My Favorite Michelin Key Hotels in Japan

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