Hotel
1. Aman Tokyo
A serene luxury hotel on the top floors of Otemachi Tower, pairing minimalist Japanese design with a spa, 30-metre pool and city views.
View details — Aman TokyoHotel
2. Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto
A luxury hotel in southern Higashiyama built around Shakusui-en, a pond garden of about 800 years old, with a spa, pool and several restaurants.
View details — Four Seasons Hotel KyotoHotel
3. The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka
Japan's first Ritz-Carlton, in Umeda, with rooms on the 24th to 37th floors, classic English-style interiors, an indoor pool and spa and a Michelin-starred French restaurant.
View details — The Ritz-Carlton, OsakaHotel
4. Park Hyatt Kyoto
A low-rise luxury hotel of 70 rooms and nine suites on the slopes of Higashiyama beside Ninenzaka, with the long-established Kyoyamato kaiseki restaurant in its grounds.
View details — Park Hyatt KyotoHotel
5. The Peninsula Tokyo
A luxury hotel on a Yurakucho corner between Marunouchi and Ginza, with commanding city views towards the Imperial Palace grounds.
View details — The Peninsula TokyoHotel
6. The St. Regis Osaka
A 160-room luxury hotel rising 27 storeys above Midosuji avenue in Honmachi, with round-the-clock butler service, a spa and five places to eat and drink.
View details — The St. Regis OsakaHotel
7. Conrad Osaka
A 164-room luxury hotel on the top floors of the Nakanoshima Festival Tower West, with restaurants and a sky bar on the 40th floor and an indoor pool.
View details — Conrad OsakaHotel
8. Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto
A 160-room luxury hotel beside Nijo Castle on the site of the Mitsui family's Kyoto residence, with a hot spring spa fed from its own source.
View details — Hotel The Mitsui KyotoHotel
9. Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo
A luxury hotel on the upper floors of Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, with a spa and around ten restaurants and bars in historic Nihonbashi.
View details — Mandarin Oriental, TokyoHotel
10. Cross Hotel Osaka
A stylish mid-range hotel a minute from Dotonbori and the Glico sign, with design-led rooms, a terrace restaurant and a 24-hour gym.
View details — Cross Hotel OsakaHotel
11. Hiiragiya
A celebrated ryokan founded in 1818 in central Kyoto, offering sukiya-style tatami rooms, kyo-kaiseki dinners and a traditional Kyoto breakfast.
View details — HiiragiyaHotel
12. Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
A large mid-range hotel in the Shinjuku Toho Building, famous for the life-size Godzilla head looming over its terrace in the heart of Kabukicho.
View details — Hotel Gracery ShinjukuHotel
13. Hotel Granvia Kyoto
A large hotel inside the Kyoto Station building, directly connected to the JR station, with a pool and fitness area and around ten restaurants and bars.
View details — Hotel Granvia KyotoHotel
14. Hotel Nikko Osaka
A large full-service hotel above Shinsaibashi Station on Midosuji, with rooms on the 10th to 30th floors and eight places to eat, including teppanyaki and sushi.
View details — Hotel Nikko OsakaHotel
15. The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon by Hulic
A stylish hotel steps from Senso-ji's Kaminarimon gate, with a terrace restaurant and bar looking out over Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree.
View details — The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon by HulicHotel
16. Ace Hotel Kyoto
A design hotel partly housed in the former Kyoto Central Telephone Office, connected to Karasuma Oike Station, with a rooftop Italian restaurant and Japan's first Stumptown Coffee.
View details — Ace Hotel KyotoHotel
17. Hotel Granvia Osaka
A JR West hotel built into Osaka Station, ideal for rail travellers, with its front desk on the 19th floor and nine restaurants, bars and lounges.
View details — Hotel Granvia OsakaHotel
18. Hotel Niwa Tokyo
A calm, modern Japanese-style hotel near Suidobashi Station, arranged around gardens, with French and Japanese restaurants facing its courtyard.
View details — Hotel Niwa TokyoHotel
19. Hotel Noum Osaka
A relaxed boutique hotel by the Okawa river near Tenmabashi, with beds from bunks to suites, a public cafe-lounge and a rooftop sauna.
View details — Hotel Noum OsakaHotel
20. Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo
A hotel steps from Tokyo Station's Yaesu North Exit, carrying on more than 120 years of tradition from the original Ryokan Ryumeikan.
View details — Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo