The best hotels and ryokans in Japan range from charming traditional inns in the countryside, to stylish design hotels and some of the world’s most luxurious accommodations.

As Japan specialists, one of the “hardest” parts of our jobs is traveling around Japan to check out unique and luxurious properties around the country. This includes well-known places like Tokyo and Kyoto, and countless of our other favorite destinations in Japan.

Based on our firsthand experience, and feedback from our clients, we’ve curated this short list of Japan?s best and most splurge-worthy boutique and luxury hotels and ryokans.

Before you dive in, keep in mind that the “best” hotel or ryokan is ultimately one that matches your personal travel style. What may be the perfect property for one traveler may not be quite right for you (this is why we believe in highly personalized trip planning).
We hope our list, which features both small boutique properties and larger luxury hotels (not to mention an incredible ship), helps you decide where to stay during your Japan trip!

Originally written in 2014, this post was updated and republished on October 23, 2020.

Zaborin

Table of Contents: Japan’s Best Hotels & Ryokans

For context we suggest reading (or at least scanning) each section, but if you’re ready to skip ahead here are helpful links:

Tokyo?s Best Boutique and Luxury Hotels

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