JAPAN

Where We Sleep

Japan
Where We Eat
What We Do

Kyoto, Kansai & The Inland Sea

Tokyo & Central Honshu

Northern & Southern Islands

Japan does luxury differently: quietly, precisely, and with an obsessive attention to detail. Our hotel picks range from design-forward city stays to deeply restorative ryokan and remote retreats, each chosen for atmosphere, craftsmanship, and a strong sense of place. Nothing generic, nothing overbuilt; just places that understand rhythm, restraint, and the art of hosting well.

$-$$
$$$-$$$$

$ - $$

A serene landscape with traditional Japanese thatched-roof buildings, a small waterfall, lush trees with autumn foliage, a pond reflecting the sky, and Mount Fuji in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Tokyo & Central Honshu

Contemporary living room with black leather chair, dark green curved sofa, white round coffee table with an orange book, potted cactus plant, orange and red area rug, and wooden wall panels, separated by sheer blue curtains.
K5
Interior of a bar named 'TRUNK BAR' with a neon sign, various bottles of alcohol on shelves, seating, and decorative plants.
Trunk (Hotel)
Indoor Japanese-style hot spring bath with large window view of garden.
Yuen Bettei Daita

K5

Tokyo

Modern hotel room featuring a minimalist bed with white linens, a hanging paper pendant light, large potted green plant, floor-to-ceiling curtains, and a black lounge chair with a red ottoman.

Location: Japan, 〒103-0026 Tokyo, Chuo City, Nihonbashikabutocho, 3−5 K5ビル 1階

Price: ~€300/night

Vibe: Subtle, simple, modern

Living room with large window, sheer curtains, cactus plant, black modern armchair, round coffee table, bookshelf with decorative items, desk lamp, large paper lantern, decorative plants, and two wooden chairs.

K5 feels resolutely adult in a city that often leans hyper or performative. The design is all soft woods, linen textures, and low lighting, creating a calm that immediately slows you down after Tokyo’s intensity. Rooms are generous by Tokyo standards and feel more like carefully composed apartments than hotel boxes. There’s a strong sense of intention here: nothing flashy, nothing unnecessary. The result is a stay that feels both design-forward and genuinely restful.

Interior of a modern restaurant with a bar area on the left, a long wooden table with chairs on the right, and a decorative glass partition with plants and bottles in the background. The ceiling features exposed ductwork and track lighting.

  • Located in Nihonbashi, a historic, understated neighborhood that still feels local and lived-in

  • 20 rooms only, which keeps the atmosphere intimate and unhurried

  • Rooms feature high ceilings, natural materials, and excellent soundproofing

  • Ground floor houses Caveman, one of Tokyo’s most respected cocktail bars

  •  Ideal for couples, solo travelers, and design-focused guests rather than families

  • Easy access to Tokyo Station and multiple subway lines

  • Excellent for longer stays thanks to generous room layouts and a genuinely livable feel

  • Many rooms retain subtle architectural traces of the original bank which was oncce housed here.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of K5

Trunk (Hotel)

Tokyo

Modern living room with large windows, black shutters, a potted tree, and contemporary furniture including gray sofas, a wooden coffee table, and a patterned rug.

Location: 5 Chome-31 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan

Price: ~$350/night

Vibe: Cool, social, low-key

Interior of a bar named 'Trunk Bar' with a neon sign, a long bar counter with bar stools, and seating area with couches and plants, warm lighting, and wooden decor.

TRUNK is one of those rare Tokyo hotels that understands balance: social but never loud, stylish but not self-conscious. The interiors lean industrial-modern with warm woods and clean lines, and the public spaces are genuinely inviting rather than performative. Rooms are compact yet smartly designed, with excellent beds and thoughtful details that make short stays feel seamless. It’s the kind of place where you feel instantly connected to the city.

Hotel room with two large beds in the foreground and a loft bed above, wooden walls, and a rustic wooden coffee table.

  • Located just off Cat Street, perfectly positioned between Shibuya and Harajuku

  • Strong sustainability ethos, with an emphasis on local sourcing and low-impact operations

  • Rooms are efficiently designed and best suited for couples or solo travelers

  • Excellent ground-floor bar and lounge that attracts a local, fashion-forward crowd

  • Popular for weddings and creative events, adding to the hotel’s social buzz

  • Service is polished, relaxed, and refreshingly unpretentious

  • Easy access to shopping, galleries, and nightlife without being on a major thoroughfare

  • TRUNK helped set the tone for Tokyo’s new wave of lifestyle hotels - while many have followed, few have matched its consistency or sense of ease.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Trunk (Hotel) - Cat Street

Yuen Bettei Daita

Tokyo

Interior of a modern building with a Japanese-inspired design, featuring a rock garden with a red-leafed plant, wooden slatted walls, dark tiled flooring, and seating area with two woven chairs and a small wooden table, illuminated by soft lighting.

Location: 2 Chome-31-26 Daita, Setagaya City, Tokyo 155-0033, Japan

Price: From ~$300/night

Vibe: Relaxing, simple, adult.

A cozy hotel room with a large bed, side tables with lamps, a window overlooking greenery, and traditional Japanese shoji screens.

This is Tokyo at its most restrained and restorative. Yuen Bettei Daita feels purposefully removed from the city’s sensory overload, trading neon and noise for soft light, clean lines, and a rhythm that encourages slowing down. The design nods to traditional ryokan aesthetics — tatami, shoji-inspired screens, natural wood — but everything is interpreted through a modern, architectural lens. It’s the rare Tokyo stay that feels genuinely grounding, making it an ideal counterbalance to the city’s intensity.

Interior of a modern, dimly lit dining area with a long wooden bar, six bar stools, a large stone table with a teapot and a glass on top, and large windows showing greenery outside.

  • Located in Setagaya, a calm, residential neighborhood west of central Tokyo

  • Easy access to Shinjuku and Shibuya via Odakyu Line

  • Features real hot spring onsen water, a rarity within Tokyo proper

  • Rooms are minimalist and serene, many with tatami flooring and low-profile beds

  • Communal baths are beautifully designed and meant for lingering, not rushing

  • On-site restaurant serves refined, seasonal Japanese cuisine

  • Atmosphere is hushed and intentional — this is not a social hotel

  • Best suited for couples or solo travelers seeking quiet rather than buzz

  • Early mornings here are especially special — the neighborhood is silent, the light is soft, and the experience feels closer to a countryside ryokan than a Tokyo hotel.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Yuen Bettei Daita

A modern restaurant interior with round wooden tables, cushioned chairs, and glass partitions. The space is decorated with warm lighting, plants, and teal-colored seating.
Aoyama Grand Hotel
Lobby of MUJI Hotel Ginza with a stone wall behind a wooden counter and three stools, along with a small table and plant.
Muji Hotel Ginza
A modern, minimalist kitchen with a large wooden table surrounded by eight matching stools, an open wooden shelf with various dishes, and exposed industrial-style ductwork on the ceiling.
Hotel KUMU

Aoyama Grand Hotel

Tokyo

Hotel room with a large bed, two patterned chairs, a small round table, large window with city view, colorful artwork above the bed, and modern decor.

Location: 2 Chome-14-4 Kita-Aoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0061, Japan

Price: ~$300/night

Vibe: Creative, urban, funky

A dimly lit bar with a large illuminated sign saying 'THE BELCOMO' hanging from the ceiling. The bar features a curved counter lined with glasses and behind it, shelves stocked with bottles. The seating area has small round tables with chairs, and there are decorative lights and plants around the space.

The hotel leans mid-century in spirit, with warm woods, clean geometry, and interiors that feel composed rather than showy. Public spaces are a real strength here — lively but controlled — making it just as appealing to step out for the night as it is to linger downstairs over breakfast or a drink. Rooms strike a smart balance between comfort and style, and the overall atmosphere feels international without losing its Tokyo sensibility.

A restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating, featuring wooden tables and chairs, plants, and modern decor with warm lighting.

  • Set in Aoyama, one of Tokyo’s most refined and design-forward neighborhoods

  • Walking distance to Omotesando, with easy access to Shibuya and Harajuku

  • Strong food and beverage program, including multiple restaurants and a rooftop bar

  • Rooms are streamlined, well-finished, and designed for short-to-medium stays

  • Social energy skews stylish rather than scene-y

  • Popular with fashion, media, and creative travelers

  • Service is polished and efficient, with a distinctly urban hotel rhythm

  • The rooftop is at its best just before sunset — a quiet moment when Aoyama feels expansive and calm, before the city fully turns on for the night.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Aoyama Grand Hotel

Muji Hotel Ginza

Tokyo

People at a bar counter in a modern interior with hanging paper art resembling clouds.

Location: 3 Chome-3-5 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan

Price: ~$280/night

Vibe: Calm, minimal, cool

Tourist hotel room with a bed, a blue sofa, a white armchair, a floor lamp, a wall-mounted TV, and window with curtains.

This is minimalism with warmth and intelligence, not austerity. Rooms are beautifully proportioned and thoughtfully laid out, with natural materials, soft lighting, and a sense of order that feels instantly grounding after a long day in Tokyo. Despite being housed above MUJI’s global flagship, the hotel itself feels cocooned and serene, never commercial or chaotic. It’s especially appealing for travelers who value simplicity, comfort, and a clean aesthetic over theatrical luxury.

A modern, minimalist cafe with light wooden floors and furniture, concrete and exposed ceiling pipes, and large white curtains covering windows. There are four staff members and no customers visible.

  • Located in Ginza, within easy walking distance of shopping, galleries, and multiple subway lines

  • 79 rooms prioritizing function and calm

  • Interiors feature natural woods, linen textures, and MUJI’s signature neutral palette

  • On-site restaurant serves thoughtful, seasonal Japanese cuisine with a focus on balance and restraint

  • Atmosphere is quiet and composed rather than social

  • Service is efficient, discreet, and consistent

  • Building also houses MUJI’s flagship retail and food spaces, though hotel access is fully separate

  • Even small details — pajamas, lighting controls, bath amenities — feel unusually well-considered here, reinforcing the sense that the hotel was designed to be lived in, not just looked at.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Muji Hotel Ginza

Hotel KUMU

Kanazawa

Modern cafe interior with wooden ceiling grid, concrete walls, and a wooden counter where a woman is sitting and working on a laptop. Large glass doors allow natural light to fill the space.

Location: 2-40 Kamitsutsumicho, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0869, Japan

Price: From ~$94/night to ~$300/night

Vibe: Thoughtful, minimalistic, serene

Rooftop terrace with wooden deck, potted plant, and cityscape background

KUMU feels thoughtful in a way that’s increasingly rare — calm, grounded, and deeply connected to place. The design draws from Kanazawa’s centuries-old tea traditions, with warm woods, soft light, and communal spaces that encourage lingering rather than passing through. Rooms are serene and uncluttered, striking a perfect balance between modern comfort and ryokan-like simplicity. It’s the kind of hotel that gently recalibrates your pace, making Kanazawa feel less like a stopover and more like a destination in its own right.

A modern hotel room with two beds, a blue wall, wooden accents, and a large window with a geometric patterned screen.

  • Located near Kanazawa Castle and within walking distance of the Higashi Chaya geisha district

  • Strong emphasis on tea culture, with dedicated communal tea spaces for guests

  • Rooms are minimalist and calming, designed for rest rather than distraction

  • Public areas feel intimate and contemplative, not hotel-like or transactional

  • Excellent base for exploring Kanazawa’s craft, food, and historic neighborhoods

  • Service is warm, personal, and quietly attentive

  • Particularly appealing to couples, solo travelers, and culturally curious guests

  • Evenings here are especially lovely — the hotel’s tea spaces become softly lit and almost ceremonial, reinforcing the sense that slowing down is part of the experience, not an afterthought.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Hotel KUMU

Kyoto, Kansai & The Inland Sea

A minimalist Japanese-style bedroom with a wooden bed, shoji screens, and an adjacent bathroom with a soaking tub and shower area.
Azumi Setoda
A dining table with four wine glasses in a cozy, dimly lit room featuring wooden furniture and a decorative Japanese-style wall hanging.
Satoyama Jujo
Room with sliding blue doors, a bed with white pillows and a brown blanket, a colorful abstract wall hanging, a small side table, and a dining table with chairs.
Ace Hotel Kyoto

Azumi Setoda

Setoda

A traditional Japanese-style garden with a wooden walkway, moss-covered mounds, rocks, and a few pine trees, enclosed by a wooden lattice fence, with a building featuring sliding glass doors and wooden beams.

Location: 269 Setodacho Setoda, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-2411, Japan

Price: ~$350/night

Vibe: Luxurious, quiet, authentic

Modern bedroom with shoji screen walls, wood accents, large window, and a bed with white bedding.

Azumi Setoda feels intentional in every sense — architectural, emotional, and experiential. The hotel occupies a former merchant residence, carefully restored rather than reinvented, with minimalist interiors that let light, proportion, and materiality do the work. There’s a distinct sense of calm here that goes beyond aesthetics; the experience is paced, thoughtful, and grounded in the rhythms of the surrounding town. It’s luxury without performance — deeply Japanese, resolutely modern, and designed for travelers who value meaning over spectacle.

Indoor hot tub with a mosaic mural of a river scene, featuring fish, an octopus, trees, and mountains.

  • Located in Setoda, a historic port town on Ikuchijima in the Setouchi Inland Sea

  • Part of the Azumi collection, known for Aman-adjacent philosophy and design restraint

  • Intimate scale, with a limited number of rooms centered around serene courtyards

  • Architecture blends original structural elements with contemporary Japanese minimalism

  • On-site dining highlights regional ingredients and seasonal cooking

  • Designed to encourage slow travel and connection to the local community

  • Ideal base for exploring the Shimanami Kaido cycling route and nearby islands

  • Mornings in Setoda are especially striking — the town wakes slowly, and the hotel feels less like a destination property and more like a natural extension of the place itself.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Azumi Setoda

Satoyama Jujo

Niigata

A house with a traditional Japanese architectural style, featuring dark wooden framing, large windows, and a sloped roof, illuminated from inside during dusk or early evening.

Location: 1209-6 Ōsawa, Minami-uonuma-shi, Niigata 949-6361, Japan

Price: ~$400/night

Vibe: Nature-oriented, quiet, remote

A bedroom with two beds, a window with green trees outside, a sliding glass door leading to a balcony with outdoor chairs, a white wall-mounted cabinet, and wooden beams on the ceiling.

This is tradition interpreted with intelligence, not nostalgia. Satoyama Jujo pairs minimalist architecture with sweeping mountain views, creating spaces that feel contemporary yet profoundly rooted in place. The experience revolves around pace and presence — long meals, quiet mornings, and baths that pull the landscape directly into the room. Luxury here isn’t about excess; it’s about intention, craft, and the rare feeling that the hotel and its environment are speaking the same language.

A scenic view of a mountain range with green forests and a cloudy sky, viewed from an outdoor hot spring bath with wooden structure and flowing water.

  • Located in Niigata’s countryside, surrounded by rice terraces and mountain landscapes

  • Architecture is modern and pared back, designed to frame nature rather than compete with it

  • Rooms are serene and spacious, many with private open-air baths or panoramic views

  • Cuisine is a central pillar, with farm-to-table menus showcasing regional produce and Niigata rice

  • Onsen facilities emphasize immersion and calm, ideal for extended soaking

  • The atmosphere is quiet, contemplative, and destination-focused

  • Feels remote, though access is manageable via train and transfer from Tokyo

  • In winter, the surrounding snow transforms the property into something almost monastic — a rare chance to experience rural Japan at its most elemental and refined.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Satoyama Jujo

Ace Hotel

Kyoto

Living room with a yellow sofa, wooden armchair, two nested coffee tables, patterned curtains, and pendant ceiling light.

Location: 245-2 Kurumayacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8185, Japan

Price: ~$300/night

Vibe: Young, artsy, warm

Interior of a modern coffee shop with a wooden counter, coffee menu on a white board, two coffee grinders, an espresso machine, and a barista talking to a customer.

This is Ace at its most grown-up and restrained. Designed by Kengo Kuma, the building integrates seamlessly into the city’s urban fabric, using wood, light, and proportion in a way that feels respectful rather than disruptive. Interiors strike a careful balance between contemporary design and Kyoto’s inherent calm, with rooms that feel warm, livable, and thoughtfully composed. The social energy is there if you want it — cafés, bars, gentle buzz — but it never overwhelms the sense of place, which is where this hotel really succeeds.

A hotel room with a bed, white pillows, and a colorful modern painting of a pagoda and water above the bed, framed by blue sliding doors.

  • Located in central Kyoto, with direct subway access and easy reach of major sights

  • Architecture by Kengo Kuma, blending modern form with traditional materiality

  • Rooms are clean-lined, well-proportioned, and notably comfortable for longer stays

  • Strong food and beverage program, including Stumptown Coffee and multiple dining options

  • Public spaces are lively yet controlled, appealing to a design- and culture-minded crowd

  • Attracts creatives, couples, and repeat Japan travelers rather than tour groups

  • Service is polished but relaxed, with an international feel that still respects Kyoto’s rhythm

  • Unlike many lifestyle hotels, Ace Kyoto actually quiets down at night — a small but telling detail that makes it far more livable than its reputation might suggest.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Ace Hotel Kyoto

A peaceful Japanese-style garden with a stone lantern, stepping stones, lush green trees, and shrubs adjacent to a traditional wooden building with outdoor seating and lanterns.
Ryokan Kurashiki
Exterior view of a traditional Japanese-style house at night, with an illuminated bedroom visible through sliding shoji doors, a garden with stepping stones and plants in the foreground, and a large tree arching over the house.
Sowaka
A serene sea scene with mountains in the background, a boat moving across the water, and a ship near the horizon.
Nipponia Tomonoura

Ryokan Kurashiki

Kurashiki

A traditional Japanese-style indoor bath with a view of a serene outdoor garden featuring rocks, trees, and a stone lantern.

Location: 4-1 Honmachi, Kurashiki, Okayama 710-0054, Japan

Price: ~$350/night

Vibe: Traditional, historic, calm

Traditional Japanese garden with a stone lantern, moss, stepping stones, trees, and a wooden building with lamps on a patio.

This is heritage hospitality done with extraordinary care. Ryokan Kurashiki occupies a former merchant residence, and rather than modernizing aggressively, it preserves the soul of the place — dark woods, paper screens, mossy gardens, and a sense of stillness that feels almost suspended in time. The experience is intimate and hushed, with service that is formal but deeply sincere. It’s not flashy, not experimental — but profoundly elegant, and emotionally resonant in a way very few properties manage.

A cozy hotel bedroom with a large bed, wooden beams on the ceiling, and warm lighting.

  • Located directly on the canal in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter

  • Historic ryokan with a very limited number of rooms, emphasizing privacy and quiet

  • Traditional tatami rooms with garden or canal views

  • Meticulously maintained interiors that prioritize authenticity over trend

  • Kaiseki-style dining available, rooted in seasonal and regional ingredients

  • Service follows classic ryokan etiquette, attentive and unobtrusive

  • Evenings are exceptionally calm once day visitors leave the area

  • After sunset, when the canal lights come on and the streets empty, the ryokan feels almost unreal — like staying inside a preserved fragment of Edo-period Japan.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Ryokan Kurashiki

Sowaka

Kyoto

Traditional Japanese garden with winding stone paths, lush green trees, and a wooden building with sliding doors and a balcony.

Location: 480 Kiyoicho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0821, Japan

Price: ~$400/night

Vibe: Aesthetic, natural, spiritual

Interior view of a modern house looking out onto a small garden with rocks and small trees, with a dark wall on the right and a glass sliding door on the left.

Sowaka feels deeply Kyoto without leaning on theatrics. Set within a collection of restored machiya and a former teahouse, the hotel balances heritage and modernity with unusual finesse — tatami floors, garden views, and shoji screens paired with contemporary lighting, clean-lined furnishings, and impeccable detailing. The atmosphere is hushed and protective, encouraging guests to slow down and tune into the city’s quieter rhythms. It’s luxury that’s felt rather than announced, rooted in craft, proportion, and calm.

Traditional Japanese bedroom with tatami mats, sliding shoji doors, two beds, and a sitting area with chairs and a table near large windows.

  • Located in Gion, within walking distance of temples, teahouses, and the Higashiyama district

  • Composed of multiple restored historic structures, creating an intimate, village-like feel

  • Rooms blend traditional ryokan elements with modern comfort and design discipline

  • Many rooms feature garden views or private outdoor soaking tubs

  • On-site dining is refined and seasonal, emphasizing Japanese technique and restraint

  • Service is attentive, discreet, and deeply polished

  • Atmosphere is serene and contemplative, with no social or nightlife focus

  • Sowaka feels almost sealed off from the city — a rare sense of stillness in one of Japan’s most visited neighborhoods.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Sowaka

Nipponia Tomonoura

Hiroshima Coast

A traditional Japanese tatami room with shoji sliding doors and wooden balcony overlooking greenery. The room has floor cushions and a low wooden table.

Location: Japan, 〒720-0201 Hiroshima, Fukuyama, Tomocho, Tomo−595 鞆肥後屋

Price: ~$400/night

Vibe: Coastal, slow, historic-meets-modern

Traditional Japanese building with a wooden exterior, sliding glass doors, and a seated area inside, illuminated by warm lighting at dusk.

This is Japan at its most quietly emotional. Rather than a single hotel building, Nipponia Tomonoura is composed of restored merchant houses woven into the fabric of the town itself, creating a stay that feels lived-in rather than staged. Interiors are restrained and architectural, letting age, texture, and light do the work. There’s a softness to the experience — morning walks along the harbor, evenings that fall completely silent — that makes this feel less like accommodation and more like temporary belonging.

Two beds with dark bedding and pillows, a nightstand with a lamp between them, large window with traditional Japanese shoji screens in the background.

  • Located in Tomonoura, a historic port town in Hiroshima Prefecture

  • Part of the Nipponia heritage hotel collection, focused on architectural preservation

  • Rooms are spread across restored townhouses rather than a single structure

  • Design emphasizes original materials, clean lines, and quiet modern comfort

  • On-site dining highlights regional Setouchi ingredients

  • The pace here is intentionally slow; this is not a sightseeing base

  • Pairs beautifully with Kyoto or Hiroshima city for contrast

  • Each room is located in a different restored historic building, meaning no two stays are the same.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Nipponia

Northern & Southern Islands

Modern building with outdoor patio, wooden table and chairs, large glass windows reflecting the patio, gravel and patchy grass ground, and green trees in the background.
Otaru Ryotei Kuramure

Otaru Ryotei Kuramure

Hokkaido

Interior of a minimalist room with tatami mats, a hanging planter with plant, pottery, and a white bowl, sunlight streaming through large glass sliding doors

Location: 〒047-0154 Asarigawa Onsen 2-685, Otaru City, Hokkaido

Price: ~$400/night

Vibe: Cozy, slow, natural

Twilight view of a canal flanked by modern and old buildings with mountains in the background, reflecting in the calm water.

Kuramure feels intentional in a way many ryokan don’t. Rather than leaning on nostalgia, it uses clean lines, dark woods, and generous negative space to create a calm, almost architectural experience. Rooms are villa-like and private, many with open-air baths that look directly onto trees and seasonal snowfall. The mood is hushed and inward-looking, designed for travelers who want immersion and quiet rather than ceremony or spectacle. It’s minimalist, adult, and deeply grounding — luxury as experience, not display.

Interior of a minimalistic room with wooden flooring, a low wooden table, two cushions, a wooden cabinet, and large sliding glass doors opening to a view of green trees and pink flowers.

  • Located in a forested area just outside Otaru, about 45 minutes from Sapporo

  • Intimate ryokan with a limited number of suites, emphasizing privacy

  • Contemporary design with natural materials and subdued lighting

  • Many rooms feature private open-air onsen baths

  • Cuisine focuses on seasonal Hokkaido ingredients with refined, modern execution

  • Atmosphere is quiet and contemplative, not social

  • Best suited for couples and slow-travelers seeking a retreat

  • Works year-round, with especially strong winter atmosphere

  • Kuramure intentionally avoids overt traditional décor, making it one of the most modern-feeling ryokan experiences in Hokkaido.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Otaru Ryotei Kuramure

$$$ - $$$$

Traditional Japanese building with teal tiled roof, paper umbrellas at entrance, and hanging bamboo blinds, on a quiet street at dusk.

Tokyo & Central Honshu

An indoor space with beige walls featuring rectangular cutouts, a reflective pool or floor, and vertical beams casting shadows, with a wooden bench and folded towels.
Aman Tokyo
Modern hallway with wooden lattice walls, elevated platform, and a decorative plant in a black vase at the end.
Hoshinoya
A traditional Japanese-style outdoor onsen bath with large rocks, surrounded by a lush garden with moss and greenery, adjacent to a modern room with sliding glass doors, warm interior lighting, and seating inside.
Gōra Kadan

Aman

Tokyo

A modern restaurant with large glass windows showing a sunset view, a table set for dining, and a decorative plant in a vase.

Location: The Otemachi Tower, 1 Chome-5-6 Ōtemachi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0004, Japanido

Price: From ~$1,000/night

Vibe: Luxurious, architectural, serene

Modern living room with large floor-to-ceiling windows showing a city skyline and park, minimal furniture, neutral colors, and wooden accents.

Aman Tokyo doesn’t merely quiet Tokyo; it reframes it. The hotel’s monumental atrium, defined by washi paper, stone, and water, sets a tone of near-monastic calm that carries through every space. Rooms are expansive and contemplative, with floor-to-ceiling views that feel painterly rather than performative. Service is impeccable yet invisible, and the overall experience is deeply Japanese in its restraint — luxury expressed through scale, silence, and precision rather than ornament or excess.

Interior of a modern indoor swimming pool with large stone columns, high windows, and reflections in the water.

  • Located in Otemachi, directly connected to Tokyo Station and multiple subway lines

  • Architecture and interiors draw heavily from traditional Japanese materials and spatial principles

  • Rooms are among the largest in Tokyo, with soaking tubs positioned for skyline views

  • The spa is a destination in its own right, featuring a serene indoor pool overlooking the city

  • Dining focuses on seasonality and technique, with Japanese and Italian options executed at a high level

  • Atmosphere is hushed and adult, designed for retreat rather than social buzz

  • The lobby’s central pool is aligned with Tokyo’s skyline in a way that subtly mirrors a traditional Japanese garden axis

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Aman Tokyo

Hoshinoya

Tokyo

A person serving tea to a woman sitting in a traditional Japanese-style room with shoji screens, wooden furniture, and a teapot on a stove.

Location: 1 Chome-9-1 Ōtemachi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan

Price: ~$800/night

Vibe: Ceremonial, slow, cultural

Modern hotel room with a large window featuring a geometric pattern, a bed with white linens, a blue sofa with patterned and dark blue pillows, and a textured area rug.

This is one of Tokyo’s most original hotel concepts, executed with total conviction. From the moment you enter and remove your shoes, the city’s pace drops away, replaced by tatami floors, kimono-clad service, and a deeply considered sense of ritual. Each floor functions like a ryokan wing, creating intimacy despite the building’s height, while rooms feel calm, inward-looking, and deliberately free of distraction. It’s not subtle in concept, but it is disciplined — a fully formed idea that never wavers.

Decorative Japanese-style room with a bamboo folding screen, hanging flowers, and a low wooden table with fruit and vegetables, and a pot with green leafy plants.

  • Located in Otemachi, within walking distance of Tokyo Station

  • Conceptualized as a modern ryokan, with shoes-off policy throughout

  • Rooms feature tatami flooring, low furniture, and minimalist Japanese design

  • Rooftop open-air onsen offers a rare bathing experience in central Tokyo

  • Kaiseki-style dining available, rooted in seasonality and technique

  • Particularly compelling for travelers interested in traditional Japanese culture

  • Service follows classic ryokan rhythms with contemporary precision

  • Each guest floor is organized around a shared ochanoma (tea lounge), echoing the communal structure of a traditional ryokan

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Hoshinoya Tokyo

Gōra Kadan

Hakone

Balcony with a bed, bamboo chairs, and a glass table overlooking green trees.

Location: 1300 Gora, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa, Japan 250-0408

Price: ~$900/night

Vibe: Authentic, cultural, imperial

A Japanese-style outdoor hot spring bath with large rocks, surrounded by lush greenery, and a cozy bedroom with sliding doors illuminated from inside.

This is tradition executed at the highest possible level, without dilution or trend-chasing. Gōra Kadan occupies the former summer residence of the Kan’in-no-miya imperial family, and that lineage is felt in the property’s formality, spatial restraint, and sense of ceremony. Architecture blends classic Japanese elements with subtle modern interventions, while the grounds, baths, and pacing of service feel deeply intentional. It’s not designed to impress quickly — it reveals itself slowly, rewarding guests who appreciate precision, ritual, and continuity.

Indoor view of a tranquil Japanese-style garden with large rocks, lush green plants, and small pink flowers, seen through a window at night with warm-lit decorative lanterns.

  • Located in Gōra, Hakone, surrounded by mountains and landscaped gardens

  • Historic ryokan with imperial provenance, reflected in its scale and formality

  • Rooms range from traditional tatami suites to contemporary interpretations

  • Exceptional onsen facilities, including expansive communal baths and private options

  • Kaiseki dining is a central part of the experience, rooted in seasonality and technique

  • Service is highly formal, precise, and deeply traditional

  • Best suited for travelers seeking classic Japanese luxury rather than modern minimalism

  • Gōra Kadan’s original buildings were designed to mirror imperial Kyoto aesthetics — a rare case where Hakone luxury is shaped by court culture rather than resort sensibility.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Gōra Kadan

A sitting area with a round table set with teapot and cups in front of large windows showing Tokyo Tower and cityscape in the background during sunset.
Janu Tokyo
A cozy living room with lush green plants, candles, a wooden table, and large windows with curtains at night.
The Edition
A cozy balcony with cushions and a small table, overlooking colorful autumn trees with orange and yellow leaves.
Hoshinoya Karuizawa

Janu

Tokyo

Luxury hotel room with large windows showing Tokyo Tower and city skyline during the day, with warm lighting and modern decor.

Location: 1-2-2 Azabudai Minato-ku 106-​​0041 Tokyo, Japan

Price: From ~$950/night

Vibe: Luxurious, design-forward, wellness-focused

Luxurious living room with beige sofas, wooden coffee table, large windows with shades, and decorative items

Where Aman is meditative and inward-looking, Janu is an open, architectural, and deliberately human addition to the brand. Set within the new Azabudai Hills development, the hotel feels expansive and modern, with interiors that lean warmer and more tactile than Aman’s signature minimalism. Rooms are beautifully proportioned and filled with light, and the public spaces — restaurants, lounges, and wellness areas — are designed to be used, not just admired. It’s luxury that invites engagement, making it especially compelling for travelers who want high design without total withdrawal from the city.

Bar counter with five chairs in front, backlit shelves with various bottles, decorative items, and glasses on the counter.

  • Located in Azabudai Hills, Tokyo’s newest design- and culture-forward district

  • Janu is Aman Group’s more social, contemporary luxury brand

  • Rooms are generous by Tokyo standards, with floor-to-ceiling windows and refined, modern interiors

  • One of the most ambitious wellness offerings in the city, including an expansive spa, fitness, and movement spaces

  • Exceptional dining with multiple in-house concepts

  • Atmosphere is polished but lively, balancing serenity with social energy

  • Janu Tokyo is the brand’s global flagship, making it the clearest expression of how Aman envisions the future of luxury hospitality — less silent retreat, more beautifully designed living.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Janu Tokyo

The Edition

Tokyo

Indoor space decorated with lush green potted plants and candle lanterns along a pathway leading to a sitting area with candles on a table.

Location: 4 Chome-1-1 Toranomon, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0001, Japan

Price: From ~$600/night

Vibe: Luxurious, design-forward, wellness-focused

A rooftop dining area at night with a view of Tokyo Tower illuminated, surrounded by trees, plants, and outdoor furniture with candles.

Designed in collaboration with Kengo Kuma, the hotel tempers the brand’s global DNA with distinctly Japanese materiality — soft woods, filtered light, and an almost residential calm once you’re inside. Rooms feel serene and composed, with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the city rather than overwhelm it. The energy here is quiet confidence: social when you want it, restorative when you don’t. It’s international luxury that actually understands where it is.

Modern hotel room with two beds, a sitting area with a sofa, and a large window showing a city skyline at night. Decor includes candles, flowers, and a bowl of green apples.

  • Located in Toranomon, a central, well-connected district near business, dining, and cultural hubs

  • Architecture and interiors blend EDITION’s modern luxury with Japanese restraint

  • Rooms are calm and minimalist, with generous proportions by Tokyo standards

  • Great food and beverage program, including a celebrated rooftop bar with skyline views

  • Appeals to design-conscious travelers, creatives, and repeat visitors to Tokyo

  • Works well for both short stays and longer city bases

  • The lobby’s layered greenery — a Schrager signature — was intentionally designed to echo the experience of entering a quiet Tokyo garden from a busy street, softening the transition from city to hotel.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of The Tokyo Edition

Hoshinoya Karuizawa

Nagano

Indoor pool with large glass windows showcasing a lush green landscape outside, with trees and rocks visible.

Location: 2157-428 Nagakura, Karuizawa, Kitasaku District, Nagano 389-0111, Japan

Price: From ~$600/night

Vibe: Peaceful, slow, weekend escape

A hotel room with two beds, a dining area, and a seating area with a view of a balcony overlooking water and greenery.

Rather than a single hotel building, the property unfolds as a low-slung village woven into the landscape, with villas lining a river and pathways that encourage wandering and pause. Design is minimalist but warm, with interiors that prioritize light, wood, and proportion over decoration. Everything here is paced deliberately — from the way meals are served to how the baths are approached — creating a feeling of total removal that’s rare this close to Tokyo. It’s luxury as environment, not object.

A modern house with large glass windows and a sloped gray roof, situated by a body of water, with trees in the background. On the house's deck, a person is giving a massage to another person lying on a massage table.

  • Located in Karuizawa, a historic mountain retreat about one hour from Tokyo by Shinkansen plus transfer

  • Designed as a ryokan village with individual villas rather than a central hotel block

  • Architecture emphasizes integration with forest, water, and seasonal change

  • Rooms are spacious and serene, many with river or woodland views

  • Onsen facilities include both communal and private options, deeply integrated into the landscape

  • Dining focuses on refined Japanese cuisine with strong seasonal and regional sourcing

  • Atmosphere is quiet, restorative, and destination-focused

  • The property was built around a restored hot spring system originally used by the local community — a subtle but meaningful reminder that the retreat is rooted in Karuizawa’s long-standing culture of restorative living, not just luxury travel.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Hoshinoya Karuizawa

Kyoto, Kansai & The Inland Sea

An aerial view of a large, modern resort complex surrounded by lush greenery, with multiple buildings, a swimming pool, and a coastline with calm waters and boats.
Amanemu
A balcony with a black table set with a bottle of rosé wine and two glasses, overlooking a street with traditional Japanese wooden buildings and greenery.
Shinmonzen
Modern hotel corridor with stone wall on the left, black and gold accents, and warm lighting, leading to a distant door.
The Mitsui

Amanemu

Ise-Shima

Modern backyard with a swimming pool, a wooden cabana with cushions, surrounded by trees and a fence.

Location: Hamajima-cho, 2165 Hamajimacho Hazako, Shima, Mie 517-0403, Japan

Price: From ~$900/night

Vibe: Luxurious, grounded, elemental

A minimalist bedroom with wood-paneled walls and ceiling, a large bed with white linens and brown accents, a wooden bench at the foot, a side table with a vase and plant, a seating area, and a window showing greenery outside.

This is Aman at its most elemental. Pavilions sit lightly above forest and water, their clean lines and muted materials designed to disappear into the scenery rather than compete with it. The experience revolves around rhythm and restoration — long walks, slow meals, and mineral-rich hot springs that anchor the stay. Everything feels intentional and unhurried, with a spiritual undertone that reflects the region’s proximity to the Ise Grand Shrine. It’s not a sightseeing base; it’s a destination in itself.

A cozy outdoor seating area with a wooden table, a teapot, two cups, and a tray, overlooking a serene bay with hills during sunset.

  • Located in Ise–Shima National Park, overlooking Ago Bay

  • Pavilion-style accommodations, many with private onsen baths fed by local hot springs

  • Destination spa with onsen pools, treatment rooms, and wellness programming rooted in Japanese healing traditions

  • Indoor pool with bay views, plus a stunning gym, with yoga and guided wellness sessions offered periodically

  • Dining focuses on seasonal Japanese cuisine and regional seafood, presented with Aman restraint

  • Atmosphere is deeply quiet and adult; best for couples and travelers seeking retreat over activity

  • Amanemu is built around a rare, naturally alkaline onsen source — guests are encouraged to bathe daily, as the hot springs are considered central to the property’s restorative philosophy

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Amanemu

The Shinmonzen

Kyoto

A traditional Japanese-style building with a tiled roof, white walls, and a circular wooden window with grid pattern, surrounded by garden elements.

Location: 235 Nishinocho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0088, Japan

Price: From ~$800/night

Vibe: Simple, authentic, private

A modern bar with a curved marble counter, red bar stools, and shelves with various liquor bottles and glassware, illuminated by warm lighting.

Designed by Tadao Ando, The Shinmonzen is all restraint and confidence—clean lines, softened concrete, and a sense of quiet that feels deliberate rather than precious. With only a handful of rooms, the experience is personal and unshowy, more private residence than hotel. It’s contemporary without being cool-for-cool’s-sake, and deeply Kyoto without leaning on nostalgia.

A minimalistic bedroom with a white bed and white pillows, wooden accents on the bed frame and headboard, a narrow horizontal window behind the bed, and a framed abstract artwork on the wall.

  • Just 9 suites, making this one of Kyoto’s most intimate luxury stays

  • Located in Gion on the Shirakawa River, walkable to temples and traditional streets

  • Architecture by Tadao Ando, with interiors that emphasize proportion, light, and calm

  • Suites are generous and serene, many with river views and soaking tubs

  • Destination dining by Jean-Georges, plus a small, elegant bar

  • No spa or pool; the luxury here is privacy, design, and location

  • Service is discreet and highly personalized, closer to a private house than a hotel

  • Because of the limited room count, the hotel often feels like it’s hosting a single party at a time—an unusually private experience in the heart of Kyoto.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Shinmonzen

The Mitsui

Kyoto

Modern architectural corridor with wooden slat walls, rectangular wall lights, gray tiled floor, and artwork at the far end.

Location: 284 Nijoaburanokojicho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-0051, Japan

Price: From ~$700/night

Vibe: Luxurious, grounded, elemental

A modern hotel room with a large bed, two bedside lamps, a bench at the foot of the bed, a wooden desk by a window with a view of neighboring buildings, and minimalist decor.

This is contemporary Kyoto luxury done with discipline. The architecture is low, composed, and intentionally unobtrusive, allowing gardens, light, and proportion to lead the experience. Interiors feel serene rather than styled, and the overall atmosphere is measured and grounded—more private residence than grand hotel. It’s an excellent counterpoint to Kyoto’s ryokan scene: deeply Japanese in spirit, but unmistakably modern in execution.

A modern kitchen with wooden cabinetry, a dark stone island, and minimalist decor, including a recessed wall niche with a flower arrangement, and open shelves with ceramic bowls.

  • Located beside Nijo Castle, with easy access to central Kyoto while remaining notably quiet

  • Approximately 160 rooms and suites, large enough to offer amenities without losing intimacy

  • Architecture emphasizes horizontal lines, natural materials, and garden views throughout

  • Full thermal spa with natural hot spring water, plus an indoor pool and well-equipped gym

  • Dining focuses on Japanese cuisine with a contemporary approach; calm bar on site

  • Well suited for travelers who want luxury amenities without a resort feel

  • The hotel’s central garden was designed to echo the scale and pacing of an imperial courtyard, creating a sense of space that’s unusually expansive for Kyoto.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Mitsui

Modern living room with large glass windows overlooking a landscaped courtyard with rocks and trees, featuring contemporary furniture and wooden accents.
Six Senses
Interior of a minimalist room with a wooden table, cushions, a black vase with greenery, and a view of an outdoor balcony with chairs and trees.
Aman Kyoto

Six Senses

Kyoto

Modern hotel lobby with large windows, minimalist furniture, wooden decor, indoor plants, and a view of an outdoor garden.

Location: 431 Myohoin Maekawacho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0932, Japan

Price: From ~$750/night

Vibe: Wellness-oriented, aesthetic, luxurious

A dimly lit upscale bar with a seating area in the foreground featuring red sofas and tables, and a bar with stools in the background illuminated by warm lighting.

Unlike many new luxury openings in Kyoto, Six Senses resists spectacle. The design is calm and contemporary, with natural materials, soft light, and a layout that prioritizes inward-facing gardens over street drama. The focus here is balance: thoughtful rooms, serious wellness facilities, and a pace that encourages restoration without tipping into retreat isolation. It feels international, but not generic—an urban sanctuary that understands Kyoto’s quieter rhythms.

Indoor swimming pool with large glass windows showing rocky outdoor landscape.

  • Located in the Higashiyama district, within walking distance of major temples and traditional neighborhoods

  • Around 80 rooms and suites, keeping the scale relatively intimate for a full-service luxury hotel

  • Design leans modern and nature-driven, with courtyards and gardens woven throughout the property

  • Large, destination-level spa with treatment rooms, relaxation areas, and thermal facilities

  • Indoor pool and a well-equipped gym, which is still relatively rare in Kyoto

  • Dining focuses on seasonal, wellness-conscious cuisine with Japanese influence

  • Six Senses Kyoto is one of the very few high-end hotels in the city where wellness facilities are not an add-on but the core of the experience, making it especially appealing for longer stays or mid-trip resets.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Six Senses

Aman

Kyoto

Steam rising from a hot spring pond surrounded by rocks at a private outdoor onsen with a wooden fence and trees in background, during sunset.

Location: 431 Myohoin Maekawacho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0932, Japan

Price: From ~$1,200/night

Vibe: Introspective, calm, luxurious

A minimalist indoor space with a wooden soaking tub filled with water, a small wooden stool with two black cups, and a large window with vertical blinds allowing natural light to enter. The room has gray tiled flooring, a gray tiled wall with a recessed niche, and a wooden ceiling.

Set within a hidden garden estate near Kinkaku-ji, the hotel feels completely removed from the city despite being within it. Architecture is low and deliberate, built to follow the land rather than reshape it, with pavilions tucked among moss, stone paths, and forest canopy. The experience is slow and elemental—more about atmosphere, walking, bathing, and stillness than doing. It’s not showy, not social, and not trying to be convenient, which is precisely why it works.

A modern Japanese-inspired hotel room with sliding glass doors, a bed with white linens, a dark throw, wooden wall paneling, a small table with books and cushions, a woven chair, and a vase with greenery, overlooking a green outdoor landscape.

  • Located in Kita-ku, a quiet, wooded area north of central Kyoto; transfers required for most sightseeing

  • Approximately 26 pavilions and villas, giving the property an exceptionally private, low-density feel

  • Pavilion-style rooms are expansive, with floor-to-ceiling glass facing forest or garden

  • Destination spa with onsen-style baths, treatment rooms, and a strong focus on stillness and ritual

  • Indoor pool and fitness facilities available, integrated discreetly into the landscape

  • Dining centers on refined Japanese cuisine with seasonal Kyoto ingredients, served with Aman restraint

  • The property was discovered rather than developed—Aman spent years clearing and restoring the overgrown garden before building anything, which is why the landscape feels ancient, not landscaped.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Aman

Northern & Southern Islands

A modern bedroom with a large window showing trees outside, a sliding glass door leading to a balcony, and a black bathtub on the balcony with wooden slats providing privacy.
Zaborin

Zaborin

Hokkaido

Interior of a modern lounge with a long window view of snow-covered trees and a mountain in the distance, featuring dark wooden floors, chairs, and warm lighting accents.

Location: 76-4 Hanazono, Kutchan, Abuta District, Hokkaido 044-0084, Japan

Price: ~$1,000/night

Vibe: Cozy, minimalist, natural

A rustic outdoor bathing area featuring a smooth stone bathtub filled with water on a tiled floor, surrounded by weathered dark wood walls and a ceiling, with a large open window revealing lush green trees and landscape.

Zaborin is uncompromising in its restraint. The architecture is spare and precise, built to foreground snow, forest, and silence rather than tradition or ornament. Each villa feels entirely self-contained, allowing the rhythm of bathing, dining, and rest to unfold without interruption. It’s not theatrical, social, or nostalgic—this is modern Japanese luxury defined by proportion, privacy, and total immersion in place. Among northern Japan’s high-end stays, it’s the closest thing to Aman energy without being Aman.

Minimalist bedroom with a large bed, white bedding, and pillows, featuring a floor-to-ceiling window with a view of snowy trees outside, and a wooden ceiling.

  • Located outside Niseko, surrounded by forest rather than ski village activity

  • Approximately 15 villas only, giving the property an exceptionally low-density feel

  • Every villa includes both indoor and outdoor private onsen baths

  • No pool and no gym; the focus is bathing, landscape, and stillness

  • Dining is kaiseki-inspired, highlighting Hokkaido seafood, produce, and seasonality

  • Works especially well in winter and shoulder seasons for atmosphere and quiet

  • Service is highly discreet and paced to match the guest’s rhythm

  • Zaborin is deliberately designed without shared lounges or social spaces—most guests barely encounter one another, reinforcing the feeling that the entire property exists solely for your stay.

Book Direct

All images courtesy of Zaborin