337 Best Hotels in Japan

It's hard to say what part of a stay at the Hotel Benesse House is the most memorable: the gorgeous views of the Seto Inland Sea, special access to the artworks at the Benesse Museum, or the Tadao Ando architecture and the luxurious yet minimalist decor of the hotel rooms. Each of the four buildings containing guest rooms has a different theme and location: Park, Beach, Museum (in the Benesse House Museum), and Oval, which is an artwork in itself, farther up the hill and accessed by walkways or a monorail. Stunning views of nature and art abound. The several restaurants on the property include Japanese and French cuisines and a café. The staff members are friendly and capable but deliberately keep their distance—a change from the ever-attentive service in other upscale Japanese hotels. Add-on meal plans are available.

Tucked away in the hills not far from the Golden Pavilion, Aman Kyoto is one of the city's finest establishments, surrounded by an expansive forest garden of green moss-covered lawns and cobbled stone footpaths. The 26 rooms at this secretive, luxurious retreat have a tasteful Japanese aesthetic and include large hinoki wood bathtubs. Service is personal but never overbearing, and the two on-site restaurants, spa, and hot springs all exude top-end luxury.

One of the tallest buildings in Kobe, this hotel stands out at night when its brightly lighted tower points heavenward. The entire hotel is sumptuous, spacious, and chic. Rooms are sleek and modern, done up in restful shades of chocolate and cream. Corner rooms on higher floors have superb views over Kobe. Beneath the lobby are five floors of shops and restaurants, including Wakkoku. The hotel is a five-minute walk from Kitano-cho; the Shin-Kobe Ropeway is just outside, and several hiking trails, including one to Nunobiki Falls, pass very close to the hotel. It's three minutes from downtown by subway.

Come for luxury, impeccable service, and stunning views across the hotel's pools and gardens to Maesato Beach and the azure waters beyond. If you're looking for a quiet island getaway with plenty of pampered R&R, you'll be well taken care of. Start the day with sunrise yoga, then treatments at the Spa Agarosa. The adjoining nine-hole par-27 golf course is a good option in winter when mainland Japan is covered in snow.  The Bay Wing and the Club Wing were both opened in 2020. The Club Intercontinental takes luxury and exclusivity to a new level with spacious suites and delightful afternoon tea and evening cocktails. 

In the revitalized Toranomon district, this Hyatt boutique property occupies the top six floors of one of the city's tallest towers and offers chic guest rooms, considerate service, an airy spa, and views, views, views. The spacious accommodations have walnut-wood furnishings, floor-to-ceiling windows that frame incredible views, and large bathrooms with deep, circular tugs. English-speaking staffers are always at hand to be of assistance. The spa has all sorts of indulgent options, and the Rooftop Bar is an excellent, if pricey, choice for cocktails and champagne.

If a search for absolute serenity is what brought you to Iya, head straight for Chiiori House. This restored Iya farmhouse, managed by the Chiiori Trust, is available for private overnight stays. The recently renovated facilities are a lot more comfortable than what residents from past centuries were used to, especially the swanky kitchen and cedar bathtub, but the breeze through the cedar trees and the morning mist over the valley are timeless. You can prepare your own food in the kitchen or arrange for a local cook to prepare an Iya-style dinner for an additional fee per person. The house can sleep up to 10 people, with the per-person rate becoming smaller as the number of guests increases.

This luxurious, all-inclusive ski-in ski-out resort caters to international guests with fine dining and exceptional service, besides being in one of the best ski areas in Japan. Kiroro Peak (unlike Kiroro Grand) is for adult and teenage guests only, and until the evening entertainment it has a relaxed, mellow vibe with giant windows looking out to the ski runs. The all-inclusive packages include meals, après-ski nibbles, an open bar, ski passes, and excellent ski/snowboard lessons with English-speaking instructors. The top ski/snowboard groups will get you exploring the deep powder and trees that Kiroro is famous for. In summer, enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and yoga in verdant natural splendor. Club Med offers value packages that include international flights and transfers, making a one-week ski holiday in Japan about the same price for U.S. visitors as a similar package in Aspen or Vail, Colorado. 

A new addition to Osaka’s five-star hotel scene, the Four Seasons features a beautiful mix of Japanese and Western aesthetics and also offers spacious rooms with expansive city views, a choice of excellent restaurants, and the highest level of service.

This relative newcomer to the historical Asakusa area has a stylish flair that starts at the entrance, where an elevator whisks you up 13 floors to the beautiful, glass-walled lobby, and continues in guest rooms outfitted in deep, dark browns accented with jewel tones and the occasional mod touches. Rooms can feel a bit cramped, so, when you need more space, head to the open-air Terrace on the 14th floor, with a lovely view of the Tokyo Sky Tree. The bistro-style French restaurant serves pork and beef dishes and has an extensive drink selection. The Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) is a short walk away, as are Senso-ji and a host of shopping options. Staff members are friendly and speak English.

Founded in 1818 to accommodate provincial lords visiting the capital, this elegant inn is well known for its restrained and subtle beauty. The private hallway leading to each room's doorway makes all the accommodations feel like suites. The seven rooms in the modern wing have private gardens, even on the upper floor, and are equipped with cedar baths. Rooms in the older wing set the standard for quiet elegance, with exquisitely sculpted wooden details and in some cases gold-leaf sliding doors. In traditional ryokan style, meals are served in your room by a kimono-clad attendant. Hiiragiya has an annex a few blocks away with more affordable prices.

With wonderful views of Mt. Yotei and the slopes of Mt. Niseko Annupuri, this hotel has a ski-in ski-out location beside the Niseko gondola—it's a nine-minute ride to powder heaven. In summer there's golf, horseback riding, and other activities. From the deep, plushy sofas surrounding a hanging gas fireplace in the lobby to the comfortably furnished rooms and the on-site hot-spring baths and spa, this hotel is a class act. The distance from the bustle of central Hirafu helps with the tranquil atmosphere.

If you love art, then this hotel should be your lodestar, as everything—from the ornate entryway and the koi pond to the chapel (the property was a wedding complex in the 1920s) and the Chinese restaurant—features elements seemingly plucked from a renowned art museum. Tours are even available to appreciate the hotel's gestalt. The grounds are tranquil thanks to a leafy location close to the Meguro River, one of the city's prime cherry blossom viewing sites. When you've finished sightseeing for the day, head to the eight-floor OUKA lounge for tea or cocktails and some light bites.

Located at Kyoto Station, the hotel is noteworthy for its good service and fusion of ultramodern design and traditional Japanese style. The spacious Western-style rooms have broad desks, separate tea areas, and bathrooms with big soaking tubs. A stroll between the hotel's north and south towers affords a great view from within the glass walkway.

Surrounded by a plethora of shops and restaurants and situated a short walk from JR Tachikawa Station and the two Tachikawa monorail stations on the Tama Toshi line, this hotel makes for an excellent base for exploring West Tokyo. Regional hiking trails, parks, and in the summer, blueberry patches, are also nearby, making a stay here feel like a true getaway. Although there's only one on-site restaurant, the quality is good, with some ingredients even being locally sourced.

Directly opposite the Kyoto National Museum and next to the famous Sanjusangen-do Temple, this is one of Kyoto's premier hotels, offering spacious tasteful rooms. Room interiors are exquisitely designed with soothing colors and garden views for south-facing rooms. The multilingual staff are knowledgeable and most helpful. The garden-view Japanese restaurant specializes in kaiseki dining.

This rustic alpine lodge is owned by Tokyo's legendary Imperial Hotel, and the service is so exemplary because the staff are borrowed from that establishment for the summer. In the lounge, low wooden beams support the beautifully crafted ceiling, while a central hearth adds a warm glow. Guest rooms have sofas and gorgeous woodwork, and some have balconies. Western and Japanese restaurants are on the premises. You can see the red-tiled, gabled roof of the hotel from Kamikochi's bus terminal in the center of town.

Since it opened in 2013, the InterContinental Osaka has been regarded as one of the city's top luxury hotels, with a Michelin-starred restaurant and another more casual dining option in addition to those found in the conveniently attached Grand Front Osaka. Beyond the excellent service that you'd expect, the hotel offers beautiful nighttime views of the city skyline from rooms on the 20th to 32nd floors. Bose speakers, flat-screen TVs, and automatic blinds are among the high-tech touches in rooms that blend classic furnishings and sleek modern design.

In a skyscraper looming high over the main train station, this hotel puts the city at your feet. The rooms are located on the 23rd to 34th floors, so they have magnificent views of the city. Unlike many Japanese hotels, this hotel has double rooms with king-size beds rather than only twins. The "moderate single" rooms are a little cramped, but other rooms have more space and larger windows. The 22nd-floor spa (extra charge) has deep pools and big windows, so you can enjoy views of the city skyline as you soak.

At once exquisitely refined and delightfully friendly, Kankaso exemplifies the best of Japanese hospitality, and a delicious kaiseki dinner is included, as is breakfast. Beautiful gardens surround this peaceful ryokan near Todai Temple, and inside, elegant ikebana arrangements adorn the alcove. Each room is decorated with scrolls and pottery. Although the building has been renovated over the centuries, its 1,200-year-old central beam testifies to its longevity. The communal baths look out onto the gardens. 

Attached to Hon-Kawagoe Seibu Station and close to the historical Ichibangai shopping street and JR/Tobu Kawagoe Station, this hotel is a convenient choice for families, couples, and solo travelers alike. Rooms, though uninspired, are well-maintained, and some are occasionally given themes—featuring Moomin characters, say, or a tie-in with the Japanese music group, Glay. Dining options include a buffet breakfast on the top floor, restaurants specializing in regional Japanese and Chinese cuisine, and a lobby-level bar with classic cocktails and Japanese whiskies. 

One of the city's best hotels, the Kyoto Brighton has an elegant design, and its staff display a thorough dedication to gracious, efficient hospitality. Glass elevators whisk guests up from the central atrium to large rooms with separate sleeping and lounging areas. Some rooms have outside terraces with city views. Bilingual concierges are on hand to help you plan your sightseeing. The on-site Hotaru restaurant merits a visit; the resident chef won a contest on the popular cooking show Iron Chef. The sweets in the lobby's café are also worth checking out. Free shuttle bus to station runs every 20 minutes.

Occupying the top nine floors of the glistening Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, this modern hotel has harmonious rooms, tastefully decorated in shades of brown and featuring such touches as down bedding, luxury linens, in-room newspaper delivery, and large picture windows with city-lights panoramas. Corner rooms have sunken marble tubs that allow you to gaze out windows while soaking. The spa, with its signature body scrubs and massages, and the gym are top-of-the-line. The award-winning restaurants offer modern or traditional cuisine, but if you're suffering extravagance overload (and the accompanying prices) you can take a short stroll toward Tokyo Station, with its variety of tiny watering holes and izakaya (Japanese pubs).

This small, sedate ryokan sits quietly on the edge of a peninsula called Oku-Matsushima, offering a place for you to relax, enjoy nature, and soak in the onsen, as it is not easily accessible from other sights in Matsushima. Many regulars stay several nights because of its sublime dinners, perfect privacy, and breathtaking views. If you come in winter, take advantage of the package deals. The snow-capped pine trees add to the serenity.

One of Okinawa's finest resorts, the Miyakojima Tokyu Resort delivers everything you could want from a tropical vacation. Rooms are spacious and beautiful, and most have superb views over the Yonaha Maehama Beach. In high season, don't miss the performances of Okinawan dance and music in the evenings. Consider visiting during late May or June, when prices are half of what they are in August.