Discover Japan&#039;s Opulent Retreats

13/08/2026

How washi, indigo and Arita porcelain are reshaping luxury hotel rooms across Japan

How washi, indigo and Arita porcelain are transforming Japanese luxury hotel interiors, from guest rooms to restaurants, and how to book craft-led stays across Japan.

Best hotels in Japan: the questions that actually separate a great stay from a marketed one

Urban Retreats

20/08/2026

Best hotels in Japan: the questions that actually separate a great stay from a marketed one

A journalist’s guide to the best hotels in Japan ; how to read service, location, rates and reviews so you can choose truly exceptional stays in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

September in Japan for luxury travelers: why the shoulder season is the insider booking window

03/08/2026

September in Japan for luxury travelers: why the shoulder season is the insider booking window

Why September is the insider month for luxury travel in Japan, with softer prices, fewer crowds and strategic tips to navigate typhoon season and premium hotels.

Beyond the bamboo straw: what sustainability actually looks like at Japan's luxury hotels

Sustainable Luxury

06/08/2026

Beyond the bamboo straw: what sustainability actually looks like at Japan's luxury hotels

A journalist’s guide to what sustainability really means at Japan’s luxury hotels, from Tokyo towers to treehouses, with concrete tips for eco conscious families.

The hotel tea ceremony in Japan: where authentic practice meets luxury hospitality

Cultural Experiences

10/08/2026

The hotel tea ceremony in Japan: where authentic practice meets luxury hospitality

A precise guide to hotel tea ceremonies in Japan, comparing lobby demos and dedicated tea rooms, with insider tips on authenticity, etiquette and booking.

Shinkansen Supreme Class: private compartments return to Japan's bullet train this October

Unique Amenities

27/07/2026

Shinkansen Supreme Class: private compartments return to Japan's bullet train this October

Discover how Shinkansen Supreme Class private compartments on the Tokaido–Sanyo route will transform luxury travel between Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka from October 2026, with hotel-style amenities and Smart EX booking strategies.

Why Japan's finest ryokan keep their room count under 20: the economics of intimacy

23/07/2026

Why Japan's finest ryokan keep their room count under 20: the economics of intimacy

Explore why Japan’s finest ryokan cap rooms under 20, how intimacy shapes onsen, kaiseki and pricing, and how to book the most rewarding small luxury stays.

What 'luxury stay' actually means in Japan: from Aman minimalism to Ritz-Carlton ceremony

Cultural Experiences

30/07/2026

What 'luxury stay' actually means in Japan: from Aman minimalism to Ritz-Carlton ceremony

Discover how to choose your ideal luxury stay in Japan, from minimalist sanctuaries and palace-style hotels to intimate ryokan and design-forward urban hybrids in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

When a 165-year-old camellia oil maker becomes your hotel's spa partner: craft collaborations in Japanese luxury

Art and Decor

19/07/2026

When a 165-year-old camellia oil maker becomes your hotel's spa partner: craft collaborations in Japanese luxury

Explore how Japanese artisan luxury hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone, and beyond weave monozukuri, onsen culture, and local craft into architecture, spa rituals, and design to create deeply rooted, place-specific stays.

Traveling Japan with under-fives: what luxury hotels actually provide versus what they promise

Hidden Gems

13/07/2026

Traveling Japan with under-fives: what luxury hotels actually provide versus what they promise

Planning Japan with under-fives ? An insider look at what luxury hotels really offer families, from Tokyo suites to ryokan, onsen rules and kid friendly dining.

Hakuba in summer: what a ski town's luxury lodges offer when the snow melts

12/07/2026

Hakuba in summer: what a ski town's luxury lodges offer when the snow melts

Discover Hakuba summer luxury in Japan’s Northern Alps: quiet chalets, lakes, trails and refined lodges that turn a famous ski resort into a green-season alpine retreat for solo travelers.

Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto's onsen healing retreat: what a structured wellness stay in Japan looks like

Spa and Wellness

16/07/2026

Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto's onsen healing retreat: what a structured wellness stay in Japan looks like

In-depth review of the Onsen Healing Retreat at Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto, a Luxury Collection wellness program built around natural hot springs, Kazurasei treatments, and sleep-focused spa rituals in central Kyoto.

The Hyakudan Kaidan and the architecture guests never see: what luxury hotels in Japan hide in plain sight

Architectural Marvels

06/07/2026

The Hyakudan Kaidan and the architecture guests never see: what luxury hotels in Japan hide in plain sight

Discover how luxury hotel architecture in Japan turns city breaks and romantic getaways into deeper cultural journeys, from Hotel Gajoen Tokyo’s Hyakudan Kaidan to Imperial Hotel Kyoto, Hoshinoya Nara, Capella Kyoto, Aman Tokyo and Benesse House.

Behind the hotel bar in Tokyo: where Japanese whisky meets luxury hospitality

Urban Retreats

16/06/2026

Behind the hotel bar in Tokyo: where Japanese whisky meets luxury hospitality

An insider guide to the luxury hotel bar scene in Tokyo, from Japanese whisky programs and rare casks to tea rituals, dining, etiquette and iconic skyline views.

1 Hotel Tokyo: what a sustainability-first luxury hotel looks like in Akasaka

Sustainable Luxury

14/06/2026

1 Hotel Tokyo: what a sustainability-first luxury hotel looks like in Akasaka

Discover 1 Hotel Tokyo, a CASBEE Rank S certified luxury hotel in Akasaka Trust Tower that blends sustainable design, biophilic interiors, Bamford wellness and skyline views near the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Tower.

KAI Kusatsu opens this month: what Hoshino Resorts sees in Japan's most famous hot spring town

12/06/2026

KAI Kusatsu opens this month: what Hoshino Resorts sees in Japan's most famous hot spring town

KAI Kusatsu by Hoshino Resorts opens in Kusatsu onsen, Gunma Prefecture, bringing silk inspired ryokan design, private tunnel access and slow travel luxury.

Hakonenomori Okada: a refined mountain onsen retreat in Hakone Yumoto

20/08/2026

Hakonenomori Okada: a refined mountain onsen retreat in Hakone Yumoto

Hakonenomori Okada is an intimate onsen hotel above Hakone Yumoto, offering indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, Japanese and Western rooms, free parking, and easy access to classic Hakone attractions.

Resort Japan: how the country's luxury properties redefine what a resort stay means

Hidden Gems

19/06/2026

Resort Japan: how the country's luxury properties redefine what a resort stay means

Resort Japan redefines luxury stays through onsen culture, nature focused design and seasonal ski or island escapes. Learn how to choose refined Japanese resorts for families.

Japan triples its departure fee from July: what changes for luxury travelers

04/06/2026

Japan triples its departure fee from July: what changes for luxury travelers

Learn how Japan’s higher 2026 departure tax, Kyoto and Hokkaido accommodation levies, and new tourist fees reshape luxury travel budgets, with sourced figures and practical planning tips.

Hida Takayama onsen retreats for an elegant mountain escape

14/08/2026

Hida Takayama onsen retreats for an elegant mountain escape

Discover Hida Takayama onsen, a refined hot spring retreat in Japan’s northern Alps. Compare luxury hotels and traditional ryokan, learn onsen etiquette, explore private baths, and plan a wellness-focused stay near Takayama Station.

Trends

The carbon question: can a luxury hotel in Japan honestly call itself sustainable?

Sustainable Luxury

27/05/2026

The carbon question: can a luxury hotel in Japan honestly call itself sustainable?

Learn how to audit sustainable luxury hotels in Japan using real data, third‑party certifications and ESG reports. Compare eco‑friendly hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto and beyond, avoid greenwashing, and choose Japanese luxury stays with verifiable sustainability performance.

Travel Japan: what changes for the 2026 luxury traveler

29/05/2026

Travel Japan: what changes for the 2026 luxury traveler

How new luxury hotel openings, rail planning, and sustainability trends are reshaping high-end travel in Japan for 2026, from Tokyo and Kyoto to Osaka and regional stays.

Inspiration

Accommodation Japan: ryokan, machiya or design hotel, what suits which traveler

Cultural Experiences

21/05/2026

Accommodation Japan: ryokan, machiya or design hotel, what suits which traveler

Refine your family trip to Japan with a clear guide to ryokan, machiya, design hotels and business hotels, including real price benchmarks, named examples and a practical checklist for premium travelers.

Imperial Hotel Kyoto inside Yasaka Kaikan: 16,387 tiles, one restoration

Architectural Marvels

12/05/2026

Imperial Hotel Kyoto inside Yasaka Kaikan: 16,387 tiles, one restoration

Discover Imperial Hotel, Kyoto inside the restored Yasaka Kaikan theatre in Gion. Explore its heritage architecture, suites, dining, and how it compares with other Kyoto luxury hotels.

Places

14 Aug 2026

Hanaougi Bettei Iiyama in Takayama Japan: a refined mountain ryokan escape

11 Aug 2026

Hakone Yuyado Zen as a refined mountain escape in Hakone, Japan

08 Aug 2026

Mampei Hotel in Karuizawa Japan as a refined mountain retreat

08 Aug 2026

Mampei Hotel in Karuizawa Japan: a classic mountain retreat for luxury travelers

Experience

Jindai no Yu: urban onsen elegance for luxury travellers in Tokyo and beyond

Spa and Wellness

05/08/2026

Jindai no Yu: urban onsen elegance for luxury travellers in Tokyo and beyond

Discover Jindai no Yu, a natural hot spring shared by Thermae-yu in Kabukicho Shinjuku and Onsenya Jindai no Yu in Izu. Compare urban onsen comfort in Tokyo with a quieter spring-town retreat, plus tips on access, etiquette, and pairing with luxury hotels.

Jindai no Yu: refined onsen serenity in the heart of Japan

Spa and Wellness

05/08/2026

Jindai no Yu: refined onsen serenity in the heart of Japan

Discover Jindai no Yu, a natural hot spring shared by Thermae yu in Shinjuku and Onsenya Jindai no Yu in Izu. Compare urban spa convenience with a traditional ryokan-style retreat, get seasonal tips, and plan a luxury onsen stay in Japan.

People

Visionary Hoteliers

14/08/2026

How visionary hoteliers in Japan are redefining the luxury booking experience

Discover how visionary hoteliers in Japan transform the booking pipeline into a seamless luxury journey, with mobile-first design, personalization, transparent pricing, and data-backed insights on premium hotel booking behavior.

Araya Totoan: a refined onsen ryokan stay in Yamashiro Onsen

Guest Stories