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, I’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 mu top picks. Then, reach out 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
The Mitsui could easily be called 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.
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 here. The location is perfect, with views of Tokyo’s Imperial Palace and, on a clear day, Mount Fuji.
The hotel’s impeccable service and concierge go above and beyond to make your trip memorable. After a day exploring, don’t miss the hotel’s bar, Virtu. You'll love its gorgeous design and thoughtful detail, like the stained-glass doors.
Fora Perks:
When you book Four Seasons with me, you will enjoy exclusive Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities. I'll be pleased to give you more details.
Palace Hotel Tokyo
Image courtesy of Palace Hotel Tokyo
The Palace Hotel is a “home away from home" for many. 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.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
More three-Key hotels to love
I 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” — reflects its hip, modern aesthetic.
Janu is close 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). You'll love Janu’s wellness center, equipped with a boxing ring, cycling room, indoor pool and golf simulator.
Aman Tokyo is no less impressive. The lobby is dramatic and luxe. It’s a seven-story atrium that resembles a traditional paper lantern. You’re immediately met with pervasive tranquility.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
The Shinmonzen
Image courtesy of The Shinmonzen
You’ll find this boutique gem in Kyoto was designed by none other than Tadao Ando. Another big name, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, is behind his eponymous on-site 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
I 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. The 25-room hotel is quiet, intimate and charmingly boutique. 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.
You’re within walking distance of the neighborhood’s local cafés, shops and bars, but feel separate 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.
Beniya Mukayu
Image courtesy of Beniya Mukayu
For an especially authentic Japanese experience, stay at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. This 16-room ryokan, located in Ishikawa, is one-of-a-kind. 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
I 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