4 Best Hotels in Shikoku, Japan

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.

Perched on the edge of a steep ravine above the Iya River, this upscale hot-springs inn provides absolute luxury in the middle of nowhere. Iya Onsen is one of Japan's three "secret" baths (if you ask locals where the other two are, nobody seems to know). Reasons to stay here include the sweeping views from most guest rooms, the lavish meals, and the riverside hot-spring bath accessed by cable car. When the mist rises from the valley in the early morning, it really does feel like you're in a hidden world. A hotel bus picks up overnight guests from Oboke Station at 3:10 pm (reservation needed).

"Fit for a king" is often an exaggeration, but in this case it's true—Jyoseikan is where the emperor and empress once stayed. A monumental, somewhat dated exterior gives way to a grand interior with spacious Japanese-style rooms, exquisite tatami suites, and a sauna and bath with wonderful views of the city and the castle. There are pleasant Western-style twins available, but they don't come close to the traditional Japanese rooms in either the main building or new annex. No-meal or limited-meal plans are possible too, if you want to keep the price more affordable, but most rates include breakfast and a refined kaiseki or French dinner. It's seven stops west of Harimaya Bridge by tram. 

Stretching along a sandy beach, this resort hotel is peerless for its comfort, service, luxury, and access to the sights. Pick your favorite room from a variety of Western and Japanese arrangements with unique character; the Japanese website has pictures of every room. Ask for a beachside room, so the sound of the surf can lull you to sleep. The waves at the beach are too rough for swimming, but there's a fun restaurant on the dunes.