From exclusive luxury properties to one of a kind private ryokan, our goal is to make sure that your accommodations in Japan are every bit as spectacular as the landscape and serve as the perfect compliment to your itinerary. Drawing on our personal ties to a network of properties extending across the country, you can be sure that your stays will be tailored to your individual tastes and as unique as every other part of your journey.
Finding the highest quality accommodations doesn’t just mean selecting a five-star hotel. There are many fine and eclectic places to stay in Japan that are themselves ensconced in fascinating surroundings – each having their own local nuances and each with their own unique ambiance and style. We have spent time at every hotel and ryokan recommended to our guests and understand the special qualities of each property. We will only place you at a particular property if we know that it will absolutely maximize your experience. It’s more than just choosing the most highly rated accommodations. As we plan your itinerary, the goal is to choose the accommodations that will best complement your journey, give you the most authentic experience of what Japan has to offer, and – most importantly – will closely speak to your own wants and needs.
Imagine nights spent at contemporary leading five-star hotels in exciting Tokyo, complete with incredible spa experience, impeccable fine-dining, and the kind of service and amenities only available at the world’s most highly rated properties. And for an experience no less incredible, picture a stay at a beautiful Japanese ryokan, a quintessential cultural experience that provides a remarkable sense of serenity. Relax in the confines of a simple tatami room, look out at an exquisite private garden while sipping delicious green tea, enjoy an enticingly warm ofuro bath and return to your room for a fabulous kaiseki traditional Japanese meal. Whether it’s a contemporary suite in a city hotel with unbelievable skyline views, or a charming shukubo or temple lodging near Mt. Koya, our goal is to provide an unforgettable experience.
Having traveled extensively throughout Japan for many years, we have developed close and unique relationships with many of the country’s finest hotels and ryokan. Our first-hand, insider knowledge at each of these properties enables us to share with you the secrets to creating a truly memorable stay. From being able to recommend a luxury hotel with impeccable service and the most splendid views of Tokyo’s glittering skyline to a serene and tranquil local inn, we will work with you to ensure that your accommodations in Japan will be extraordinary.
From the heights of the Otemachi Tower, Aman Tokyo combines urban design with a profound atmosphere of serenity. Inspired by Japanese design tradition, with ikebana displays, washi paper doors and engawa platforms, the vast lobby, ryokan-style rooms and Aman Spa are all among the city’s largest.
Located beside Ago Bay, amid the forested hills of Ise-Shima, the ryokan-inspired onsen resort of Amanemu invites guests into a sanctuary of restorative peace where guests may bask in mineral-rich hot springs, walk ancient pilgrim trails and explore a sublime coastline.
Nestled in a lovely village and an area known for hot springs, this elegant ryokan has been in the same family for over five centuries. Rooms at Asaba offer unique views of the natural landscape and a Noh Theater.
Opened at Benesse Art Site Naoshima in 1992, Benesse House is both a museum and a hotel, incorporating guest rooms and space for display of contemporary art. Benesse House offers guests opportunities to get close to great art and spend a uniquely rewarding time in dialogue with the works and with themselves.
Beniya Mukayu is a beautiful ryokan located on the hillside of Yakushiyama. As a homage to local history, Beniya Mukayu provides three Libraries to study or read books, two communal baths to enjoy the hot springs, and the Spa Entei offers modernized healing treatments based on hot spring water and medicinal herbs.
Occupying the 40th to 45th floors of the Tokyo Midtown Yaesu skyscraper, the Bulgari Hotel Tokyo is the very definition of opulence. Home to Michelin-starred restaurants and a world-renowned spa, the property provides and eagle-eye view of Tokyo and boasts a design aesthetic that speaks not only to Japanese tradition (Zen gardens on the terrace, an abundance of hinoki wood), but also to Bulgari’s own storied design history. The hotel is also within walking distance to the Imperial Palace and the vibrant shopping areas of both Nihonbashi and Ginza.
Infused with over 100 years of history, this traditional Japanese inn incorporates four different historical buildings and offers 16 guest rooms in total. Byaku Narai includes the former Suginomori Shuzo sake brewery building, which was founded in 1793, as well as the Hoi Hoi guest house, the Misawa lacquerware shop, and part of a former temple. It is the perfect place to relax, experience incredible food, and surround yourself with some of the most incredible arts and crafts produced within this region.
Nestled around Shakusui-en, an 800-year-old heritage pond garden, Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto is a contemporary oasis. Located in the serene and well-preserved Higashiyama district, this luxury puts many of the city’s key attractions within easy reach.
Providing one of the most fascinating ways to experience Japan, guntû is a ship resembling a traditional ryokan that offers 19 cabins and a variety of common spaces all designed by Japanese architect Yasushi Horibe. Named after a blue crab that is indigenous to the Setouchi region, the ship features a six-seat sushi bar with a view of the sea, a Japanese confectionery in the ship’s lounge, and communal baths with hinoki cypress bathtubs and saunas.
Photos from Setouchi Cruise, guntû
Located in the heart of Kyoto, adjacent to the legendary Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto is an idyllic sanctuary honoring ancient Japanese traditions and embodying the legacy and spirit of Kyoto. The hotel is built on a 250-year-old historic site that was once the home of the executive branch of the Mitsui Family, carefully designed to reflect a luxurious ambiance of refined sophistication.
Located in the prestigious financial district, Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo is known for its award-winning service, incredible design aesthetic, and stunning views of the city skyline.
Part of the Lartisien hotel collection, the Palace Hotel Tokyo is situated near the heart of bustling Marunouchi and overlooks the Imperial Palace moat and the Imperial Palace Gardens. The hotel is known for a renowned sushi restaurant, Tatsumi, and amenities include an indoor pool and an Evian spa.
Set in a spectacular natural landscape with stunning views across the Annupuri ranges and Mount Yotei, Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono embodies personal luxury for global connoisseurs. A true year-round mountain resort designed for providing enriching experiences in an environment filled with carefully curated art, incredible cuisine and contemporary design.
Sitting just a five-minute walk from Kyoto’s must-see Nanzen-ji Temple, the old Imperial Palace and the geisha districts of Pontocho and Gion, The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto has one of the most central locations in the old capital of Japan. On the banks of the Kamo River with the photogenic Higashiyama mountains as backdrop, the hotel is one of the most impressive properties in Kyoto.
Located within Nikko National Park, The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko offers beautiful guest rooms with graceful Japanese design, showcasing serene views of Lake Chuzenji and Mount Nantai. Guests can enrich their stay by experiencing the world’s first hot spring for the Ritz-Carlton brand, sourced from the Yumoto Onsen.
This ryokan was originally the home of a wealthy sugar merchant and consists of several buildings joined together into a single unit. Situated at the center of the waterways and streets of the city of Kurashiki’s lovingly preserved Bikan quarter, Ryokan Kurashiki is an oasis of calm that overlooks the Nakabashi Bridge.
Nestled on a verdant hill at the foot of the mountains and overlooking the sea, the Sankara Hotel & Spa Yakushima provides the ultimate in luxury hospitality while also paying homage to nature. The property is located on the mountainous island of Yakushima, a protected World Heritage site.
Tucked away in the natural surroundings at the eastern edge of Nara prefecture, Sasayuri-ann is a private luxury accommodation comprising two different traditional style villas. Both villas are private, available for only a single party each night. Guests can enjoy panoramic views of rice terraces, mountain peaks, or sea clouds.
This ryokan dates back to 1970 and stands as a testament to authentic sukiya architecture offering incredible cuisine and classic onsen experiences. Each of the 15 rooms at Yagyu-no-Sho Shuzenji offer traditional hot spring baths, and the property boasts two open-air communal baths. This is the very definition of a traditional Japanese Inn.
Looking down on the rice fields, Zenagi stands serenely on a hill in a farm village in the Kiso Valley, an area of Japan that has remained largely unchanged for thousands of years. Surrounded by mountains, forests and rivers, the private villa resort is available exclusively to only one group per day.
Photos ©️ Zen Resorts
So we can tailor your journey to your exacting needs, kindly take a few moments to complete our questionnaire. In doing so, please keep all of the members of your party in mind. We thank you in advance and look forward to designing your extraordinary bespoke journey. You can also contact us at [email protected] or 202.455.0095.
Note: An investment in a bespoke journey with us starts at $3,000 per person per day, based on double occupancy.
