Destination
Type of Hotel
Benefit
A pavilion bedroom at Aman Kyoto. Photo by Photo by Nacasa & Partners Inc. courtesy Aman ResortsRead MoreAman Kyoto
This stylish boutique Aman property offers sleek and sophisticated accommodations, elevated cuisine, and a curated onsen spa experience in a spectacular natural setting in Northern Kyoto.
Courtesy Aman ResortsRead MoreAman Tokyo
Aman Hotels might have come from Japan, so well does the generally super-understated, minimalist look of its guestrooms match the ethos of the culture. It took a while for the company to arrive here, but when Aman Tokyo debuted in...
Courtesy Aman ResortsRead MoreAmanemu
Opened in 2016, Amanemu is located in Ise-Shima National Park, in central Japan, loved by in-the-know travelers for its seafood, pearl farms, natural hot springs and the country’s oldest and most sacred Shinto shrine, Ise Jingu.
Read MoreAsaba Ryokan
The luxurious Asaba Ryokan offers an intimate ryokan experience that encourages relaxation.
Read MoreBenesse House
As the only luxury resort on Naoshima Art Island, Benesse House was birthed from the idea that nature, architecture and art should coexist. A few nights at this museum-turned-hotel allows guests to discover the interactive exhibits and art museums sprinkled...
A suite's bedroom. Courtesy Beniya MukayuRead MoreBeniya Mukayu
Beniya Mukayu is a sophisticated and intimate 16-room ryokan that focuses on hospitality, food and the onsen experience, all within a one-hour drive from Kanazawa.
Bulgari Bar terrace. Courtesy Bulgari Hotels & ResortsRead MoreBulgari Hotel Tokyo
On the top floors of a glass skyscraper overlooking Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace gardens, Bulgari Hotel Tokyo offers a winning combination of Japanese sense and Italian sensibility.
Read MoreCapitol Hotel Tokyu
With its imposing latticework metal and glass exterior, the building that houses the Capitol Hotel was designed by architect Kengo Kuma, and fits seamlessly into the Japanese capital’s space-age skyline.
Read MoreFour Seasons Kyoto
Located a short drive from downtown Kyoto, the Four Seasons is a luxurious property that balances modern comforts with a distinctly Japanese aesthetic.
Read MoreGora Kadan
This iconic Japanese ryokan delivers a traditional yet luxurious experience.
Read MoreGrand Hyatt Tokyo
This modern 389-room business hotel is situated amidst some of Tokyo’s finest dining and the world’s top luxury shops.
Hoshinoya Fuji's minimal interior design lets the Fuji views take center stage. Courtesy Hoshino ResortsRead MoreHoshinoya Fuji
The serene Hoshinoya Fuji is a unique and quirky home base for exploring Mt. Fuji and its scenic surrounding area.
Read MoreHoshinoya Kyoto
Hidden in the forest of Arashiyama and reached via a riverboat ride, Hoshinoya Kyoto is a tucked-away, ryokan-style property that is both traditional and very comfortable for Western travelers.
Courtesy Hoshinoya Taketomi IslandRead MoreHoshinoya Taketomi Island
Taketomi Island is not a convenient destination: It will likely require a plane, car and ferry to get there, regardless of your starting point. Yet, the remoteness makes the experience all the more special, and Hoshinoya has mastered the balance...
Courtesy of Hoshino ResortsRead MoreHoshinoya Tokyo
Hoshinoya Tokyo offers a Japanese ryokan experience in the city. From the hotel’s traditional tatami flooring to its onsen (Japanese hot springs), the property is a peaceful retreat in the bustling metropolis.
Read MoreHotel Kanra
Like Kyoto itself, this boutique hotel combines modern, stylish design that still incorporates traditional Japanese elements.
Courtesy The Hotel MitsuiRead MoreHotel The Mitsui Kyoto
Opened in late 2020, Hotel the Mitsui is a larger but still soulful and serene property on the western side of Kyoto's Kamo River, facing the 17th-century UNESCO Site Nijo Castle. Originally the private home of the Mitsui family, the...
Suite at Hyatt Regency Kyoto, Kyoto, JapanRead MoreHyatt Regency Kyoto
Considered one of the top hotels in Kyoto since it opened in 2006, the Hyatt Regency Kyoto marries excellent service with dazzling design from Takashi Sugimoto of the acclaimed Japanese firm Super Potato.
Read MoreKayotei
With just ten rooms, Kayotei is an immersive, onsen ryokan experience with a warm atmosphere in a beautiful mountain town near the city of Kanazawa.
Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental TokyoRead MoreMandarin Oriental Tokyo
Mandarin Oriental sought out an iconic Japanese design firm to finish off the 32-38th floors of the César Pelli–designed Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower with timeless style, making this a relaxing refuge for business and leisure travelers.
Read MorePalace Hotel Tokyo
Owned by Japanese hoteliers, the 23-story Palace Hotel is located adjacent to the Imperial Palace Gardens and, thanks to a beautiful renovation, has elegant, sleek and modern décor.
Courtesy Park Hyatt KyotoRead MorePark Hyatt Kyoto
Park Hyatt Kyoto is an elegant guesthouse-style property in Higashiyama and offers a stylish home base looking out over the skyline of Kyoto.
Read MorePark Hyatt Tokyo
The Park Hyatt Tokyo—a city mainstay that became an icon in 2003 as the setting of Sofia Coppola’s cult classic Lost in Translation—attracts big-name guests, despite a slightly less desirable location than some of Tokyo's other top hotels.
Read MorePeninsula Tokyo
The Peninsula has perhaps the best hotel location in the city, flanked by the Imperial Gardens and the lively bustle of Ginza, but the rooms are less impressive than other hotels in town.
Read MoreShangri-La Tokyo
Though Shangri-La is not nearly as familiar a name in the West as in the East, in the short time since its debut, the Shangri-La Tokyo has earned its spot among Tokyo’s top properties.
Read MoreSkye Niseko
The best ski-in/ski-out hotel in Niseko’s main town, Hirafu, Skye Niseko is a lovely modern hotel with a spa, onsen, restaurant and gym.
Photo by Christopher Joe Cypert Photography, courtesy Ritz-Carlton, KyotoRead MoreThe Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
Seamlessly melding contemporary style and historic Japanese elements, The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto is a thoughtfully designed riverfront hotel within walking distance of Kyoto’s city center. During the Edo period (1603-1867), the residences of aristocrats and nobles lined the shores here. The...
Indoor Onsen. Courtesy The Ritz-CarltonRead MoreThe Ritz-Carlton, Nikko
The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko is an escape 95 miles north of Tokyo on Lake Chuzenji at the middle of Nikko National Park that effortlessly blends gorgeous scenery, design and tradition, creating a restorative, immersive retreat. The property allows guests to experience...
Read MoreThe Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo
Atop Roppongi’s sophisticated 53-story Tokyo Midtown complex, the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo is a welcoming home-away-from-home for Western travelers in search of creature comforts and museums, restaurants and shops all at their fingertips. What the Ritz lacks in Japanese authenticity, it well...
Courtesy The ShinmonzenRead MoreThe Shinmonzen
The Shinmonzen is a discreet, nine-room boutique gem over ten years in the making from Paddy McKillen, the owner of Château La Coste in Provence (making it the only sister property to Indagare-adored Villa la Coste, the hotel on the...
The Tokyo Edition Toranomon, photo by Nikolas KoenigRead MoreThe Tokyo Edition, Toranomon
One of Tokyo's newest properties, the Edition, Toranomon opened in 2020 with 206 rooms and suites, across the 31st to 36th floors of a skyscraper in the up-and-coming Toranomon neighborhood (located between luxe Marunouchi, to the north, and chic Roppongi,...
Courtesy Trunk HotelRead MoreTrunk Hotel
Adored by young, stylish travelers and trendy locals, the Trunk (Hotel) has a social club atmosphere and a great location on a charming side street in the heart of the Shibuya neighborhood.
Courtesy Shouya GriggRead MoreZaborin
Situated in the picturesque forest just 10 minutes from the famous Niseko ski resort, the intimate, 15-room Zaborin hotel offers a traditional ryokan experience and a luxurious home base for exploring the region.
