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, the US, Mexico and Canada.)
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