Michelin Key Hotels in Japan: Fora’s Picks

Image courtesy of Janu Tokyo

If any country was primed for hotel excellence, it’s Japan. Michelin gets it, and has bestowed its coveted Key on 108 hotels in the country. (The famed tire brand has also brought its esteemed Key ratings to hotels in France, Italy, Spain and the US.) 

The beauty of the Michelin Key is that the requirements for earning one — exceptional design, amazing service, distinct personality — are universal. Five-star properties and humble hidden gems alike have a chance, and this breadth of style and vibe is reflected in Japan’s diverse array of Key holders. 

Below, we’ve listed a few of our favorite Michelin Key hotels in Japan (and narrowing it down was no easy task). Read on to learn about our top picks. Then, connect with Fora to plan and book your Michelin Key getaway (or any getaway, for that matter). 

Three-Key hotels

Add these hotels to the top of your bucket list.

HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO

Image courtesy of HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO

Fora’s resident Japan expert Brian Lonergan called the Mitsui the best hotel in Kyoto, if not all of Japan. The tranquil, artisanal design comes courtesy of André Fu, a master of exquisite simplicity. 

You’ll enter through a centuries-old temple gate (and the property itself sits just next to Nijo-jo Castle). Inside, Fu has outfitted the rooms and suites with a warm, clean Japanese aesthetic: symmetry, natural materials, dark wood, pleasing geometry. Giant stone bathtubs are prime for long, leisurely soaks. Some rooms even have their own private onsen, which are fed with water from a natural spring deep underground — a rarity in Kyoto, Brian said.

Fora Advisor Kristyne Wada loved “the ability to experience so much culture on property,” citing memorable experiences like partaking in a tea ceremony or exploring the extensive art collection. 

Fora Perks:

• $100 food / beverage or spa credit, a welcome amenity, breakfast daily & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi

Image courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi

Tokyo’s luxury Otemachi neighborhood has an impressive hotel line-up. It’s fitting, then, that you’ll find the Four Seasons, Fora’s top-booked hotel in Japan, here. The location is perfect, with views of Tokyo’s Imperial Palace and, on a clear day, Mount Fuji. 

“We took our niece and nephew with us to Tokyo, and they are still talking about the breakfast, Fora Advisor Judy Tudor said. “It feels like the dishes just keep coming one by one, and the service is exactly as you would expect from a Four Seasons.”

Multiple Fora Advisors highlighted the hotel’s impeccable service and concierge, which will go above and beyond to make your trip memorable. Fora Advisor Marisa Schwab recommends having them arrange a private visit to traditional ateliers in the nearby Nihonbashi neighborhood, or a private morning meditation on Otemachi Forest.

After a day exploring, don’t miss the hotel’s bar, Virtu, which is one of Fora Advisor Sam Growdon’s favorite parts of the property. She loves its gorgeous design and thoughtful detail, like the stained-glass doors.

“It's an intimate and sexy space,” she added, “and if you sit in the right spot at the right time you can see the moon on some nights.” 

Fora Perks:

• When you book Four Seasons with a Fora Advisor, you will enjoy exclusive Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities. Your advisor will be pleased to give you more details.
  
  

Palace Hotel Tokyo

Image courtesy of Palace Hotel Tokyo

Brian lovingly refers to the Palace Hotel as his “home away from home,” adding how it’s “far and away my most-booked hotel over the past decade.” Its popularity is no surprise: The hotel sits on an outer moat surrounding the Imperial Palace, across from the serene East Gardens.

The hotel’s interior is equally serene, with an elevated, sophisticated Japanese aesthetic. Expect floor-to-ceiling windows, sprawling bathrooms and a pervasive sense of calm. Many rooms even have balconies — a rarity in Tokyo, Brian said.

“Service is second to none — Japanese hospitality at its very best,” Brian added. “1-1-1 Marunouchi is the center of it all, where leisure, business and diplomatic guests all converge.”

Fora Perks:

• $100 food / beverage, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

More three-Key hotels to love

Fora Advisors can unlock perks at the majority of these properties. Reach out to learn more. 

Amanemu

Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo

Gora Kadan

Two-Key hotels

A strong sense of place and distinct designs define these stunning two-Key properties.

Janu Tokyo & Aman Tokyo

Image courtesy of Aman Tokyo

Janu is often referred to as Aman’s little sister. The brand is owned by Aman, but it’s a bit more laid-back and playful than its more refined older sibling. And Tokyo is Janu's first location. The hotel’s location in Azabudai Hills — a “city within a city,” Brian Lonergan said — reflects its hip, modern aesthetic. 

Sam Growdon was impressed by Janu's proximity to chic shops (Dior, Hermès, et.al.), gardens and the new teamLab Borderless, an immersive art museum (and world-record holder for the most-visited museum). Sam raved about Janu's wellness center — one of the best she’s ever seen. It’s equipped with a boxing ring, cycling room, indoor pool and golf simulator. “I would move to this hotel if I could!” she said.

Plus, every room has a balcony. Pro tip: Ask for a south-facing room if you'd like a view of Tokyo Tower, Fora Advisor Elizabeth Kaczka said. 

Aman Tokyo is no less impressive. The lobby is “arguably the most dramatic lobby anywhere, at least of urban hotels,” Brian said. It’s a seven-story atrium that resembles a traditional paper lantern. You’re immediately met with “exceptional serenity,” Elizabeth added, adding how Aman Tokyo somehow captured “the essence of its signature brand right in the middle of the world's largest city.”

“You won't want to jam pack your itinerary,” she advised, “because being amongst this property is experience enough!” 

Fora Perks:

• $100 hotel / resort, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

Related article: Aman Japan: Fora's Guide to Traveling to Japan — the Aman Way

The Shinmonzen

Image courtesy of The Shinmonzen

You’ll find this boutique gem in Kyoto was designed by none other than Tadao Ando. In fact, Brian met Ando himself while lunching in Shinmonzen’s Jean-Georges restaurant. And dining here is a must. The famed chef masterfully treats local, seasonal ingredients to American, French and Japanese techniques.

The hotel is located on Kyoto’s Shinmonzen-dori: the Street of the Artists. Peruse its ateliers and antique shops; the area is a true artist’s haven. And Shinmonzen is itself a celebration of art, which is certainly on brand, considering that its sister hotel is the art-filled Villa La Coste, in Provence.

Each of Shinmonzen’s nine impeccably designed suites prioritize cozy elegance, with natural materials like bamboo, silk and stone. The bathtubs are made of hinoki wood. Hand-woven carpets coat tatami floors. In typical Ando fashion, meticulous attention to detail and perfect simplicity reign.  

Fora Perks:

• JP¥8000 spa credit, welcome amenities & an upgrade whenever possible.
  
  

Halekulani Okinawa

Image courtesy of Halekulani Okinawa

Halekulani Okinawa is the Japanese outpost of the famed Halekulani Hotel, in Waikiki. There are no bad rooms at this expansive resort. Even all of the “standard” rooms overlook the ocean, and each suite and villa comes with a private pool and natural hot spring to boot.

SpaHalekulani is not to be missed. Soak in a private hot spring housed in a sleek stone room with floor-to-ceiling windows. Treatments incorporate ancient Japanese and Hawaiʻian healing methods, and are infused with nuchigusui, Okinawa’s “life medicine.” Okinawa is a Blue Zone, after all, so you can trust that Halekulani knows what it’s doing when it comes to health and longevity.

Fora Perks:

• $100 hotel / resort, a welcome amenity, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

More two-Key hotels to love

Fora Advisors can unlock perks at the majority of these properties. Reach out to learn more. 

Aman Kyoto

Asaba

Benesse House

ENOWA Yufu

Fufu Kawaguchiko

Fufu Nikko

Jusandi

Kamenoi Besso

Nishimuraya Honkan

Sekitei

The Capitol Hotel Tokyu

The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko

Zaborin

One-Key hotels

One-Key hotels provide exceptional value and personality, especially at their respective price points.

Trunk (Hotel) Yoyogi Park

Images courtesy of Trunk (Hotel) Yoyogi Park

Trunk (Hotel) Yoyogi Park is Trunk’s second Tokyo location, after Cat Street: “Cat Street is where you go to party, Yoyogi Park is where you go to detox,” Brian said. The 25-room hotel is quiet, intimate and charmingly boutique — a “great contrast to your usual Tokyo accommodations in highrises,” Elizabeth Kaczka shared. Interiors are coated in soothing neutral tones, with rounded forms, custom furniture and youthful, contemporary art populating airy, sleek spaces. Think Scandinavian-chic meets Japanese excellence. 

Kristyne lovingly called the hotel a “little haven in Shibuya,” where you’re within walking distance of the neighborhood’s local cafés, shops and bars, but feel “tucked away enough” to truly unwind and escape the city’s buzzing energy. After a day of exploring, head to the hotel’s rooftop, where a jacuzzi and infinity pool  overlooking Yoyogi Park await.

Related article: Where to Stay in Tokyo: The 8 Best Neighborhoods

Beniya Mukayu

Image courtesy of Beniya Mukayu

For an especially authentic Japanese experience, stay at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. Brian called this 16-room ryokan, located in Ishikawa, one-of-a-kind, adding how it’s also independently owned by the lovely Mr. and Mrs. Nakamichi. 

Each tatami room is beautifully sparse, with low-to-the-ground furniture, wooden terraces and views of the hotel’s leafy Forest Garden. Beniya Mukayu is deeply to its local environment, which is reflected in the unique immersive experiences they arrange for guests. Visit local artists and artisans at their studios, hike with a mountain master, enjoy a private tea ceremony led by Mr. Nakamichi himself or learn how to make wagashi — Japanese sweets — from the hotel’s pâtissière. 

The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

This luxurious Kyoto escape is housed in a 1930s elementary school, near the city’s Kiyomizu-dera, a 1,200-year-old Buddhist temple. The 48-room hotel is sophisticated and modern, but preserves historical details like the school’s original beams and window frames. 

For the ultimate relaxation, reserve one of the hotel’s three private baths, serene spaces with towering ceilings and dim lighting. In the evening, savor rare whiskeys and wines at the rooftop bar, K36. And if you’re craving a brief break from Japanese food, snag a table at the on-site Benoit Kyoto, a Parisian-inspired bistrot operated by Ducasse Paris.

Fora Perks:

• Breakfast daily & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

More one-Key hotels to love

Fora Advisors can unlock perks at the majority of these properties. Reach out to learn more. 

ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort  

ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa  

Andaz Tokyo  

Arcana Izu  

Araya Totoan  

Atami Izusan Karaku  

Azumi Setoda  

Bellustar Tokyo, A Pan Pacific Hotel  

Beniya Kofuyuden  

Bettei Otozure  

Bettei Senjuan  

BYAKU Narai  

Conrad Osaka  

Dusit Thani Kyoto  

Fufu Hakone  

Fufu Karuizawa Wind in the Sunshine  

Fufu Kyoto  

Fufu Kyu-Karuizawa Restful Forest  

Fufu Nara  

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto  

Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi  

GAJOEN  

Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto  

GOTO RETREAT by Onko Chishin  

Hakone Gora Karaku  

Hiiragiya  

Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve  

Hotel New Otani Tokyo - Executive House ZEN  

Hotel The Celestine Kyoto Gion  

Hyakuna Garan  

Izumo Hotel The Cliff    

JW Marriott Hotel Nara  

K5  

Kanamean Nishitomiya  

Kifune Ugenta  

Mandarin Oriental Tokyo  

MUNI KYOTO by Onko Chishin  

Muwa Niseko  

Naoshima Ryokan Roka  

Nasu Mukunone  

Nikko Kinugawa Keisui  

Nishimuraya Honkan  

Numazu Club  

One Suite THE GRAND  

Ochiairo  

Oyado The Earth  

Palace Hotel Tokyo  

Park Hyatt Kyoto  

Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono  

ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts  

RYOTEI HANZUIRYO  

Ryokan Onomichi Nishiyama  

Sansui Niseko  

Satoyama-Jujo  

Sekitei  

Setsu Niseko  

Shangri-La Tokyo  

SHISHI-IWA-HOUSE Karuizawa  

Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto  

The Aoyama Grand Hotel  

The Capitol Hotel Tokyu  

The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Ginoza  

The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Kashikojima  

The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Sengokuhara  

The Hiramatsu Karuizawa Miyota  

The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu  

The Kahala Hotel & Resort Yokohama  

The Okura Tokyo  

The Peninsula Tokyo  

The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, a Luxury Collection Hotel  

The Ritz-Carlton Fukuoka  

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto  

The Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa  

The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka  

The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo  

The Shinmonzen  

The Tokyo Station Hotel  

The Tower Hotel Nagoya  

TIAD, Autograph Collection  

W Osaka  

Wanosato  

Zaborin

Ready to travel to Japan? Connect with Fora to plan and book your Michelin-approved getaway today.