The best hotels in Japan
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.
ShiguchiShiguchi, 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, Japan
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
Featured on our 2022 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world
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 Shinmonzen, Kyoto
Featured on our 2022 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world
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
Featured on our 2022 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world
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
Nikolas KoenigThe 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
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 Mitsui, Kyoto
Just opposite 17th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site Nijō Castle, Hotel The Mitsui was created by a dream-team roll-call of creatives. Japanese architect Akira Kuryu and Hong Kong-based André Fu, who oversaw The Upper House in his home city and Villa La Coste in Provence, came together to create this shiny new Kyoto spot. Inside, a sedate atmosphere soothes guests the second they pass through the ornate gateway, with smooth wooden arches, clean-lined modern touches and sleek ceramic sculptures. In bedrooms, abstract water motifs and swathes of birch wood bring the central, blooming courtyard indoors, with wabi-sabi bowls, pots of moss and views of the ancient castle.
Head to the basement for some serious pampering. The Thermal Spring Spa has expansive black-walled onsen pools, and there are also four treatment rooms – try a traditional Japanese-inspired massage using aromatic rose-petal oil. Hardcore onsen lovers should book into the Onsen Suites for sleek rooms with private baths in the basement for overnight stays. Danielle Demetriou. Read the full review of Hotel The Mitsui, Kyoto
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. By 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
Holly FarrierMaana 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
Tomooki KengakuTrunk 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 Hotel 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