Japan’s Best Hotels: 3 Top-rated Stays in Tokyo, Kyoto & Hokkaido

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Experience Japan-Style Comfort in 3 Top-Rated Hotels

Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto, blends superior amenities and Japan’s natural wonders.

Look through lists and guidebooks of the world’s most comfortable accommodations and you’re sure to find a number of Japan’s hotels and inns in the mix. And why not? Japanese hospitality centers around meeting guests’ expectations and needs whether through good food, service from the heart, or a most satisfying experience.

Here are three of the most popular destinations in the country—Hokkaido, Tokyo, and Kyoto—and their hotels that offer the height of comfort as well as an unforgettable stay. Find out which upscale accommodation in Japan is worth checking out!

1) Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu (Hokkaido)

One of the best hotels worth visiting in Japan, Hoshino Resorts RISONARE attracts guests who enjoy skiing and other winter sports.

When in Hokkaido, Japan, do stay at the Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu, located just 90 minutes from the New Chitose Airport.

The region can be freezing for those not used to colder climates. Nonetheless, Japan’s top-rated all-suite resort hotel offers comfort all year round. All rooms measure over 100 square meters and are equipped with a luxurious sauna and jet bath with a view.

If you visit during summer, check out the Unkai (sea of clouds) Terrace, which the hotel is known for. Usually open from May to mid-October, the terrace accessible by a 15-minute gondola ride gives you the astonishing sight of mountain tops peeking above a sea of white clouds. 　

During winter, try your hand at skiing with your family and friends. Skiers of various levels can test their skills in any of the 29 ski courses of the resort famed for its fine, powdery snow.

Guests staying at the hotel have free access to the Ice Village and its amenities: the Ice Chapel, Ice Hotel, Ice Bar, Ice Slide, and Ice Rink. Pandemic measures are observed.

Other fun, family-oriented activities are the Family Snow Picnic and the Moonlight Snowmobile Tours. In the Rime Terrace, you’ll see trees completely covered in ice, given the sub-zero temperature.

If you want to know what it’s like to live in a fantastic world of ice, then Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu is your best pick!

At Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu, you can relish winter from the comfort of your hotel room jet bath (left), or outdoors at the Cloud Walk suspension bridge.

Facility Information

Name: Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu
Location: Aza Nakatomamu, Shimukappu, Yufutsu-gun, Hokkaido
Admission fee: ¥30,000~/night for 1 adult (2 meals included; room can accommodate up to 4 people)
※ Varies depending on the season and room types
※ Depending on the weather and weather conditions, it may not be possible to visit some of the amenities.
Access: Ride either the Limited Express Super TOKACHI or Limited Express Super OZORA express trains and alight at JR Tomamu Station. Once there, a free shuttle bus is available to take you to the resort.
Check-in at 3 p.m.; Check-out at 11 a.m.
Safety measures regarding the new coronavirus are observed.

Website: Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu (English)

2) Imperial Hotel Tokyo (Tokyo)

One of the best-rated hotels in Japan, Imperial Hotel Tokyo boasts 19 world-class restaurants and bar lounges.

Officially opened in 1890, Japan’s Imperial Hotel Tokyo has been welcoming guests for over 130 years. The hotel first gained popularity in the 1920s, when its main building was designed by renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Inside this top-rated hotel in Japan are 19 restaurants and bar lounges, each offering a gastronomical adventure like no other. With the wide variety of options available, you can enjoy dishes from all over the world. Sample French cuisine at the Michelin-starred Les Saisons or delight in authentic Japanese flavors at Teppanyaki Kamon.

Once you’ve had your fill, go straight to the Imperial Shopping Arcade for a guiltless shopping spree. Those looking to learn more about Japanese culture should definitely reserve time to visit the Imperial’s Toko-an to savor the traditional preparations of matcha tea and Japanese sweets.

As one of the most popular hotels in Japan, the Imperial Hotel Tokyo offers tons of activities to make your trip to the capital more enjoyable. When done exploring every nook and cranny of the hotel, take a stroll along the lush green Hibiya Park just facing the building, or venture to the nearby Ginza and Marunouchi areas.

Imperial Hotel Tokyo invites you to witness tea making at the Toko-an (left) or simply stroll around the hotel’s grand interiors (right).

After a long day of exploration, sit back, relax, and enjoy the host of facilities of Imperial Hotel Tokyo. Forget the hustle and bustle of the city as you unwind at an indoor pool and sauna, or keep up with your fitness goals at a fully equipped fitness center.

If you’re staying for a while, make sure to try out the hotel’s efficient laundry service. The hotel is said to be the first to introduce such a convenience.

Before checking out, drop by Gargantua, the hotel shop beloved for its baked desserts and irresistible goodies. Make sure to stock up on delectable treats as souvenirs for your friends and family.

Facility Information

Name: Imperial Hotel Tokyo
Location: 1-1-1 Uchisaiwaichō Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Admission fee: ¥33,200~/night per room (meals not included; room can accommodate up to 4 people)
※ Varies depending on the season and room types
※ Depending on the weather and weather conditions, it may not be possible to visit some of the amenities.
Access: The hotel is within walking distance from a number of stations. If you take the subway, you can alight at the Hibiya, Uchisaiwaicho, Ginza, Yurakucho, and Shimbashi stations. Meanwhile, if you ride the JR Line, you can get off at Yurakucho and Shimbashi stations.
Check-in from 2 p.m.; Check-out at 12 p.m.
Safety measures regarding the new coronavirus are observed.

Website: Imperial Hotel Tokyo (English)

3) Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel (Kyoto)

Breathtaking views and impeccable accommodations make Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto, one of the finest hotels in Japan.

If Kyoto’s your destination, book your stay at the Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto, overlooking the scenic mountain ridge of Arashiyama past the Hozu River.

The hotel’s charm doesn’t only lie in its surroundings—its interiors are worth the visit as well. When you enter, you’ll be greeted by a grand display of artwork made by Kyoto’s famous writers and artists.

Enjoy a relaxing boat ride while at Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto.

Touches of jade, gold, indigo, and other traditional colors achieve a look and mood of understated elegance in the hotel’s 39 well-appointed guest rooms. If you want to elevate your Japanese experience and feel extra pampered during your trip, book one of the hotel’s 17 rooms that feature a private open-air bath.

To complete your experience, enjoy your dinner at the Kyo-Suiran. Originally a summer residence during the Meiji era (1868-1912), the restaurant serves a new style of cuisine that incorporates the aesthetic sense of French cuisine with the traditional cooking techniques used in the multi-course kaiseki dinner.

Enjoy your meals with a view of the lush greenery and serene river.

During snack time, make your way to Cafe Hassui and enjoy refreshments while admiring the serene Hozu River.

If you haven’t had the time to buy souvenirs for your friends during your trip, no need to fret! Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto, also has an in-house shop that sells hotel-original organic soaps and Suiran bath salts.

Facility Information

Name: Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto
Location: 12 Susukinobaba-cho, Saga-Tenryuji, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
Admission fee: ¥90,200~/night per room (meals not included; room can accommodate up to 4 people)
※ Varies depending on the season and room types
※ A bath tax of ¥150 per person will be added to the room rate for hot spring access.
Access: The hotel is accessible from the following train stations: Kyoto, Hankyu, Arashiyama, Randen Arashiyama, and JR Saga-Arashiyama.
Check-in at 3 p.m.; Check-out at 12 p.m.
Safety measures regarding the new coronavirus are observed.

Website: Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto (English)