“I don’t want to go to Japan,” said no one ever. Topping the list of must-go-before-I- die destinations, this nation of pointy-tipped pagodas and steaming bowls of ramen entices more than three million travellers every month. So, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of new luxury hotels fluffing pillows from Okinawa to Sapporo. Here are the most exciting new and upcoming hotels around Japan.
Opened in the last 12 months
Janu Tokyo
The playful, younger sister brand to Aman has made its mark in the new Azabudai Hills complex. For a Japan newbie, it hits the nail on the head with its earthy colour palette, low furniture and tranquil vibe. This atmosphere carries into its massive wellness centre, which has one of the city’s largest gyms. Work up a sweat in Tokyo’s only hotel boxing ring, or swim laps in its heated pool, then recover in its hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber.
janu.com; rooms from ¥140,000
The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza
The second Tokyo hotel from this high-flying brand is fittingly located in posh Ginza. Its 86 minimalist rooms and suites include walnut wood, all-white furniture, bedding, and the brand’s signature furry throws. But the allure
of EDITION is in its seen-and-be-seen spaces, including its rooftop natural wine bar, covered in greenery; it slings rare orange wines and biodynamic bubbly. For something more intimate, try its London-inspired bar, which uses local spirits and spices for playful punches. editionhotels.com; rooms from ¥114,700
Hotel Toranomon Hills
Hyatt Unbound’s latest Tokyo property is far from your typical bland business hotel. Targeting young creatives, its 205 rooms and suites hit that trendy blend of Scandinavian and Japanese minimalism with floor-to-ceiling views of the city below. Its Lounge is a two-story co-working space with showers, private rooms and bottomless Japanese tea refills to fuel you for those late-night meetings. hyatt.com; rooms from ¥68,000
Bellustar Tokyo, A Pan Pacific Hotel
Spanning floors 39 to 47 of a skyscraper in Shinjuku, the hotel’s 97 rooms and suites skew sultry. Dark chevron wood floors, deep indigo walls and veined black marble bathrooms blanket each elegant space. Bellustar masters Japan’s dining options, including an omakase experience at its sushi bar and the country’s best Wagyu at its teppanyaki table—both with dreamy views over Tokyo. bellustartokyo.jp; rooms from ¥85,000
Four Seasons Hotel Osaka
Located in Osaka’s famous Dojima neighbourhood, the Four Seasons Osaka is an ingenious ode to Japan. Guests can choose between one of its 154 sleek hotel rooms or the hotel’s modern take on a ryokan. Its “GENSUI” Modern Ryokan Floor has 21 rooms for an introduction to a traditional Japanese inn, including a matcha ceremony at its tea lounge. Try your luck with a reservation at Sushi L’Abysse Osaka Yannick Alléno, a creative blend of French and Japanese omakase. fourseasons.com; rooms from ¥81,500
Canopy by Hilton Osaka Umeda
Japan’s first Canopy hotel brings wacky and whimsical to a corporate area of Osaka. Quirky murals and eye-catching art pieces hang throughout the hotel, while its 308 rooms and suites come with retro fridges, takoyaki-inspired round lights and Fukusuke dolls symbolizing good luck. The hotel’s 11th-floor outdoor bar, !JaJa!Bar, slings Osaka street-food favourites and fun cocktails while guests play pinball and soak in the sprawling views. hilton.com; rooms from ¥42,000
Six Senses Kyoto
It’s hard to name a brand more Zen than Six Senses. Therefore, it feels right that they have finally touched down in Japan. Located in Kyoto’s Higashiyama neighbourhood, the 81 rooms and suites are clad in light timber, clean lines and neutral tones. But the property’s main draw is its state-of-the-art spa, which blends new-age treatments with local favourites like shiatsu massage. sixsenses.com; rooms from ¥150,000
Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto
On a hilltop overlooking Kyoto, this Banyan Tree hotel is an oasis enveloped in bamboo. Ancient walls and mature trees were preserved during the construction of the 52-key hotel, creating a visually stunning exterior that artfully plays with lines and light. Inside, rooms are true to their locale with ryokan-style tatami floors and cedar tubs. banyantree.com; rooms from ¥144,500
Opening in 2025
Patina Osaka
Patina is a brand that’s all about blending nature, wellness and sustainability. Guests can expect all these factors in their first urban property. Opening in spring 2025, Patina Osaka plays off the city’s nickname as “The Water City” with curved furniture and pops of blue and water features. Its rooms and suites feature organic local woods, tatami-inspired rugs, copper finishes and top views of Osaka Castle. patinahotels.com
Waldorf Astoria Osaka
Located in the city’s Grand Green Osaka, an “urban mixed-use development,” the Waldorf Astoria Osaka will welcome travellers in the summer of 2025. Inhabiting 12 floors of a high- rise, there will be 252 guest rooms, three restaurants, a fitness centre, an indoor swimming pool and a spa—all with stunning Art Deco touches. hilton.com
Capella Kyoto
Guests may need to dodge maikos and geikos as they enter Capella’s first Japanese hotel in Kyoto’s historic Miyagawa-cho district. The property will feature 92 luxurious rooms and suites that blend contemporary style, calming tones, local artwork, and antiques. Opening next summer, the hotel will also encompass a tranquil garden courtyard with bamboo and maples, as well as a subterranean Auriga Spa. capellahotels.com
Fairmont Tokyo
Fairmont makes its first foray into Japan in its charismatic capital. Welcoming guests to the top floors of Shibaura Project’s South Tower, the hotel’s 219 modern rooms and suites will have stellar views over Tokyo Bay. It’s got all the goods, including restaurants, bars, a fitness centre, a spa, a sky-high swimming pool and even a rooftop chapel. fairmont.com
Park Hyatt Tokyo
Built as Japan’s first luxury “Western” hotel in 1994, the Park Hyatt Tokyo
has become a tourist destination. You’ll spot influencers living out a Lost In Translation moment and travellers hoping to get a glimpse of Mount Fuji in the distance. This icon is undergoing a head-to-toe renovation on all 14 floors of its Shinjuku skyscraper and is set to reopen in late 2025. hyatt.com
Rosewood Miyakojima
Beaches don’t come to mind when you mention Japan, but they should. On the island of Miyakojima, travellers will find blinding white sands, electric blue waters and the new Rosewood resort, opening in early 2025. Its 55 villas and houses will focus on its dreamy ocean views but won’t skip on luxury with private pools, pretty pastels and rounded furniture. Its restaurants will focus on fresh-caught seafood and premium Miyako beef. rosewoodhotels.com
InterContinental Sapporo
Opening in late 2025 in the capital city of scenic and snowy Hokkaido, the InterContinental will occupy the top floors of a building in the AXA Sapporo Nakajima Park Project. Its 149 rooms will mirror Hokkaido’s natural hues alongside floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of Nakajima Park and the Toyohira River. ihg.com
The Hotel Higashiyama
This modern Kyoto ryokan sits inside a former elementary school with over 100 years of history. Its 143 rooms and suites are spread over eight categories, all with low-lying beds, light cedar, whimsical rugs and traditional Japanese tea sets. Don’t be intimidated, be inspired: for a crash course in local leaf culture, just visit the hotel’s tea bar. tokyuhotels.co.jp
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