Six Senses Kyoto

Relax in contemporary luxury at the Mandarin Oriental. Located in the heart of Tokyo, this hotel offers serenity above a ever-growing metropolis.

When you arrive in the 38th floor lobby, you’ll find yourself stunned by the dramatic views over the city’s skyline. The 157 guest rooms and 21 suites are heavily inspired by the Japanese aesthetic, blending futuristic luxury with a typical Japanese understanding of sense of space, aesthetically capturing the country’s rich culture within the modern luxury that Mandarin Oriental are renowned for.

Step out of your hotel and you’ll be in the middle of Tokyo’s metropolis, just a five minute walk from Ginza shopping district. After a busy day enjoying the buzz of Tokyo, relax in the Sense Tea Room or head to the Mandarin Bar and enjoy a signature cocktail by their award-winning chief bartender whilst listening to live jazz.

Nestled within a pristine red pine forest overlooking Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji is Hoshinoya Fuji, a beautiful glamping hideaway that allows guests to enjoy the tranquility of their natural surroundings.

On arrival at reception guests are presented with a camping kit containing binoculars, headlamp, map and blanket before being driven up to the main site. Here you will find the cabins, restaurant and the Cloud Terrace – a network of walkways and wooden platforms seemingly suspended in the air.

You’ll find 40 cubic concrete blocks nestled with the forest, minimalist in design but featuring everything you could possibly need. Large windows look out over the beautiful landscape and every cabin features a balcony where you can light a fire. Lighting in the cabins is soft, and around the site only the pathways are illuminated so as not to detract from the natural environment.

The main restaurant features a grill station in the middle where chefs cook up succulent steaks which are served with a seasoning rack. Alternatively, head up to the top of the Cloud Terrace and have a go at cooking in the wood-fired oven. For complete privacy, you can choose to dine in the comfort of your cabin.

Volcanic activity 10,000 years ago created a landscape of craters and ice caves, and the surrounding area is ripe for exploring. Canoe on the lake, go horse riding through the forest or take a lesson in stargazing and marvel at the night sky.

The serene Tobira Onsen Myojinkan sits surrounded by the forest deep in the mountains above Matsumoto city. It combines the elements of a traditional Japanese ryokan inn with all the creature comforts of a modern luxury hotel for a wonderfully relaxing rural retreat.

45 rooms all enjoy their own onsen bath, either indoors or outside, and guests have the option of either sleeping on a simple futon over tatami mats or a Western-style bed. There are a number of natural hot spring baths here, open day and night, each offering blissful views of the stunning forest scenery accompanied by the sounds of murmuring brooks, tranquil bird song and conifers swaying gently in the breeze.

Unlike other ryokans, where simple Japanese Kaiseki cuisine served in-room is the only dining option, there are three restaurants here serving modern Japanese delicacies and organic macrobiotic French as well as Kaiseki.

When not relaxing at Myojinkan, guests can explore the forest and nearby scenic areas of the Japanese Alps, as well as take trips into the historic Matsumoto city.

Minimalist design, contemporary cool, modernist chic. This hotel/museum fuses nature and art together with its striking architecture and artwork dotted all over the secluded Benesse House complex. Sculptures, installations and paintings are dispersed throughout the hotel; in bedrooms, on the grounds, and in the main galleries.

With just 11 guest rooms and suites, most of which offer an expansive view of the stunning, Seto Inland Sea, guests can enjoy the natural beauty and remote setting of this luxury complex. Four different buildings are centred around the museum, each with its individual style and distinctive suites.

Benesse House Hotel is ideally located in the heart of a buzzing, developing art scene, on Naoshima island. Numerous art projects, programs and exhibitions are fast emerging and can be easily visited during your visit. Hotel guests can also enjoy exclusive, after-hours access to the Benesse House museum.

After a day of exploring the island, or the surrounding islands for that matter, relax in the spa and wine and dine in one of their excellent on-site restaurants, each offering fresh, local produce and fine cuisine.