Japan continues to captivate travelers through its layered blend of tradition, fashion, design, cuisine, wellness, and natural beauty. From restorative onsen retreats and refined ryokans to soaring urban sanctuaries in Tokyo and Kyoto, the country’s hospitality landscape is evolving alongside a growing global fascination with Japanese culture and craftsmanship. For our Spring 2026 Artist Issue dedicated to Japan, Whitewall highlights a selection of standout hotel stays and new openings across Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka, and beyond—each offering immersive experiences through culinary programs, spas, hot springs, art, and thoughtful design.
Ace Hotel Kyoto
Courtesy of Ace Hotel Kyoto.
Ace Hotel Kyoto, designed in partnership with Kengo Kuma and Commune Design, features original art and craft from local and international artists and artisans. In addition to a lively lobby, three restaurants, event spaces, and the first Stumptown Coffee Roasters café in Japan, the hotel welcomes guests to a lush courtyard garden.
What we love: Discovering the curated artworks displayed throughout the property.
Book your reservation HERE.
Aman Tokyo
Courtesy of Aman Tokyo, Japan.
Aman Tokyo—known for its world-class dining and spa facilities—welcomes visitors to a sanctuary above the city, offering striking views of the Imperial Palace Gardens, Otemachi Forest, and Mount Fuji. Occupying the top six floors of The Otemachi Tower, the hotel includes several public and private dining outlets; 84 suites filled with wood, stone, and washi paper materials; a fitness center, a swimming pool, and a relaxation room; yoga and Pilates rooms; a spa with eight treatment rooms; a boutique, café, and pâtisserie; and boardrooms and business services aplenty.
What we love: Booking a yoga or Pilates session for a restorative reset.
Book your reservation HERE.
Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto
Courtesy of Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto.
Banyan Tree’s first hotel in Japan opened in Kyoto in August 2024, bringing 52 guest rooms and its signature Banyan Tree Spa to Higashiyama. Close to attractions like Kodai-ji Temple and Kiyomizu-dera Temple, the Kengo Kuma-designed hotel boasts its own Higashiyama Onsen hot spring source, 52 rooms, and eight special Onsen Retreat rooms—each filled with cypress wood bathtubs, tatami mats, gold leaf accents, and more. Visitors can enjoy sumptuous bites at its restaurant, Ryozen, which offers multi-course kaiseki meals, an impressive Kyoto-produced sake menu, and afternoon tea service.
What we love: The Onsen Retreat rooms for a deeply rejuvenating escape.
Book your reservation HERE.
Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo
Courtesy of Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo.
Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo occupies floors 40 to 45 of the Tokyo Midtown Yaesu skyscraper. Located within walking distance of some of the best attractions in the city, the hotel features 98 elegant rooms and suites, and signature Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts’ dining and bespoke experiences, such as the Michelin-starred Il Ristorante—Niko Romito, Sushi Hōseki, The Bvlgari Bar, The Bvlgari Lounge, Bvlgari Dolci, and The Bvlgari Spa.
What we love: Indulging in treatments at the spa.
Book your reservation HERE.
Capella Kyoto
Courtesy of Capella Kyoto.
Capella Kyoto—a newcomer that opened in March 2026—reimagines a traditional machiya townhouse, filled with layers of texture, natural hues, and details inspired by Kyoto’s timeless artistry. Alongside an open-air courtyard dotted with water features and curated landscapes, the hotel offers 89 rooms and 26 suites, including six exclusive Onsen Suites with private indoor hot spring experiences. Also on-site are three dining venues, event spaces, and The Capella Spa.
What we love: Unwinding beside tranquil water features and curated garden landscapes.
Book your reservation HERE.
HOSHINOYA Tokyo
Courtesy of HOSHINOYA Tokyo.
HOSHINOYA Tokyo opened in 2016 as the fifth property of the HOSHINOYA brand. Under the concept of a “Tower of Ryokan,” the vertical hotel spans two underground and 17 above-ground floors, including a tatami mat–covered entrance, an OCHANOMA Lounge on each floor, and a hot spring bath on the top level. In addition to enjoying unforgettable bites at The HOSHINOYA Tokyo Main Dining restaurant and Sushi Otemon, which opened in March 2025, visitors can enjoy relaxing treatments at the Spa, and activities like a Japanese tea ceremony, incense classes, traditional Gagaku listening sessions, miniature garden creations, and a kenjutsu movement practice.
What we love: Taking part in an authentic Japanese tea ceremony.
Book your reservation HERE.
Imperial Hotel, Kyoto
Courtesy of the Imperial Hotel, Kyoto.
Imperial Hotel, Kyoto recently opened in March 2026 as a 55-room property within the restored Yasaka Kaikan landmark. Spanning seven floors, the hotel provides a grounding experience in craft culture, greeting guests to warm materials, public spaces, private guest rooms, and four unforgettable culinary destinations: REN, YASAKA, OLD IMPERIAL BAR, and THE ROOFTOP.
What we love: A landmark setting that balances local character with understated elegance.
Book your reservation HERE.
IZU Retreat
Courtesy of IZU Retreat.
In the coastal hot spring town of Atagawa, Shizuoka, IZU Retreat opened in November 2025 as a 16-suite, all-oceanfront onsen hotel. Architect Kota Segawa and studio quod turned former communal bathhouses into private suites with open-air hot spring baths and saunas that overlook the Pacific, joined by two new lounges: Shiomachi, featuring cocktails and vinyl, and Namima, offering analog games and local travel ephemera. For those looking for an unmissable meal, Shio to Sakazuki reveals coastal cuisine through kinmedai, local lobster, and regional wines.
What we love: Dining at Shio to Sakazuki.
Book your reservation HERE.
Janu Tokyo
Courtesy of Janu Tokyo.
In the heart of Azabudai Hills, Janu Tokyo marks the debut of Aman Group’s more social, design-forward sister brand, conceived by longtime collaborator Jean-Michel Gathy. The 122-room and suite property blends contemporary European elegance with nuanced Japanese craftsmanship, from shimenawa-inspired rope ceilings and kumiko screens to bespoke soaking tubs and artisan-crafted wall textures. Dining is a central focus, with eight distinct venues including the Italian-inspired Janu Mercato, omakase counter Iigura, Cantonese restaurant Hu Jing, and the charcoal-driven Sumi, alongside a patisserie and cocktail-forward lounge spaces. A large wellness center features a gym, hydrotherapy and thermal facilities, two spa houses, and nine treatment rooms, complemented by curated artworks. Throughout, floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies, and landscaped terraces connect guests to the district’s lush gardens and skyline views, positioning the hotel as both a cultural hub and immersive urban retreat.
What we love: Tasting the hotel’s diverse culinary offerings.
Book your reservation HERE.
NOT A HOTEL
Courtesy of NOT A HOTEL.
In the hot spring enclave of Oku-Yugawara, NOT A HOTEL YUGAWARA expands the hospitality concept founded in 2020, bringing its portfolio to 17 announced destinations across Japan. Located 90 minutes from Tokyo, the property is conceived by NOT A HOTEL ARCHITECTS as an architectural response to its natural surroundings, nestled between forested mountains and the flowing Fujiki River in a region celebrated for over 1,300 years of onsen culture. The development will feature two accommodation types available for co-ownership—YUAMI villas and MULTI-SUITE residences—each integrating private hot springs, while the flagship villas elevate the experience with three distinct onsen sources and four bathing areas. Rooted in place yet contemporary in approach, the project emphasizes immersion in landscape, privacy, and the ritual of bathing as both a cultural and design centerpiece.
What we love: Experiencing a traditional Japanese hot spring retreat.
Book your reservation HERE.
Park Hyatt Tokyo
Courtesy of Park Hyatt Tokyo.
Park Hyatt Tokyo, at the top of Shinjuku Park Tower, has reopened after an extensive 19-month renovation—its most extensive in over 30 years. Originally opened in 1994 as Asia’s first Park Hyatt, the hotel was designed by Kenzo Tange, with interiors by John Morford. Defined by its esteemed residential-style hospitality, soaring glass atriums, and cinematic skyline views—famously captured in Lost in Translation by Sofia Coppola—the recent restoration was led by Jouin Manku, balancing preservation and evolution, revealing 171 well-designed rooms with Japanese art, Isamu Noguchi’s washi lamps, green carpet, and more.
What we love: Watching the cinematic Tokyo skyline unfold below.
Book your reservation HERE.
Patina Osaka
Courtesy of Patina Osaka.
Opened in May 2025, Patina Osaka introduces Patina Hotels & Resorts’ first outpost in Japan. The 21-story sanctuary, rooted in sustainability and sensory design, features 221 rooms that draw on the Japanese concept of kisetsukan, with interiors that reflect seasonal shifts through natural materials like aged copper, wood, and water-inspired elements. Culinary and cultural programming center on immersive experiences, too—from P72’s micro-seasonal cuisine to The Listening Room, where sound artist Devon Turnbull creates a sonic environment. A defining feature is Patina Wellness, the Kansai region’s first hotel-based facility to integrate advanced health technologies, including hyperbaric oxygen, hydrogen therapy, cryotherapy, and far infrared saunas.
What we love: Immersive experiences ranging from seasonal dining to sonic listening sessions.
Book your reservation HERE.
Setouchi Retreat
Courtesy of Setouchi Retreat.
Setouchi Retreat by Onko Chishin is a sanctuary of simplicity. Originally designed by Tadao Ando as a private museum, the property has been reborn as a small retreat, offering seven suites in conversation with the sea, the sky, and the unforgettable shifting light of Setouchi. With a pool that jets out toward the sea, a sunken courtyard, and special rooms that capture the essence of the region through views of Setouchi’s islands, Ando’s iconic concrete structure highlights the natural beauty of the surrounding nature through private and immersive onsens, dishes by executive chef Hideya Honjo, a beverage selection by sommelier Kazunori Imazu, and more.
What we love: Watching the sea from the pool.
Book your reservation HERE.
The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza
Photo by Nikolas Koenig. Courtesy of The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza.
In 2023, The Tokyo EDITION opened its second property in Ginza with 86 rooms and suites across 14 floors. Imagined by Ian Schrager and Marriott International, the famed property’s latest space blends the energy of the city with modern touches—from a sculptural, white metal staircase to Japan’s only punch-focused cocktail bar and Ginza’s first natural wine bar. Floors and walls are seen in walnut timber, bespoke furnishings shine in travertine and cream-colored leather, green marble basins and chrome fixtures adorn all bathrooms, and art by Sayaka Maruyama and Takay Photography are seen throughout the property.
What we love: Sipping cocktails and natural wines late into the evening.
Book your reservation HERE.
