono’s 100 spacious rooms—including 28 suites, each with a private onsen—occupy four separate buildings and overlook the Annupuri range. The spa is surrounded by a stream and hemmed by birch trees. It includes a pool and a tattoo-friendly onsen—a rarity in Japan, where tattoos are often still found to be taboo.

Accommodations feature deep soaking tubs, oversize beds, huge walk-in closets for storing bulky winter luggage, and sofas that convert to an extra bed for families or small groups. Close to a dozen restaurants are on offer, including a deli, sushi counter, cozy charcoal-grill robata, and French-Japanese teppanyaki, not to mention a private karaoke dining room. Onsite ski valet services pamper powder pilgrims, while an early-bird First Tracks program with the general manager himself gets you on the piste before it opens. Summer activities bookable onsite include everything from golf and zip-lining to cycling, rafting, and excursions to the National Ainu Museum , which showcases the culture of the Ainu people.

Kai Beppu offers a contemporary spin on the traditional Japanese ryokan.

Courtesy of Kai Beppu

9. Kai Beppu

• Location : Beppu

Opened in 2021, this 70-room oceanfront retreat is located in Beppu, just 90 minutes from Fukuoka on Japan’s southernmost island of Kyushu. Designed by the celebrated Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the structure is cloaked in sho sugi ban , a method of charring cedar so it doesn’t burn. Like many properties in Beppu, guests come for the restorative onsen, which takes many forms here—private balcony ofuro tubs, a landscaped ground-level onsen, and a hanging glassy infinity footbath, all high in hydrogen carbonate to help soften skin. Inspired by onsen towns, Kai Beppu features an in-house street food market and nightly performances of a rhythmic onsen jug band—a true “only in Japan” experience.

Hirofumi Inaba

10. Hoshinoya Taketomi

• Location: Okinawa

This small southern Okinawan island, part of the Ryukyu archipelago, is a tropical escape that’s home to Hoshinoya Taketomi. The resort’s 48 spacious villas feature red roofs carved with Shisa lion figurines, and they cluster around a breezy dune made of coral sand. Accommodations feature large soaking tubs, day beds that let in refreshing breezes, and stone walls that offer extra privacy. Kick back with a fresh shikuwasa juice, made from a native citrus, and enjoy plucky Okinawan music sessions and walks along the white-sand Kaji Beach, known for its star shaped grains of sand. Cool down in the hot afternoon by doing laps in the long sunken oval pool, also alluring at night when the Iriomote Dark Sky Reserve glitters overhead.

Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei offers a classic Japanese onsen experience.

Courtesy of Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei

11. Nishimuraya

• Location: Kinosaki Onsen

The charming seaside town of Kinosaki Onsen, home to Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei, lies 2.5 hours northwest of Kyoto, and is set along the willow-lined Otani-gawa River. The eighth-century town’s seven mystical-feeling onsen each have their own individual appeal, and it’s common to hear the sound of wooden geta sandals on the pavement, worn by visitors who are hopping from onsen to onsen. Nishimuraya has two properties: the new Hotel Shogetsutei, and the older Honkan, which has 32 rooms, some built in the Sukiya style modeled after tea houses, with wooden terraces, sliding screens, and big windows facing Japanese gardens with karikomi , sculpted shrubs and trees. The private onsen at Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei are the most dramatic in town. They look out onto a 30-acre mountain forest and are ideal for families who want privacy, or tattooed travelers who can’t access the hotel’s normal onsen.

Azumi Setoda was designed by Kyoto-based architect Shiro Miura.

Courtesy of Azumi Setoda

12. Azumi Setoda

• Location: Ikuchijima Island

Ikuchijima Island is famous for its lemons and Shimanami Kaido cycle route. And leave it to Adrien Zecha, founder of Aman Hotels, to create an entirely new reason to come here: Azumi Setoda, a retreat in the 146-year-old former home of the island’s prominent Horiuchi family. For the 22-room minimalist inn, which is located in the town of Setoda, he hired Kyoto-based architect Shiro Miura . The retreat captures the languorous mood of the Seto Inland Sea, while still offering proximity to the area’s famed art islands, including Naoshima with its famous yellow pumpkin installation by Yayoi Kusama. Curved roof tiles, exposed beams, and a courtyard with a cherry tree offer a taste of Old Japan. The guest rooms feature rice paper screens, cypress wood bathtubs, and gardens that face a landscaped courtyard, while the community bathhouse across the street is complimentary for guests.

Simose Art Garden Villa was built by architect Shigeru Ban, a Pritzker Prize winner.

Courtesy of Simose Art Garden Villa

13. Simose Art Garden Villas, Hiroshima

• Location: Hiroshima

A new art complex and resort on the Seto Inland Sea in Otake, which is part of the Hiroshima prefecture, opened in April 2023 near Miyajima’s UNESCO-listed Itsukushima Shrine. The constellation of buildings are the work of Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Shigeru Ban. Four of the 10 villas date back to the 1990s and were rebuilt here this year and include Le Corbusier-inspired structures with colorful Mondrian panels. Five new waterside villas use an Austrian lightweight Kielsteg design featuring sliding wooden panels with key holes to let in light, while two rooms have deep cypress ofuru tubs. A glass-walled French restaurant and a mirrored museum featuring floating and glowing gallery modules, both designed by Ban, are open to the public, but museum access is exclusive and free to guests in the evenings and mornings.

Lake Kawaguchi is located about three miles from the hotel.

Courtesy of Fufu Kawaguchiko

14. Fufu Kawaguchiko

• Location: Kawaguchiko

It’s hard to top the Mount Fuji views at this contemporary-feeling boutique hotel, which opened in 2018 in the wine country town of Kawaguchiko, about two hours southwest from Tokyo by bullet train. The 32 guest rooms have giant glass windows that face serene Lake Kawaguchi that lies about three miles away, and all have private balcony onsen tubs made with Fuji lava stone. The setting gets extra cozy with outdoor firepits and cashmere throws. The onsite restaurant pairs local wine with such seasonal dishes as Fuji Sakura Pork seared on lava stone with blueberry butter.

The atrium of the Conrad Osaka

Courtesy of Conrad Osaka

15. Conrad Osaka

• Location: Osaka

Occupying the 33rd to 40th floors of the Festival Tower West skyscraper, the silver and walnut interiors of the 164-room Conrad Osaka offer a stylish sanctuary amid Osaka’s never-ending bustle. Hilton’s service-forward premium brand stands over the city’s bustling Nakanoshima neighborhood and is home to a collection of 389 contemporary works of art. Sprawling rooms feature cherry-red lacquer wall flourishes, while the sobagara pillows, traditional Japanese buckwheat husk pillows, add some traditional flair. Don’t miss a trip to the spa, where the wellness menu includes such treatments as baths infused with sake and yuzu.

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The 15 best hotels in Japan

Unearth ancient traditions and soak up contemporary comforts at the very best hotels in Japan

From the sky-scraping towers of Tokyo and the rustic ryokans of Kyoto to the pristine beaches of Okinawa and thrilling ski slopes of Hokkaido, Japan is a wondrously, vastly diverse place. And that goes for the country’s hotels, too: some of the most luxurious, unique and characterful hotels in the entire world are to be found in Nippon.

No matter the purpose of your trip, whether you’re hunting for cherry blossom, here for a spot of sumo wrestling or pitching your way around sushi samples at a local food market, Japan has a hotel to fit the occasion. And plenty are unforgettable attractions in themselves: hotels with their own history and traditions, with uber-luxurious features like onsen  and waterfalls or quirks like capsule rooms and on-site libraries. So, without further ado, for all budgets and functions, here are 15 of the finest hotels in Japan.  

This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click  here .

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

The best hotels in Japan

1.  ritz-carlton, kyoto.

Impeccably located in the heart of the city by the Kamogawa river, overlooking the Higashiyama mountains, this modern luxurious hotel steeped in the traditional Kyoto tradition oozes tranquil individuality, with features such as a huge waterfall by the lobby, zen gardens, wooden partitions and traditional paper artworks. It apes a luxury ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) and has spacious and minimalist rooms, while dining options include a high-end Japanese eaterie, an Italian restaurant and a patisserie.

2.  The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon, Tokyo

This superb budget option is located in the characterful eastern Asakusa entertainment district by the city’s oldest temple complex, Sensoji, an area which still retains a sense of its past. The interior design of this small boutique design hotel is subdued, but the attentive staff compensate for that. The rooms are compact but spotless, and neutral in tone and decor, letting city views in many take centre stage. The restaurant serves French fusion cuisine, and there’s a bar and terrace.

3.  Four Seasons, Kyoto

Staying at this elegant, luxurious hotel means surrounding yourself in supremely attractive exteriors – including a pond garden with a traditional tea house, maple trees, cherry blossom and stone bridges – and enjoying interiors that begin in the large marble and cypress wood lobby decked with pretty paper lanterns and flowers and continue through to 123 attractive rooms that fuse traditional Japanese with modern design, and feature sleek, spacious bathrooms. The spa focuses upon Japanese wellness rituals, and there’s a tastefully-designed pool. The brasserie offers excellent Asian-European fusion dishes, and there’s a sushi bar too.

4.  Hoshinoya, Tokyo

When in Japan why opt for a nondescript Western-style hotel? Superlatively blending old and new, this contemporary luxury ryokan situated within a 17-storey tower offers the Japanese experience in spades, from removing your shoes to walk on the tatami mat floors to sleeping on futon-style comfortable beds. There’s a suitably hushed atmosphere as staff here wear traditional kimono to serve guests in the O chanoma (tea room) lounges, onsen (hot spring) baths, and restaurant, which offers traditional Japanese breakfasts. Traditional performances sometimes take place at the hotel too.

5.  Book and Bed, Tokyo

If your budget is miniscule, then this hotel made up of wooden ‘capsules’ of different sizes is ideal. Who needs a Corby trouser press, minibar and the like anyway? Located in the lively neon-heavy Ikebukuro district, each space has rows of books on one side and a curtain for privacy on the other. There’s no restaurant or cafe but if the on-site vending machine doesn’t quite hit the spot, there are numerous eating options nearby. Bathrooms are communal, yet spotless and ultra-modern.

6.  Iraph Sui, Miyako Okinawa

Okinawa feels a world away from the rest of Japan – and that’s because, at 400 miles from the mainland, it kind of is. Okinawa feels like much more of a tropical paradise, so who can blame Iraph Sui for making full use of its idyllic surroundings? On Miyako Island, Iraph Sui boasts rooms with mind-boggling ocean views and balconies, as well as a spectacular outdoor pool.

7.  Aman Tokyo

Located in the business district, Otemachi, the 84 rooms and suites at Aman are especially spacious. Set across the top floors of a skyscraper, they have great views of the city – the Imperial Palace and Shinjuku office towers in particular, and Mount Fuji on clear days. With a minimalist interior featuring paper, stone and wood, the hotel offers a huge spa with an onsen -style bath and a pool, and eateries with French and Italian menus.

8.  Zentis, Osaka

Offering a welcome retreat from Osaka’s famously restless, never-ending buzz, Zentis in Dojimahama also features some exceptionally snazzy hotel design. Spread over 16 storeys, the soundproofed rooms are airy and peaceful, with plenty also offering fabulous city views. With a garden and terrace too, there are fewer better places in which to kick back and take a breather from one of Japan’s biggest, most bustling cities.

9.  With the Style Fukuoka

This eclectic 16-room boutique hotel in the cosmopolitan city of Fukuoka in western Japan is more geared to those in party mode than travellers seeking tranquility. Cosy yet sophisticated, there’s a rooftop spa Jacuzzi, pool, in-room spa treatments and massage, Italian and Teppanyaki Japanese restaurants, water terrace and colourful, spacious rooms. Lots of nice touches are included in your stay, including the Japanese/western breakfast, a minibar and bicycle use.

10.  Wise Owls Hostels Shibuya, Tokyo

The lively, neon-draped Shibuya neighbourhood is not known for good budget accommodation, so this hostel with private rooms, a female-only room with bunks and mixed capsule-style dorms is especially welcome. It’s simple and functional, with communal kitchens, laundry areas and bathrooms, a good-value organic restaurant and vending machines. And it’s convenient for the creative Nakameguro quarter, whose fashion boutiques, cafes and design studios around the canal make for some fun hanging out.

11.  Benesse House, Naoshima Island

In Kagawa Prefecture, away from the big cities and tourist haunts, this is rather different: a hotel within a museum filled with painting, sculpture, photography and installations, and designed by Tadao Ando. With a minimalist design using concrete, wood and glass, don’t expect grandiose bedrooms: these are relatively small and simple, yet possess lovely sea views and display original artworks, as do public areas, grounds and the surrounding area. The restaurant continues the minimalist theme, and serves a French-inspired menu. Sadly, the accommodation and dinner costs are far from minimalist.

12.  Sowaka, Kyoto

Tucked away down a side street in Higashiyama, Sowaka blends the peaceful, traditional comforts of an old style ryokan with the swishest features of a modern boutique hotel. Mere steps from the historic geisha district of Gion, Sowaka also boasts its own gorgeous Japanese-style garden and La Bombance Gion – an on-site restaurant headed up by a Michelin-starred team from La Bombance’s estab in Tokyo.

13.  The Shinmonzen, Tokyo

The Shinmonzen was designed by Tadao Ando, one of the world’s most celebrated architects, and you can really tell just how painstakingly each element was deliberated and pored over. The nine suites here have several themes, from those that are more directly inspired by traditional ryokan (with tatami floors and the like) to others accented by bamboo and stone. Each room is simply so calming and pleasing to the eye, all while also offering balcony views out over an equally serene, soothing river.

14.  St. Regis Osaka

This stylish, comfortable hotel is in the smart Midosuji district – the ‘Champs Elysées of Osaka’ – and therefore ideal for shopping, the train station, the trendy Shinsaibashi and the Namba nightlife neighbourhoods. With a stunning Zen rooftop champagne garden, smart Italian restaurant, French-style cafe and elegant bar, spa and gym, topped by luxurious rooms with neutral decor, Nespresso machines and fine city views, it’s a top choice for stays in Osaka. Don’t miss the signature Shogun Mary cocktail, the Osaka take on the original Bloody Mary created in 1934 at the first St Regis Hotel in New York.

15.  Treeful Treehouse, Okinawa

If you didn’t know about the Treeful Treehouse’s seriously impressive sustainable credentials, you’d still think it was a totally spectacular place to stay. Consisting, as you can probably guess, of tree houses in the Okinawan jungle, Treeful combines eco-friendliness with a bucketload of cozy luxury. Using composting loos and water from a well, Treeful is all designed to minimize the impact on the habitat below – and actually claims to be carbon negative, meaning that it absorbs more carbon dioxide than it produces.

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The best hotels in Japan

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

How we choose the best hotels in Japan

Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We’re always looking for beautiful design, a great location and warm service – as well as serious sustainability credentials. We update this list regularly as new hotels open and existing ones evolve.

The Tokyo Edition, Ginza, Tokyo Arrow

Featured on our 2024 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world

Three years after the opening of the Tokyo Edition, Toranomon, the brand’s second address in Japan is a delicate, intimate addition to the city’s luxury hotel scene. Both hotels share the same DNA, courtesy of the crafted minimalism of Japanese architect Kengo Kuma coupled with the edgy New York vision of Edition founder Ian Schrager. But there is added depth and warmth to the new hotel, reflected in its scale (just 86 rooms and suites spanning a new 14-story structure, resolutely low-rise by Tokyo standards); a quiet back-street location in buzzy, upscale Ginza; and an aesthetic that goes heavy on a dark walnut palette in contrast to the lighter oak of its sister hotel. Hedonism is a must at any Edition: at Ginza, guests indulge at Japan’s first Punch Room, with silver bowls of cocktails served in an intimate space (don’t skip the yuzu and brown rice tea), or at a plant-packed rooftop terrace serving natural wines – a unique experience for the city. Danielle Demetriou

TRUNK(HOTEL) Yoyogi Park, Tokyo Arrow

It’s a surreal Tokyo anomaly to find an infinity pool with lush treetop views floating serenely six levels above the ground – especially one in ultra-urban Tomigaya, somewhere between the fashion-forward crowds of Harajuku and the nocturnal neon of Shibuya. Yet this pool – with its taupe sun loungers and curated clientele – is the heartbeat of Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park, a refreshing 25-room escapist haven. This is the third in a hat-trick of Tokyo spaces by Trunk, pioneers of so-called “punk omotenashi” (the latter translates as mindful Japanese hospitality). Alongside Tokyo’s Keiji Ashizawa Design, Copenhagen’s Norm Architects brought the interior elements to life. The softly minimalist pale decor, smooth curves, natural textures, bespoke furniture, and splashes of foliage are testimony to this Japandi DNA. The Trunk philosophy of community can be found in the buzzy ground-floor Pizzeria e Trattoria L’Ombelico, with its wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas (the garlicky, clam-packed Nojiri is named after Trunk’s charismatic owner, Yoshitaka Nojiri) and pet menu. But the signature space is the sixth-floor guests-only Trunk Pool Club, with its sea-toned tiles, sandblasted concrete walls, crafted cocktails, and oysters on ice. These are best enjoyed poolside or in the sunken fire pit beneath Tokyo’s electric skies. Danielle Demetriou

Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo

Featured in our Gold List of the best hotels in the world 2024.

Photos don’t do Tokyo ’s Mandarin Oriental much justice. Rising to the upper floors of the Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, the 38th-floor lobby is like a gallery to the capital’s best angles. It’s the same in the rooms: No matter the category, the view is paramount from your tranquil retreat in the sky, as the frenetic financial district eases down below and, on cloudless days, Mount Fuji glistens in the distance. Comfort is prime here too. Beds are as supple as the sheets are slippery. And if you can’t find a perfect pillow on the extensive “pillow menu,” it’s not the pillow – it’s you. Room service can get expensive, but the menu itself is so long and varied (from macaroni and cheese to okayo don) that it’s worth a look. And yet, there are so many dining options on the property – from an actual pizza bar to haute Cantonese to a silver-lined French restaurant – that every in-house venue deserves a gander. For example, Sushi Shin by Miyakawa is perhaps the city’s most atmospheric sushi restaurant: A nine-seat L-shaped counter made from a 350-year-old cypress tree sits next to a floor-to-ceiling window that perfectly frames Tokyo Skytree. Dip sushi as the sun dips, too, and the city lights up by nightfall. If you care to step outside, the location is convenient. It’s just around the corner from famous kimono shops and hallmark department stores, and Ginza is a short stroll away. Keith Flanagan

Higashiyama Niseko Village, Niseko

On Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, this small ski resort has become one of the places to see and be seen in the past decade. Niseko has relatively recently evolved into a reliable hangout for in-the-know, thrill-seeking slope lovers (with a healthy wallet). Responding accordingly, a flurry of piste-side hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants have popped up at record speed. However, when the snow melts, Niseko becomes one of Japan’s best-kept secrets, with green mountain forests, hikes galore and wildflower fields.

Higashiyama Niseko Village manages to retain an intimate, familiar atmosphere amid the glitzy setting. The focus is on the surrounding environment, with hints of the natural world threaded through the design, from the delicate cherry-blossom motifs on fabric panels above the bed to the plush forest-like carpets. Plus, bathrooms come with deep, grey tubs that offer a Japanese-style soak with a view – be sure to nab a room with close-up views of nearby Mount Yotei through glass walls. Danielle Demetriou. Read the full review of Higashiyama Niseko Village

The Tokyo Edition Toranomon, Tokyo

This playful Tokyo hotel is the first Edition to open in Japan . Combining contemporary design and attention to detail, it is a popular spot among the local fashion crowd and creatives. Taking up the upper levels of a shiny new 38-storey skyscraper, it brings even more sleek modernity to the upmarket Kamiyacho district – there’s a black-veined-marble wall and a glowing acrylic bird installation, a floating urban jungle on the 31st floor and, of course, minimal rooms with scene-stealing skyline panoramas.

For a taste of the hotel’s playful style, head to the Jade Room and Garden Terrace where British chef Tom Aikens has launched his first Japanese venture. Follow up supper with a trip to the Lobby Bar for Japan-inspired cocktails served on a white marble bar with emerald stools. During the day, explore Kamiyacho to discover Roppongi’s galleries, bars and shops and nearby Shibakoen’s parks and temples. Read the full review of The Tokyo Edition Toranomon

Azumi Setoda, Hiroshima

In a region famed for its still blue waters, seafood, citrus fruit and horizon dotted with island silhouettes, this place is a fresh riff on traditional ryokans. Set in the 140-year-old former home of prominent local family Horiuchi on Ikuchijima island, the hotel is hidden behind dark wood and a curved roof, revealing a minimalist wonderland inside with clean lines, exposed timber beams, an open-plan restaurant and – the highlight – glass walls overlooking an atmospheric garden of pines, a willow and a cherry tree encased in tall cedar fences.

Azumi Setoda cleverly fuses intricate craftsmanship with a pared-back, modern edge and, most importantly, is layered with a deep-rooted community spirit. It is reinvigorating its surroundings while placing a strong emphasis on sustainability. Food is sourced locally, and alongside the entire town, Azumi Setoda is involved in plans to get all energy from renewable sources by 2023. Danielle Demetriou. Read the full review of Azumi Setoda

Ask anyone what they consider to be the best hotel in Tokyo and you can guarantee that Aman is mentioned – and for good reason. Nestled in Tokyo's business district, at the top of a pretty unremarkable 38-story steel and glass office tower, this was the Aman Group’s first urban address when it opened in 2014, and nearly 10 years later it hasn’t lost an ounce of its wow factor.

Australian designer Kerry Hill – an expert at mixing local styles with contemporary architecture – has created a minimal and sleek space. From the moment you step foot inside the 33rd floor lobby, with its 30-metre high white washi paper ceiling and ikebana flower arrangement in the centre – surrounded by water and two meditative rock gardens – you can’t help but feel a sense of serenity and calm.

The hotel’s 84 rooms are spacious, modern takes on traditional Japanese ryokan inns, with sliding screens separating light-filled cypress wood bedrooms from basalt-lined bathrooms, complete with deep, granite bathtubs perfectly positioned for dramatic city views while you soak. The spa spans two floors – a breathtaking space with a striking black basalt 30-metre pool, onsen-style stone bath, plus a gym, yoga studio and treatment rooms.

Arva, the hotel's fine dining restaurant, is a smart spot; highlights from the Italian-inspired menu include New Zealand lamb with tomato, basil and black olives and strawberry tiramisu with white balsamic vinegar. Come morning, hotel guests gather here for breakfast, sipping coffee and tucking into french toast and Eggs Benedict overlooking the Royal Palace gardens below. Next door is the hotel’s bar, serving a seasonal afternoon tea and expertly-mixed cocktails with more Tokyo views. La Pâtisserie, in the basement of the hotel’s building, is the latest addition, where executive pastry chef Yoshihisa Miyagawa serves up perfectly-presented French delicacies. Read the full Aman Tokyo hotel review . Sarah Allard

Shiguchi, the Niseko countryside

Featured on our 2023 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world

From Shiguchi’s hot tub – a giant rock, sliced in half, its excavated interior filled with volcanic onsen water – the dazzling whites of the valley are broken only by an ink-line of trees and the scarlet legs of a woodpecker in a nearby birch tree. Such is life at this escapist nirvana in a wild corner of Niseko, on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido. Named after a traditional Japanese carpentry technique that joins beams without nails, Shiguchi is about connection: between humans and nature, art and architecture, and possibly bathers and birds. English artist, collector, and longtime Niseko resident Shouya Grigg, who was also behind the area’s beloved Zaborin ryokan, meticulously relocated five old kominka farmhouses from across Japan . Shiguchi’s heartbeat is its gallery and restaurant, Somoza, where impressive woodwork is tempered by shelves of ceramics, abstract paintings, and walls of glass framing valley views. Days might be whiled away drinking matcha in a floating tatami mat space wrapped in steel screens, discovering Ainu art artefacts in the lower-level gallery space, or talking art with Grigg over dinners of wild Niseko, from foraged mushrooms to melt-in-the-mouth venison. Pathways cut into walls of snow lead to five spacious and atmospheric villas, with high-tech kitchens, rock or cypress bathtubs, and deliciously soft Babaghuri pyjamas. Sturdy timberwork is the backdrop for antique furniture, fire stoves, and artworks. But the real privilege here is switching off and tuning in to the rhythms of the woodpeckers. Danielle Demetriou

Roku Kyoto, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Kyoto

Featured on our 2022 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world

More luxury resort than city hotel, Roku Kyoto is a place to stop, slow down, and recharge after the exhausting task of sightseeing in Japan’s ancient capital. The atmosphere treads a finely honed line between contemporary design and traditional Kyoto, with modern echoes of temple aesthetics in the hotel’s minimalist architecture: clean-lined expanses of light woods and external walkways beneath pitched roofs, all connected by cloud-reflecting water pools and gardens of seasonal blooms. The heartbeat of the hotel is restaurant Tenjin (especially the dinner-only Chef’s Table), though the hotel features another veritable head-turner for Kyoto: an outdoor hot-spring thermal swimming pool. Danielle Demetriou

Mama Arashiyama, Kyoto

Modern, minimalist, and beautifully crafted, Mama Arashiyama is a new 10-room hotel and restaurant wrapped in gardens, just a short walk from the famed bamboo forests of Arashiyama. It offers a textbook-perfect snapshot of contemporary Kyoto style—fusing materials crafted by modern artisans with Scandinavian furniture, stone baths overlooking private gardens, and a low-key but stylish pizza restaurant (yes, really). Simple and minimal with a natural edge, it’s a world away from the luxury sheen of five-star hotels, but it’s still the kind of place that makes you instantly want to redesign your own home. All in all, Arashiyama feels like the ultimate Kyoto insider secret. Danielle Demetriou

The Mitsui, Kyoto

It’s a bold move to open a design-forward property in a city that has fully tied its identity to the past. Even bolder to build it on the exact site where the long-prominent Mitsui family had a residence from the late 1600s to the 1940s. But once you hear the storybook ending – how, in 2015, the Mitsui corporation’s real estate arm bought back this beloved parcel of land – it makes sense. While the sleek André Fu-designed spaces break from Kyoto ’s usual decor tropes, the past is everywhere. See, for instance, the 300-year-old wooden gate that once demarcated the original estate. There are subtle signifiers too: a long corridor with blond wood arches that echo the maze of torii gates at Kyoto ’s famed Fushimi Inari shrine, a ceiling installation inspired by kimono fabric. But it’s the practical yet cosseting touches – the neatly folded pyjama set that appears at turndown, the sprawling underground onsen – that will shape this next chapter of the Mitsui legacy. Read the full review of Hotel The Mitsui, Kyoto . Rebecca Misner

Ace Hotel, Kyoto

Defying Kyoto 's traditional associations with a charming, discreet style, the bold Ace Hotel proudly stands out among the sedate ryokans, machiya townhouses and sleek hotels in Japan’s ancient capital. A buzzy spot where a young, creative crowd gathers, the hotel was designed by LA-based Commune Design and Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, who masterminded Tokyo Olympics HQ the Japan National Stadium. They blended Japanese and American aesthetics to create the genre-bending interiors, fusing new-generation craftsmanship with a sprinkling of Americana.

Wander around the hotel to spot work from 50 different artisans, head to the maximalist lobby to admire bright artwork, or spend an afternoon shopping in the curated boutiques downstairs. Rooms similarly veer away from traditional tea room minimalism; the 213 bedrooms continue the vibrant Kyoto-US formula with layers of colours and patterns. In line with typical Ace values, the hotel was built using sustainable materials and is the first in Japan to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) status. Danielle Demetriou. Read the full review of Ace Hotel, Kyoto

Hotel Log, Onomichi

The outside of this place, whose name is an acronym for Lantern Onomichi Garden, may not grab anyone’s attention. Set in the Shinmichi complex, built in 1963 on the slopes of Mount Senkoji overlooking the Seto Sea, the white-and-peach apartment building looks unremarkable. But inside it has been transformed into an arty six-room hotel via the wild but disciplined design of architect Bijoy Jain from Studio Mumbai. For his first project outside India , Jain covered every inch of the bedroom walls, floors and ceilings with gleaming-white washi paper; the cocoon effect is deepened by a scarcity of furnishings. Staying in one of these large spartan spaces is rather like sleeping in an art installation. But comfort is key: futons are incredibly soft, and bath tubs can be found in the larger rooms.

There is a feeling of being gently swaddled in a delicate paper lantern, but open a window and golden light pours in: the structure is high up, overlooking the pines, palms and roofs of this free-spirited temple town often called Japan’s Portland. Head to the lacquered bar for a glass of local Chardonnay or a cocktail while Eighties pop plays on the turntable. The restaurant is heavy on vegetables, so menus tilt towards salads with greens and micro-herbs, and ceramic bowls are filled with mikan and hassaku citrus fruits that are anything but ordinary. Staying in a ryokan often means accepting tatemae – a structured, sometimes rigid way of thinking. But this contemporary interpretation has resulted in a laidback hangout where social barriers can be broken down and even Japanese guests can bend the rules. Adam H Graham

Hotel Cultia Dazaifu, Fukuoka

The Tenmangū shrine on Kyushu island may be a destination for Shinto pilgrims, but it is often overlooked by travellers. More’s the pity – here’s a spot that allows visitors to connect with nature and deepen their understanding of Buddhism in ways that temple-hopping on the beaten paths never could. A 30-minute train ride from Fukuoka, the 3,000-acre complex of 10th- and 16th-century shrines, ponds and cedar forests peppered with 6,000 plum trees is said to house Tenjin, the patron deity of learning, and it is a place of regular exhibitions, meditation classes and architecture tours. At the end of last year, this four-room hotel opened directly across the street. The tile-roofed structure falls somewhere between a ryokan and a shukubo lodge: a modern sanctuary with traditional touches and guided morning worship.

It’s the former residence of the Yoshitsugu family, whose paintings and scrolls still decorate doors and walls. Rooms are connected by outdoor stone paths screened off by sheer linen noren , some with private gardens of moss, stone lanterns and seasonal flowers such as fringed lilies. Vaulted ceilings, meticulously sanded floors and undecorated wood-panelling create a cabin-like quality. The lack of visual distraction is soothing, although there are distinct notes of modernity in Danish chairs and plenty of charging points. But time moves slowly here. Slide apart the fusuma windows to listen to the peals of the Bonsho bell, the oldest in the country. Then book a table at the French-fusion restaurant to settle in with plates of sautéed red gurnard or salted Itoshima pork. It’s a decadent alternative stay and a reminder that enlightenment isn’t always about going without. AHG

Kishi-Ke, Kamakura

Anyone who says that Japan is uptight probably hasn’t been to this sunny corner less than an hour from Tokyo. Kamakura, with its 65 Buddhist and 19 Shinto shrines, was the capital from 1185 to 1333. Today it’s a breezy surf town with taco stands, smoothie shacks and cosy izakaya full of wet-suited beach-goers. In July 2019, it saw the opening of its first modern, and arguably the world’s smallest, ryokan – the one-room Kishi-ke, a minimalist inn that can be booked for up to four people, run by spritely young local Nobuyuki Kishi and his product-designer wife Hitomi. The former samurai house was reconstructed by architect Ryohei Tanaka, who worked under Kengo Kuma, and collaborated with landscape architect Akihiko Ono – the pruned pines and citrus trees give the courtyard a painting-like quality. The hotel literature poses the question, ‘Are you satisfied with your life?’ It’s something to mull over while gazing across the road at Sagami Bay, its waters warmed by the Kuroshio current, and Yuigahama Beach, one of many sandy stretches on this part of the coast. The couple apply the principles of chisoku to the way they run the house – emphasising fulfilled living in the moment, a practice taught in the Rinzai sect of Japanese Buddhism that includes zazen meditation, vegan food and tea ceremonies, all of which are on offer. But what really makes it special is Kishi-ke’s connection to the sea: nibble on shirasu (white-bait) sashimi, while listening to jazz from the main room’s five-seat counter, eyes drawn to the surfers catching the last glinting copper waves of the day. AHG

Nipponia Mino, Gifu

It’s likely nobody except washi -paper pilgrims will have heard of Mino. And it might have become abandoned like many small towns, but this untrammelled merchants’ settlement less than a four-hour Shinkansen ride from Tokyo has managed to assert itself as a curious spot worthy of a detour. A wave of architects came to admire then restore the Edo-era wooden row houses, which today are filled with cafés and ceramic shops for those in search of a modern take on authentic Japan. The elegant Nipponia Mino, a Twenties Arts-and-Crafts-style estate converted into a hotel in 2019, strikes a similar note. All the usual classic touches are here in screened tea rooms, private moon-viewing gardens and tatami mats. But as the former atelier of prominent papermaker Matsuhisa Seijiro, the property is also a showcase for traditional design.

Interiors are lined with woven-thatch wainscoting and mushiko-mado latticed windows; a split-level warehouse has an outdoor clay bath while the maisonette is swathed in wallpaper with whimsical waterfall motifs, calligraphy and washi inlaid with fragrant cedarwood chips, said to aid sleep. The lobby doubles as a paper shop where visitors can buy various products and books or sign up for courses. The Nipponia group is making tracks by transforming historic buildings in lesser-known areas and championing sustainable renovation techniques. This project demonstrates that harnessing the past is the smartest way of looking to the future. AHG

Maana Kamo, Kyoto

When childhood friends Hana Tsukamoto and Irene Chang scribbled their business plan on a restaurant napkin in Spain , they probably couldn’t have dreamed that three years later they would have made it happen. The thirtysomething designers launched Maana Homes last year, a collection of machiya townhouses – two already up and running and four more in the pipeline – that fuse a contemporary look and new-generation craftsmanship with a dose of homeliness. ‘We wanted to create something that bridges the gap between Airbnb and luxury hotels,’ explains Japan-born Tsukamoto, who studied in the USA and moved back from New York last year. At riverside Maana Kamo, the 100-year-old house has been renovated by architect Shigenori Uoya – he also transformed Sowaka – removing vinyl coverings and tiled ceilings to expose clay walls and beams.

In the sleek kitchen, with its wood counter and Jasper Morrison Maruni stools, hip caterers Ototo Jet can provide a stylish temari sushi feast. A minimalist living space opens up to reveal the scene-stealer: a large stone bath beneath a moon-like paper lantern. ‘It’s not an obvious place to put the bath,’ says Tsukamoto. ‘But I had a very clear vision of this beautiful view straight through the house.’ There’s a similarly smooth mesh of heritage and modern elements in their first property, Maana Kyoto, in the quiet Tambaguchi neighbourhood, from curved low rattan chairs to bold textile art. Next up is Maana Kiyomizu in 2021 near Kiyomizudera Temple. ‘The concept of these homes is to find stillness and silence within,’ says Tsukamoto. ‘But it’s also important to make sure guests are comfortable. It’s about finding a balance.’ DD

Trunk House, Tokyo

In 2010, Japan-based food critic Robbie Swinnerton coined the phrase ‘punk kaiseki ’ in a review of restaurant GiroGiro after its renegade chef broke all the rules of the ceremonial dinner. If GiroGiro is punk kaiseki, then Trunk is punk omotenashi (hospitality). Not since the Park Hyatt Tokyo appeared in 1994 has the capital seen such a game-changer. Entrepreneur Yoshitaka Nojiri, who also founded Shibuya’s Trunk Hote l in 2017, opened this art-filled property in a cobblestoned back alley of the under-the-radar Kagurazaka neighbourhood. The two-storey, one-bedroom property was once a geisha-training house; now a pair of decorative albino tanuki raccoons guard the stone entry (a whimsical piece called Karma Camellia by art collective GELCHOP) before you are plunged down the Trunk rabbit hole.

Once inside, standout works challenge preconceived ideas about Japan – a stained-glass window depicts a frog smoking a joint and a shunga (graphic erotic art) hangs above the three-person hinoki soaking tub. The furniture, lamps and beds are museum-quality from Tom Sachs, Herman Miller and Jean Prouvé, adding hits of grown-up elegance. The house is taken for exclusive use only, so there’s no jostling around the fire-pit; there’s a butler and a chef who prepares wagashi – ornate snacks such as oysters on the half-shell drenched in yuzu cream – at any time. And don’t miss the secret micro-disco tucked under the stairs, with a bar full of whisky bottles. Beyond the padded door, blinking lights pour from a rainbow-lit glass dancefloor and bounce off a glitter ball. It’s even possible to karaoke to a Sex Pistols song to round out the stay. Anarchy, the Japanese way. AHG

Sowaka, Kyoto

For 100 years, this was a high-end tea house – a poetic maze of wooden corridors, sliding screens and haiku-inspiring gardens, filled with dancing geishas. Now it has been reimagined as a ryokan which, like many things in the ancient capital, treads an expertly fine line between old and new. The hotel – whose Sanskrit name means ‘happiness’ – is a clever combination of Sukiya-zukuri architecture and contemporary design in the temple-packed Gion district. Unusually, it offers the hushed reverence of an inn but without the rules: instead of strict in-room mealtimes and futons unrolled nightly, there’s a sleek black-on-black restaurant and cashmere mattresses. It’s easy to miss the low-key entrance: a split curtain reveals a lantern-lit pathway that meanders to a genkan stone threshold. Inside a peaceful tableau with a 21st-century edge comes into focus: creaking corridors, circular paper windows and plaster walls alongside Nordic-inspired furniture.

Each room is different: one has sliding screens with conch-shaped handles leading to partitioned areas, another includes its own tea-ceremony space. Among the decorative woodwork are more current nods – modernist chairs, cedarwood Bluetooth speakers, a graffiti-like scroll. The main building was renovated by architect Shigenori Uoya, together with 100 artisans. He also added a 12-room annex, where the mood is minimal with textile art and angular windows with rooftop views. Food is taken very seriously here. Against a backdrop of dramatic lacquerware panels, La Bombance, an outpost of the Michelin-starred Tokyo original, serves up a delicate interpretation of local cooking from wagyu beef to ginger hotpot. As in all the very best ryokans – old-school or new-wave – an intuitive convivial spirit lives on. DD

The Shinmonzen, Kyoto

A smooth modern riff on a traditional ryokan inn (and the chic little sister of Villa la Coste in the South of France), The Shinmonzen sits on a quiet lane in Kyoto’s Gion district, with a traditional-style wood façade leading to a contemporary interior cocktail of modern design and world-class artwork. Each of the individually designed suites is flooded with natural light and showcases a smooth mix of modern Kyoto craftsmanship (picture minimalist screens and hinoki cypress-wood bathtubs) and hints of its Provençal DNA (as reflected in the lingering scent of jasmine from each of the balconies overlooking the river). Danielle Demetriou

Shinsho-an, Kyoto

The atmosphere leans more toward luxurious private home than hotel at Shinsho-an, in both scale and ambience. Sleek interiors use top-quality materials sourced from across Japan with contemporary design touches, adding to the scene-stealing modern Kyoto restaurant and next-level hospitality—right down to the cashmere-covered hot-water bottles you can request beneath the sheets at night. Each of the four suites is uniquely designed and extremely spacious, with minimalist flower arrangements by one of Japan’s oldest florists. All meals are created by Michelin-starred chef Toshiro Ogata, from mouth-melting squid sashimi at breakfast to the nine-course omakase dinner. Danielle Demetriou

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Top 10 best luxury hotels in Japan

Monday newsletters  always feature  top 10 travel lists  to inspire.

Today: Top 10 best luxury hotels in Japan

Japan – which is (finally) reopening to international travelers this fall – is one of the world’s most exciting and magical travel destinations. Its colorful shrines, fascinating geisha districts and age-old Buddhist temples stand witness to the country’s rich cultural heritage and ancient history. From the famous monuments in the stunning imperial city of Kyoto to the bustling capital of Tokyo with its dizzying dimensions and flashing neon lights, there is no shortage of major attractions to visit and explore in the land of the rising sun. With the recent opening of some ultra-luxe Aman, Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons and Hyatt properties, the country now offers a portfolio of exclusive hotels that matches the unique cultural experience. Here’s my selection of the top 10 best luxury hotels in Japan.

There is more information below the slideshow. Think I missed one? Leave a comment below with your favorite luxury hotel in Japan.

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10. HYATT REGENCY HAKONE RESORT & SPA

Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort & Spa is located in Honshu, an area famous for its onsen (hot springs) and views of Mount Fuji. The elegant yet relaxed ryokan-style hotel offers 80 spacious guestrooms and suites, all of which have a private sun terrace or balcony. Some guestrooms come with tatami (rush mat) floors, an onsen, and a yukata (a traditional garment that is worn around the hotel). The hotel’s intimate lounge has its own fireplace, which is the perfect decor for the chilly winter evenings. As guests unwind amid the fresh air, forested hills, and scenic views of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, they can enjoy a balanced mix of Hyatt’s warm, world-class service and Japan’s own style of hospitality, which offers the option of a sumptuous dinner and breakfast as part of the pampered experience.

• Hotel website :  Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort & Spa
• Tip : get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit).
• Review : read my review of Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort & Spa here .

9. ST REGIS OSAKA

The St. Regis Osaka is located along the famed street of Midosuji, also intimately known as the Champs Elysées of Osaka. An eloquent expression of comfort and refined Japanese aesthetics, Osaka’s finest hotel offers an abode of tranquility and comfort, with its 160 rooms and suites elegantly appointed with refined furnishings and rich textures. Guests can experience exquisite dining at Rue d’Or, La Veduta or at Teppanyaki WAJO; discover the epitome of luxurious pampering at the hotel’s exclusive Iridium Spa; or take in magnificent vistas of the Osaka skyline from the serenity of the 12th-floor terrace. The St. Regis Osaka is located at close proximity to popular destinations such as Universal Studios Japan, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan and the city’s most exclusive shopping districts. 

• Hotel website :  St Regis Osaka
• Tip : get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso  (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD food & beverage credit).
• Review : read my review of The St Regis Osaka here .

8. PARK HYATT NISEKO HANAZONO

Park Hyatt Niseko, Hanazono sets a new benchmark for luxury hotels in Niseko, a year-round mountain retreat in the heart of Japan’s top ski area. Showcasing international architecture and interior design, exceptional accommodations, exquisite culinary offerings, sophisticated works of art, and the legendary service of the Park Hyatt brand, Park Hyatt Niseko offers a refined and sophisticated experience. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame Mount Yotei and the Annupuri ranges outside 100 simply refined rooms; signature suites feature their own onsens. Guests find every way to play in wintertime’s powder, while summer months offer rafting, golf, and hikes in nearby Shikotsu-Toya National Park, a UNESCO Global Geopark. The famous city of Sapporo and its breweries are two hours away.

• Hotel website :  Park Hyatt Niseko, Hanazono

7. HOSHINOYA KYOTO

For a perfect illustration of inyodo – Japanese feng shui – turn to Hoshonoya Kyoto, a tranquil property set in the scenic Arashiyama district and accessible by a leisurely boat ride along the Oigawa River. Exuding a sense of pure ease and relaxation. The property comprises a delightful collection of traditional wood-framed buildings from 19th century that have been lovingly restored to create contemporary comfort in idyllic natural surroundings with 25 spacious rooms, a library lounge, a tatami drawing room and charming modern Japanese garden. The calming interiors feature heated wood floors, handmade wallpapers, and shoji-style sliding doors; outside, lantern-lit stone walkways lead through serene Japanese gardens with cedar trees. A modern kaiseki dinner awaits in the evening; watch it take shape in the hands of the acclaimed chef. Guests must be 13 years or above to check-in to this property.

• Hotel website : Hoshinoya Kyoto
• Tip : get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and a dinner for two).

6. PARK HYATT TOKYO

From the moment a guest walks in and collects the room key on a sterling silver key ring, it is clear that a stay at Park Hyatt Tokyo will be an “over-the-top” experience. High above the bustling city, this oasis fills the top 14 floors of the 52-story Shinjuku Park Tower, offering  views spanning from the city skyline all the way to Mount Fuji. The sights and sounds of Shinjuku are easily accessible, yet inside your spacious guest room (complete with personal entertainment center and deep soaking tub), you’ll enjoy complete serenity. Come evening, see and be seen at the chic New York Grill & Bar, the city’s top venue for lively jazz and breathtaking views. Head to the luxurious Club on the Park for swimming and spa treatments. Sofia Coppola’s beautiful movie  Lost in Translation  (2003) was filmed at the Park Hyatt Tokyo.

• Hotel website :  Park Hyatt Tokyo
• Other accolades : Park Hyatt Tokyo also features in my top 10 lists of  luxury hotels made famous by movies  and the best luxury hotels in Tokyo .
• Review : read my review of the Park Hyatt Tokyo here .

5. ANDAZ TOKYO TORANOMON HILLS

Tokyo’s second-tallest high-rise is home to the country’s first Andaz hotel, Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills. Located on floors 47 through 52, this luxury hotel is as dynamic as Japan’s vibrant capital itself, which lies just beyond the massive floor-to-ceiling windows. Reflecting Japan’s contemporary urban culture, guests can expect a dazzling experience at this hotel. Fusuma-inspired partitions add a traditional touch to the 164 futuristic guest rooms and suites, which seem to hover over the urban landscape. From the tower’s apex on the topfloor, Andaz brings unprecedented rooftop flair to this city’s dining and entertainment scene, with breathtaking views from the rooftop bar and the city’s highest stand-alone wedding chapel.

• Hotel website :  Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills
• Other accolades : Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills also features in my lists of the  best new luxury hotels of 2014  and the  top 10 best luxury hotels in Tokyo .
• Tip : get complimentary perks when booking via Virtuoso  (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD food & beverage credit).
• Review : read my review of the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills here .

4. THE RITZ-CARLTON KYOTO

The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto is a luxurious, modern hotel inspired by Japan’s traditional ryokan, offering expansive views of the Kamogawa River. Creating an experience that seamlessly blends the centuries-old traditions of Kyoto with the finest services and facilities that The Ritz-Carlton brand is renowned for, the property truly bring to life the cultural heart of Japan. Minimalist contemporary interiors with floor-to-ceiling windows define 134 accommodations; some suites offer traditional decor, including futons and tatami mats. Guests can enjoy traditional Italian cuisine at La Locanda, sushi at Mizuki, and signature cocktails at the bar; immerse themselves in local culture with the hotel’s customized Kyoto art activities; or get away from it all in the resort’s excellent spa center.

• Hotel website :  The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto
• Other accolades : The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto also features in my list of the  best new luxury hotels of 2014 .
• Tip : get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso  (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit).
• Review : read my review of The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto here .

3. AMAN TOKYO

Occupying the top six floors of the recently-built Otemachi Tower, Aman Tokyo is a luxury hotel and urban sanctuary high above the atmospheric whirl of tradition and modernity that epitomizes Japan’s capital city Tokyo. The hotel draws its design inspiration from traditional Japanese residential structures, with classic Japanese materials such as timber, Washi paper and stone blended to great effect with modern technology and luxurious fabrics. The property features 84 rooms and suites, all with unique layouts, magnificent city views and every contemporary convenience. Each room has a large furo,  a deep soaking tub intrinsic to the Japanese ritual of bathing. There is also a continuous reference to nature, from the hotel’s inner garden in the phenomenal lobby, to the fabrics and art incorporated into the design.

• Hotel website : Aman Tokyo
• Other accolades : Aman Tokyo also features in my lists of the hottest luxury hotel openings of 2014 , the 10 best Aman hotels in the world , the  top 10 most amazing hotel lobbies in the world , the top 10 best luxury hotels in Tokyo , and my 10 favorite luxury hotels in the world .
• Tip : get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso  (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD food & beverage credit).
• Review : read my review of Aman Tokyo here .

2. AMAN KYOTO

Surrounded by ancient woodlands that once offered refuge to a revered artist community, Aman Tokyo pays homage to the traditional ryokan, albeit in strikingly modern style. The interiors are spacious and light-filled – ingeniously crafted to foster peace, relaxation and contemplation at every turn. Moss-covered stone pathways wind between latticed pavilions that house 26 minimalistic rooms with healing onsen baths that source their waters from nearby mineral springs. The Living Pavilion serves home-cooked Kyoto obanzai style cuisine throughout the day, while the signature restaurant Taka-an is a culinary homage to Honami Koetsu, who helped shape the culture and creative life of the Takagamine district of Kyoto, and from there, Japan as a whole. Guests here practice yoga, take a mindfulness hike, or explore Kyoto’s 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites.

• Hotel website : Aman Kyoto

1. AMANEMU, ISE-SHIMA NATIONAL PARK

Celebrating Japan’s ancient onsen (mineral hot spring) tradition in scenic Ise Shima National Park, Amanemu is the country’s best luxury hotel. The resort is perched on the verdant rolling shores of Ago Bay, known as the Bay of Pearls, on the west coast of Honshu, Japan’s main island. Each of its 24 suites and four villas have a private onsen, along with walls that open to tranquil Ago Bay or the surrounding forest. The design throughout embraces a classical Japanese aesthetic, using natural materials and soothing hues while framing the natural surroundings. Amanemu’s spa comes with two large onsen bathing pavilions, a watsu pool, four treatment suites, a gym and a yoga studio. Guests can witness a prayer ceremony at the Ise Grand Shrine, or go fishing with a local angler and have the chef prepare fresh sashimi from your catch. The UNESCO-designated Kumano Kodo trails are worth the day trip.

• Hotel website : Amanemu
• Review : read my review of Amanemu here .

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Have you been to Hoshinoya Kyoto? From the hype I’ve heard, I think it deserves a spot on this list

I really appreciate your blog and there is no doubt this blog is worthy for everyone Especially who are looking at a exclusive hotels in Japan.

Too many phenomenal ryokan in Japan for you to include 2 Hyatts or a Ritz Carlton. Give us a break. Those are just blurbs.

Surprised not to see the Ritz Reserve in Hokkaido on the list – everything I’ve read suggests it’s pretty incredible.

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10 of the best hotels in Tokyo, from charming ryokans to Japanese onsen retreats

Japan’s capital is one of the most diverse and thrilling cities on Earth — but its sheer size can make choosing a hotel daunting. Here are 10 places to stay in Tokyo to make your trip all the more memorable.

With its glinting skyscrapers, narrow alleyways, lantern-festooned temples and neon-clad arcades, Tokyo is one of the most diverse and thrilling cities on Earth — but its sheer size can make choosing a hotel daunting. Over the past decade, accommodation options have broadened to include trendy ryokans (traditional inns) and indie hotels. Because there’s no single city ‘centre’ in the Japanese capital, you’ll almost certainly have to do some travelling — likely on the efficient metro system — to see its highlights, so don’t get overly hung up on location. Instead, think about what’s more important after a day’s sightseeing: an al fresco pool or a cool in-house bar.

1. Hoshinoya Tokyo

Best for: cultural immersion Leave the city, and your shoes, behind as you step onto the tatami floors of this skyscraper ryokan. It’s a low-lit retreat of shoji screen doors and incense-scented air, with a second-floor lobby that includes a little salon for tea ceremonies. The 84 rooms are spread across the next 14 floors, with each level centred around a traditional ochanoma lounge serving teas, sake and house-made snacks. The rooms themselves are plush, with raised-platform futon beds, deep-soak tubs and jersey kimono-style pyjamas. An immense 17th-floor onsen-spa has hot spring waters pumped in from 5,000ft below the city streets, with a vaulted roof that leaves it part-open to the elements. The 10-table basement restaurant serves exquisite French-Japanese tasting menus and the in-room bento box breakfasts are highly recommended. Rooms: From ¥112,000 (£589), two-night minimum stay.

2. OMO5 Tokyo Otsuka

Best for: budgeting In a skyscraper-cluttered metropolis, a hotel with an intimate, neighbourhood vibe can be a rare thing. Yet this branch of cool, affordable chain Omo, by Hoshino Resorts, has just that, packaged up in a modern building in the northern district of Otsuka. Cleverly designed rooms make the most of every square inch, with loft-style beds suspended above tatami mat seating areas and storage space integrated into walls and stairs. There’s also a laundry room on the fifth floor, where guests can wash and dry clothes for just a few quid, and an all-day cafe that transitions from breakfast space to coffeeshop to bar as the day progresses. Sign up for a local tour with one of the dedicated ‘Omo Rangers’, who will take you around the excellent local tempura and ramen shops — or even on an Otsuka bar crawl. Rooms: From ¥16,000 (£84).

3. TRUNK (Hotel) Cat Street

Best for: loft-style cool This felt like an entirely new concept in Tokyo when it first opened in 2017: a design-forward boutique hotel with universally appealing NYC-style coolness. Seven years on, the concept has now been copied many times in the city, but it’s still hard to top the original in the shopping area of Shibuya, just off Cat Street. Its lounge, restaurants and shop attract fashionable Tokyoites as much as hotel guests, and its bedrooms come with a breezy, minimalist aesthetic. Some have balconies with hammocks while larger options, like the Dining Suite, include spaces such as a kitchen area or terrace. Don’t be surprised to see dapper couples heading for the rooftop; it’s a popular venue for city weddings. Rooms: From ¥51,774 (£273).

4. Palace Hotel Tokyo

Best for: royal luxury This elegant hotel in Otemachi has long been a favourite with well-heeled Tokyoites who come for the dining options and spa. It helps that it’s mere steps away from the Imperial Palace, the city’s most exclusive address, and close to the swish shops of the upmarket Ginza district. Good-sized rooms — some of them featuring balconies — overlook an expanse of moat-carved gardens. An extensive breakfast buffet has princely appeal thanks to elegant platings of grilled fish, pickled plums, rice and miso soup; if that’s not to your taste, there’s eggs benedict and croissants, too. The in-house restaurants also have the wow factor, with two Michelin-starred options: French-inspired Esterre, in partnership with Ducasse Paris, and Chinese-focused Amber Palace. Rooms: From ¥91,800 (£483).

5. ONE@Tokyo

Best for: solo travellers In the east of the city, a 10-minute walk from the Tokyo Skytree observatory tower, One@Tokyo has a high-profile pedigree for a budget hotel, having been designed by Japanese starchitect Kengo Kuma. Functional yet not austere, its communal spaces — from the open lobby to the greenery-dotted rooftop — fuse industrial metallics with warm woods and a palette of unfussy greys. With their friendly price point and compact footprint, the lead-in standard semi-double rooms are perfect for solo travellers who want a step up in comfort and privacy from one of the city’s legendary capsule hotels. Long-stay discounts apply when booking for five nights, making it a perfect base if you’re planning day trips out of the city, too. Rooms: From ¥15,000 (£79).

6. Hotel New Otani Tokyo

Best for: amenities More urban resort than hotel, this vast property — once a filming location for the James Bond film You Only Live Twice — occupies a verdant location between multiple parks in the central Chiyoda ward. The hotel is fringed by 10 acres of 400-year-old Japanese gardens and, unusually for Tokyo, also has an al fresco swimming pool. The 1,474 rooms are spread across three wings, and there are more than three-dozen dining options, plus a lounge with free nibbles and drinks for Executive House Zen guests. Rooms: From ¥36,000 (£189).

7. Shiba Park Hotel

Best for: bookworms The printed page takes centre stage from the moment you walk in to this hotel, which houses a collection of around 1,500 books. As well as a double-height atrium lined with wooden shelves of books, there’s also a fireside library lounge and book corners on every floor, each themed around different aspects of Japanese culture. The rooms are comfy, contemporary retreats in which to curl up in with a good read — and the views of Tokyo Tower, lit up like a beacon at night, aren’t half bad either. Rooms: From ¥21,870 (£115).

8. Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo

Best for: families With reasonable prices, a prime location near Shinjuku station and views out to Mount Fuji on a clear day, this option ticks a lot of boxes. Rooms are a bit bland (unless you plump for a suite with tatami mats and shoji screen doors), but for families, the spacious four-bed options more than make up for the uninspiring decor. On-site experiences such as tea ceremonies make getting a culture fix easy if you’re wrangling kids. The seventh-floor outdoor pool, 11 restaurants and laundromat also help. Rooms: From ¥35,200 (£185).

9. Hotel Groove Shinjuku, A Parkroyal Hotel

Best for: nightlife-lovers For years, Shinjuku’s red-light district Kabukicho was rather sordid, the kind of place you’d head to for late-night karaoke and beers but not for a respectable hotel. All that’s changed with this recent opening, which reflects the fun of the city’s party heart but also has style and class. Set across floors 18 to 38 in the new Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the neon bustle below, as well as electric-hued carpets and the occasional pop art wall mural. On the building’s lower floors, a retro-styled arcade, cinema, live music space and food hall with regional dishes keep the entertainment flowing around the clock. Rooms: From ¥31,000 (£163).

10. Tokyo Station Hotel

Best for: European-style elegance Opened in 1915, and set within the original 20th-century Tokyo Station, this grand hotel could have been lifted from London or Paris. Red bricks and soaring domes characterise the exterior; chandeliers, marble and button-back headboards are part of the old-world European opulence inside. Take tea in the high-ceilinged lobby lounge, ringing with live piano music and the clink of fine silverware, and end the day at the venerable Bar Oak, which serves up an array of Japanese whiskies in moody, wood-lined environs. If you’re planning to adventure beyond the capital, the location is unbeatable. Tokyo Station is the main Shinkansen (bullet train) terminal, serving popular destinations such as Kyoto and Osaka, and you can go from bed to boarding in mere minutes. Rooms: From ¥135,332 (£711).  

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12 Best Hotels in Kyoto

All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Kyoto is a city famed for its culture-drenched landscape of ancient temples, trails of scarlet shrine gates, and serenely still tea rooms. From calming onsens and contemporary art retreats to centuries-old ryokan inns and buzzy urban landmarks, there's so much to do and see around the city. Now is a good time to add “hotels” to the list, as well, thanks to the boom in both quantity and diversity of properties.

Perhaps you're looking for something more at the traditional end of the spectrum, like the quiet sanctuaries found at generations-old Ryokan inns. Here, the art of omotenashi hospitality reaches hushed new heights through its sliding screens, meditative gardens, and intuitively gentle kimono-clad staff. Or, you may be more interested in one of the contemporary newcomers, from the high-end deluxe resorts and five-star onsen retreats to the modern holistic wellness sanctuaries and art-packed properties. No matter what you're looking for or who you're traveling with, there's a Kyoto hotel perfect for you. Here are 12 of the best hotels in Kyoto , a richly diverse ancient city.

Every hotel review on this list has been written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider properties across price points that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination, keeping design, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind.

Aman Kyoto Arrow

As fresh as the first cherry blossom, Aman Kyoto feels as if it could have existed for centuries, which sets it apart among the flurry of new hotel openings in the city. This delightfully out-of-time quality has much to do with its setting: 80 serene acres of woodland, dense with maples, crosshatched by stone paths and fast-flowing streams. It’s a city hotel enfolded in nature. The aura also comes from the late architect Kerry Hill’s knack for merging traditional and contemporary. Containing just 28 bedrooms, Aman Kyoto’s six pavilions have latticed walls and pitched roofs that echo the forms of machiya houses; every bathroom has its own wooden ofuro tub. Another factor in Aman Kyoto’s curious magic is its slow genesis. Between its conception and completion, Vladislav Doronin acquired Aman, owner Adrian Zecha stepped down, and Hill passed away. Thus, Aman Kyoto bridges old Aman and new Aman, embodying all that has made the brand so exciting and influential. —Steve King

Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto, a Luxury Collection Hotel Arrow

It’s a bold move to open a design-forward property in a city that has fully tied its identity to the past. Even bolder to build it on the exact site where the long-prominent Mitsui family had a residence from the late 1600s to the 1940s. But once you hear the storybook ending—how in 2015 the Mitsui corporation’s real estate arm bought back this beloved parcel of land—it makes sense. While the sleek André Fu–designed spaces break from Kyoto ’s usual decor tropes, the past is everywhere. See, for instance, the 300-year-old wooden gate that once demarcated the original estate. There are subtle signifiers too: a long corridor with blond wood arches that echo the maze of torii gates at Kyoto’s famed Fushimi Inari shrine, a ceiling installation inspired by kimono fabric. But it’s the practical yet cosseting touches—the neatly folded pajama set that appears at turndown, the sprawling underground onsen—that will shape this next chapter of the Mitsui legacy. —Rebecca Misner

Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto Arrow

Set in the Arashiyama district on the western side of Kyoto (an area frequented by Japanese nobles of years gone by), Suiran sits seamlessly on the jade waters of the Katsura river. The original buildings, which now house the restaurants and lobby, are constructed around beautifully manicured Japanese gardens, and sunlight-dappled pebble-stone pathways lead the way to the more modern low-rise buildings that house the rooms. Yukata-clad staff welcome you warmly with a hot towel and tea whilst discretely whisking your luggage off to your room, leaving you to enjoy the serene surroundings, bathed in light and soothed by the sounds of flowing water. Here, chaotic city life is a distant memory and the deliberate and un-rushed pace is the catalyst for achieving a state of repose.

Hoshinoya Kyoto Arrow

The Hoshinoya, Kyoto, a hybrid ryokan-hotel, is made up of a series of low buildings inspired by traditional Japanese houses that cling to the banks above the Hozugawa River in the temple-rich Arashiyama district, and is accessible only by a lazy boat ride in a hinoki (Japanese cedar) vessel. Its 25 elegant rooms are also redolent of cedar, and although they don’t have TVs, they do have heated wooden floors, hand-blocked wallpaper, shoji-inspired sliding glass doors, and picture windows (all the better to lean out and watch the foxes, deer, and occasional monkey that prance through the forest), deep cedar soaking tubs, and lofty duvets that sigh when you flop down on them. From the iron lanterns that light the moss-traced stone walkways to the lashed bamboo fences, every detail has been well-considered. In lieu of a bar, there’s a library, refreshed throughout the day with complimentary snacks by the gracious staff (who speak excellent English). As in a traditional ryokan, there are some restrictions—the boat back to the docks runs only from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.—but Hoshinoya is a retreat not only from town but from modernity. At night, after you’ve eaten an excellent Japanese or French meal and changed into the provided lounging clothes (complete with raw-silk robes), you can sit in the Zen rock garden, look up at the star-smeared sky, and forget what century you’re in.

Ace Hotel Kyoto Arrow

Modern-Americana-meets-handcrafted-Kyoto is not a conventional formula—yet Ace brand’s first Asia outpost was always going to break rules as well as turn heads. In an ancient Japanese capital famed for its aesthetic discretion (latticed facades, minimal tea rooms, sliding screens), the direction here is unapologetically unorthodox. From tacos and DJ parties to paper lanterns and temple-inspired joinery, it’s a confident cross-pollination of east and west courtesy of LA-based Commune Design and Japanese architect Kengo Kuma (plus 50 homegrown artisans). First is its size: the hotel inhabits a cavernous century-old building known as the Shin-Puh-Kan, plus a new build with a striking angular gridded facade whose abstract lines hint at the city’s famed townhouses. In the lobby, music fills the industrial-edged space, with young staff in striped jackets hovering by a shiny pink copper front desk as round as a rubber ring. Rainbow-bright bursts of contemporary artwork cover the walls, while local creatives gather beneath a high timber ceiling at a long communal table, and craft coffee lovers can get a taste of Portland at the hotel’s on-site Stumptown Coffee. The compact guest rooms mix up Judd-inspired benches and TEAC turntables with washi-ceilings and tatami areas plus vintage-tinged textiles and bold artworks. Food belongs unwaveringly in the US camp: zesty tacos—a Kyoto novelty—at Piopiko (by Wes Avila of LA’s Guerilla Tacos ); and quality comfort food at Mr Maurice’s Italian, by Marc Vetri. Another highlight is Kosa directed by chef Katy Cole; enjoy modern farm-to-table treats and natural wines in a contemporary tea room-inspired space, with vast paper lanterns crafted at a centuries-old atelier—an unapologetic finale to perhaps the ancient city’s most novel hotel yet. —Danielle Demetriou

Six Senses Kyoto Arrow

Right in the heart of Higashiyama, a scenic (and busy) downtown area famed for its constellation of temples, shrines, and cultural landmarks, sits the serene haven of Six Senses. From its contemporary design and wellness rituals to its sustainability efforts and locally sourced ingredients, the property is perfectly steeped in the surrounding ancient former capital. In typical Six Senses fashion, the spa is also quite impressive. Here guests can enjoy four treatment rooms inspired by the senses, an Alchemy Bar, an Herbal Tea Lounge, a Watsu pool, a larger pool, a Biohack recovery lounge, and a studio for meditation and yoga . After a long day of relaxing, head to one of the 81 spacious rooms and suites overlooking either Toyokuni Shrine or the plant-filled inner courtyard. Finish off your night with a delicious meal at Sekki—the Japanese word for season—with their ever-changing menu tapping into Japan’s calendar of 24 subtly shifting micro-seasons. —Danielle Demetriou

The Shinmonzen Arrow

A smooth modern riff on a traditional ryokan inn (and the chic little sister of Villa la Coste in the South of France), The Shinmonzen sits on a quiet lane in Kyoto’s Gion district, with a traditional-style wood façade leading to a contemporary interior cocktail of modern design and world-class artwork. Each of the individually designed suites is flooded with natural light and showcases a smooth mix of modern Kyoto craftsmanship (picture minimalist screens and hinoki cypress-wood bathtubs) and hints of its Provençal DNA (as reflected in the lingering scent of jasmine from each of the balconies overlooking the river). —Danielle Demetriou

Hiiragiya Arrow

Discovering this ancient ryokan is part of the fun. The namesake wild holly protruding from the eaves lends a certain natural element to the environment. Creaky floors, cypress tubs with hot steam water, and tatami mats heighten the senses at each turn. In-room dining is a must: Slip into your robe and hunker down on your tatami for an in-room kaiseki meal of simmered razor clams, billowy yuba dumplings, tender bamboo shoots, and sea urchin chawanmushi served on handmade Kiyomizu ceramics. It's on a quiet back street and just one street away from a main thoroughfare, but you would never know. It's so quiet, I could hear a white eye warbler tweeting in my private moss garden. This is an intimate Kyoto experience that the big chains cannot offer. —Adam Graham

Park Hyatt Kyoto Arrow

A plaque honoring the partnership of the Pritzker, Takenaka, and Kyoyamato families in the gravel garden entrance of Kyoto’s Park Hyatt is overlooked by most travelers. But to Japanese guests, it’s an assurance of being in good hands in the newly opened 70-room masterpiece of Japanese architecture built into Higashiyama’s temple-dense hillside. The true meaning of this plaque deserves some unpacking. The Pritzkers get a mention because they’re the American family behind the Hyatt and the iconic Park Hyatt Tokyo. Takenaka, the builders, are a 17th-generation Kyoto construction company responsible for many of Japan's temples, shrines, ryokan, and skyscrapers. And Kyoyamato, because the 360-year-old wooden tea house standing among the hotel's modern buildings has been and remains their family restaurant, a warren of immaculately restored tatami mat rooms offering kaiseki meals and garden views. The Park Hyatt’s interiors are the work of Tony Chi, who used fragrant ash wood for the angular ceilings, basalt stone work, and shoji screens made with local washi paper to create serene rooms. He also commissioned the legendary 16th-generation potter Asayaki-san in nearby Uji for the tableware, weaving a golden thread of heritage through this utmost of modern hotels. —Adam Graham

Shinsho-an Arrow

The atmosphere leans more toward luxurious private home than hotel at Shinsho-an, in both scale and ambience. Sleek interiors use top-quality materials sourced from across Japan with contemporary design touches, adding to the scene-stealing modern Kyoto restaurant and next-level hospitality—right down to the cashmere-covered hot-water bottles you can request beneath the sheets at night. Each of the four suites is uniquely designed and extremely spacious, with minimalist flower arrangements by one of Japan’s oldest florists. All meals are created by Michelin-starred chef Toshiro Ogata, from mouth-melting squid sashimi at breakfast to the nine-course omakase dinner. —Danielle Demetriou

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto Arrow

If room views made up their own category, this Ritz-Carlton, set along the shores of the Kamogawa River, would be in a class all its own. Beside its prime real estate by the water, the hotel also offers views of the nearby Higashiyama mountains (you can also opt for views of a traditional Japanese Zen garden, or the city of Kyoto itself). Rooms have impeccable detail, like shippo (a type of cloisonné, or painted metalwork that the city is proudly known for); try the Garden suite, where you can sit on the balcony after a soothing bath with Shabonya handmade soap, and kick back in your Imabari bathrobe and slippers.

Maana Homes

Located down a quiet, narrow lane near the 16th-century Toyokuni Shrine in Kyoto’s culture-packed Higashiyama district, here "over-tourism” will feel like a distant dream. The property is a serene hat trick of suites, smoothly renovated across a network of century-old traditional machiya townhouses. The three unique spaces, which each sleep between two and four people, bring a taste of ancient Kyoto to the modern world through design, craftsmanship, materials, and atmosphere: sweeps of sand-toned walls, bathtubs crafted from Shigaraki clay, and curated Kyoto antiques find their home alongside more contemporary and international design notes like sculptural French pendant lights and clean-lined Danish sofas. The contemporary riff on Kyoto aesthetics continues in the on-site sister café Kissa Kishin (farm-to-table breakfast highlights include the soft and tasty bread made from amazake and koji). Kiyomizudera is the newest (and largest) Maana Homes space in Kyoto; It also operates two standalone  machiya  houses, Maana Kamo and Maana Kyoto. —Danielle Demetriou

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• Real estate

Love hotels in Japan: What you need to know before you go

You’re walking along a busy, brightly-lit Tokyo street when you encounter a downright outlandish building. The private entrance has a sign reading “stay” (宿泊,  shukuhaku ) and “rest” (休憩,  kyukei ). The building has fancy lettering, typically neon signs and a quirky name like Hotel Oz, Casablanca or Hotel Fooo. By now you realize that you have not encountered a regular hotel. You’re standing in front of a Japanese  rabuho  (love hotels). Welcome to the not-so-hidden, pay-by-the-hour (or night) pleasure accommodation for couples, secret lovers and other forms of one-time celebrations of love.

Love Hotels: History & Background

o surprises here. A “love hotel” is essentially a no-tell motel. A short-stay accommodation that offers hourly or nightly rates—in the name of love. Whatever this means to the users. A rest or short stay can be anywhere from two to four hours. It can cost between ¥2,900-¥7,000 depending on the date and hotel. A stay (typically overnight to 9 or 10 a.m.) can cost anywhere from ¥3,900 to well over ¥20,000. Any room service items or meals that you order can add to these prices as well.

The modern term (love hotel) comes from Hotel Love, the first of this kind which opened in Osaka in 1968.

The concept of a love hotel is not unique to Japan. The modern term itself comes from Hotel Love, the first of this kind, which opened in Osaka in 1968. It was soon followed by thousands of other love hotels throughout the country. Love hotels were originally meant as short-stay destinations for couples needing a little privacy. During the early postwar period, young couples often still lived in extended family dwellings. As such, any one-on-one special moments had to be conducted elsewhere.

During the economic Bubble period in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, love hotels became almost a status symbol date spot. Going there with your partner was almost ritualized as a standard date course. The hotels were flourishing and the business competition was fierce. To keep up with demands, hotel operators would open themed hotels (jungles, fairytales, Kitty etc,). They catered to various clientele and preferences  to suit every taste . In those years, love hotels were a trend. A friend of mine jokingly said once that many Japanese people in their late twenties to thirties today “were probably conceived during a date in one of those hotels.” True or not, it shows how popular it was back then.

Love Hotels Today: Less or More Entertaining?

Today, love hotels are still a big part of the dating (and sex industry) landscape in Japan. They are also becoming one of the biggest tourist draws and sources of cheap accommodation. With more single people living alone, the need to visit love hotels for dates has decreased over the years. It called for an adjustment in their business plan. It is estimated that there are over 10,000 love hotels in Japan. However, according to  research released in 2016 , the occupancy rate is approximately 40% on weekdays. Ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the government announced plans to convert some “underperforming” love hotels into regular accommodation facilities.

As a result, in rural areas with or near major highway access, many older love hotels have adjusted their policies. Rooms have been edited to be family-friendly, allowing for group or business stays. Many now even offer full-room service meal menus. Other love hotels have started offering special service packages for birthday parties, beauty retreats, and bachelorette parties. There are even  luxury stays  with couples’ aesthetic spa programs that include hot springs and saunas.

For Women Traveling Alone

Love hotels are also great places to stay if you are a woman traveling alone. Capsule and business hotels are sometimes restricted to men-only locations. They often don’t include amenities or even adequate bathing space or storage for long-distance travelers. I’ve visited 36 prefectures in Japan so far and stayed by myself at love hotels in all of them. No reservations in advance are required! And no need to worry about curfews or check-in limitations. The only downside is the struggle to find a place that has any rooms available during peak holiday times.

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3 Comments Login to comment

Gene Hennigh Today 09:27 am JST

All I need to know is I ain't got nobody.

Yrral Today 09:32 am JST

At least go there with someone,you have at least an emotional, spiritual and personal relationships with or you only be a booty call

DanteKH Today 10:55 am JST

This is one of the things we really miss in Europe or other parts of the world.

I wish they will become a thing in more countries.

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GUIDE Japanese Ryokan Guide Ryokan often have hot spring baths for guests to enjoy

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Ryokan, traditional Japanese inns, offer more than just a place to stay

Japan's famed omotenashi (hospitality) is at the cornerstone of this accommodation experience. Potentially the oldest form of hotel in the world, Japan's ryokan are said to date back to the 8th century. These accommodations are imbued with Japanese tradition, making staying at one a memorable and cultural experience.

What to expect

For some visitors to Japan, a stay at an authentic ryokan, offering the chance to experience local hospitality and personalized omotenashi customer service, is the most anticipated highlight of their visit.

Ryokan etiquette

A ryokan stay typically includes a kaiseki ryori (formal, multi-course) dinner and traditional Japanese breakfast the next morning. Your meticulously presented meals will be cooked using local, seasonal ingredients and, depending on the ryokan, presented in either a communal eating hall or in your room. Some ryokan offer stays without meals, but the chance to dine in-house is considered an essential part of the experience.

Embrace authentic Japan

Some of Japan's more deluxe ryokan are renowned for their traditional architecture and landscaped garden settings. As a ryokan guest, you will be invited to don geta or zori slippers and a yukata gown to wander your landscaped surroundings. Expect to see stone arrangements, water features, artfully positioned plants and shrubs and the occasional Japanese teahouse.

* The information on this page may be subject to change due to COVID-19.

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