Where to Stay in Japan

With the radiation scare dissipated and the Japanese Yen plunging in value, we travel to the culture-rich nation to find you five new hotels that will surely make your next vacation all the more memorable.

The Palace Hotel Tokyo

From the elegantly appointed rooms replete with carefully selected amenities and traditional details – such as bath towels from Imabari, Maruyama Nori teas and handmade tea sets from Tochigi prefecture – to the impeccably trained, kimono-clad staff and beautifully measured décor throughout, the Palace will satisfy the most punctilious of pedants and delight lovers of clean, elegant design.

Reopened in May 2012 following a US$1.2 billion renovation that saw the old Palace Hotel demolished and completely rebuilt, the all-new Palace enjoys the same privileged position adjacent to Tokyo’s Imperial Palace, primary seat of the emperor and his family. The hotel offers breathtaking views of the Imperial Palace gardens, a 3.5sqkm green space in the heart of the city that was valued in the 1980s at more than all California’s real estate, and the twinkling skyline beyond.

There are no fewer than 10 restaurants and bars to choose from, including the gorgeous Wadakura with its impressive water feature, hand-carved floor and flawless Japanese cuisine; and Crown, a grand French fancy from Patrick Henriroux of La Pyramide fame. The hotel also boasts a near 13,000sqft Evian Spa that ranks among Japan’s best.

Perfect for: Roaming royalty
Restaurants: Crown, Wadakura
Bathroom bubbles: Anne Semonin
Classy touch: Beautiful balconies from which to survey your empire
Website: en.palacehoteltokyo.com

The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon

The newest kid on the block is the 137-room The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon, which lies on the cusp of past and present Tokyo close to the Asakusa Shrine. Designed by Shigeru Uchida of Kobe Fashion Museum fame, the revamped office block boasts an atmospheric roof terrace featuring an unhindered view of the skyline with the nearby Tokyo Skytree and even nearer Kaminarimon Gate as the breathtaking backdrop.

Uchida’s signature lighting is reflected in the custom-built lobby chandelier that plays on the refraction of natural light at different angles. Bold textiles courtesy of Marimekko designer Masaru Suzuki adorn the rooms, while original artworks by Katsuhiko Hibino greet you in the lobby and throughout the hotel. Expansive windows overlook the famous shitamachi (Old Town) or contemporary Tokyo, and bathe the moody colour scheme in natural light.

Perfect for: The bold and the beautiful
Restaurant: R Restaurant and Bar
Bathroom bubbles: GemiD Spa & Beauty
Classy touch: Uchida L’uovo floor lamps
Website: gate-hotel.jp

The Tokyo Station Hotel

The decadence of railway travel makes a comeback in Japan thanks to the reopening of The Tokyo Station Hotel following a six-year facelift. Originally built in conjunction with the central railways and Tokyo Station, the nigh 100-year-old accommodation retains the charms of a bygone era, set out by Meiji-period architect Kingo Tatsuno.

The British colonial-inspired décor adds to the historic air of the hotel, which survived the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake and World War II. The most spectacular of the suites are the two-storey maisonette guestrooms secluded in the corner towers and the 1,862sqft Royal Suite with separate living area and den.

The Atrium guest lounge and cupola viewing platform continue the bygone-era theme, looking as if they could have been favoured haunts of some of Japan’s literary greats. Take a sip on Bar & Café Camellia’s acclaimed one-of-a-kind cocktails before boarding the Shinkansen to the south.

Perfect for: Trainspotters
Restaurant: Bar & Café Camellia
Bathroom bubbles: Bulgari and Gilchrist & Soames
Classy touch: The view from the Archive Balcony
Website: thetokyostationhotel.jp

Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa

From local favourite to international destination, the secret’s out on the getaway of Okinawa. Overlooking the East China Sea and the Motubo Peninsula, the 97-room Ritz-Carlton Okinawa stands within the Kise Country Club, with its impeccably manicured 18-hole golf course, and next to the ancient Yambaru forest.

Catering to a golfer’s every need, the hotel also features The Ritz-Carlton Spa & Fitness by ESPA, a short garden stroll away in a separate enclave, which boats 10 treatment rooms, a bedrock spa with white local corals, a gym and indoor pool. The two spa suites feature relaxation lounges, forest-view steam showers and stone baths that overlook private outdoor wooden decks.

Perfect for: Golf champs
Restaurant: KISE
Bathroom bubbles: Asprey
Classy touch: Stargazing telescope
Website: ritzcarlton.com/Okinawa

Hoshinoya Okinawa

Ferrying further south to Taketomi Island is the resort of Hoshinoya Okinawa, nestled near villages and a way of life that time forgot. A village in itself, the six-hectare complex offers 48 villas that range from 570sqft to almost 2,800sqft.

The resort blends into the nearby village with its red-roofed wooden houses surrounded by high stone walls that wind through the premises.

White sands of crushed coral pave the roads and gardens and reflect natural light through wood-framed sliding glass doors. Of the 300-odd inhabitants on the tiny island, you’re sure to meet a few by enrolling in traditional handicraft classes or just making a splash in the surrounding coral reefs.

Perfect for: Serenity seekers
Restaurant: Ryukyu Nouvelle
Bathroom bubbles: Hoshino’s own
Classy touch: 24-hour butler service
Website: global.hoshinoresort.com/hoshinoya_okinawa