Impeccably located in the heart of the city by the Kamogawa river, overlooking the Higashiyama mountains, this modern luxurious hotel steeped in the traditional Kyoto tradition oozes tranquil individuality, with features such as a huge waterfall by the lobby, zen gardens, wooden partitions and traditional paper artworks. It apes a luxury ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) and has spacious and minimalist rooms, while dining options include a high-end Japanese eaterie, an Italian restaurant and a patisserie.
Japan’s diversity is breathtaking, whether geographically – everything from subtropical beaches in Okinawa to ski resorts in Hokkaido – or architecturally, from the neon-illuminated skyscrapers of Tokyo to old Kyoto houses and ancient temples – and everything else in between. Whether you’re there for the stunning cherry blossom season, a spot of sumo wrestling or sampling sushi in a local food market, each day will invariably be excitingly different, with a plethora of unforgettable things to do.
Japan’s hotels offer great diversity too, from the most opulent palaces to dirt-cheap ‘capsule’ hotels costing less than a round of drinks per night. The rich and varied range of accommodation options awaiting at this stunning destination takes in hotels with onsen to destress in, cute wooden capsules that do away with unnecessary stuff, grand hotels with lobby waterfalls and even one located in a museum. Here’s our selection of the very best.