The Top Tokyo Hotels in Each Must-See Neighborhood

There was a time when accommodation options in Japan tended to fall into three categories: glossy international chains, dull homegrown business hotels and basic ryokan (traditional inns), which despite their atmospheric tatami mats and wooden sliding doors were often light on comfort and mod cons. But new options abound, particularly for the cultural traveller. 

As summer holidays come to an end, 50 Best has compiled its list of the World’s 50 Best Hotels in 2023.

A Japanese resort company is converting an iconic former prison into a 48-room luxury hotel.

Following the success of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and The World’s 50 Best Bars, 50 Best has just announced The World’s 50 Best Hotels in 2023, marking the brand’s first global launch since 2009.

As the temperatures dip in the transition to fall from summer, airfare prices are also cooling down with deals available within the United States and around the world.  Travel booking site Hopper recently shared its “Fall Shoulder Season Report,” providing insight into discounts as we head into fall. Domestic flights to New York City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Orlando all average under $200. Each city is seeing prices at least 24 percent lower than the same ticket over the summer. 

Luxury hospitality juggernaut Aman is entering an unprecedented period of growth. After amassing 34 luxury hotels in 35 years, it now plans to open 11 hotels and resorts for its off-shoot brand Janu over the next four years, Skift has learned.

Believe it or not but the ski season is rapidly approaching. Whether you're an avid black diamond skier, a beginner who prefers the gentle slopes, or simply seeking your own slice of winter magic, these four luxury properties are ready to provide a diverse array of exclusive winter experiences that cater to all types of travelers.

Iconic is a word that gets thrown around a lot, including in describing the world’s best-known hotels – but in the case of the Park Hyatt Tokyo, that moniker is fitting. Built as Japan’s first western luxury hotel in 1994 at the top of a high-rise in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district, the Park Hyatt was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Dr. Kenzo Tange, considered to be the father of modern Japanese architecture.

Naruko (Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture) is accessed by transferring from the Tohoku Shinkansen Line to the Rikuu-East Line, which offers wonderful views of the rural landscape from the train windows. Here you will find Naruko Gorge, which is renowned as one of the best places in Tohoku for autumn foliage.

Whether you are a first-time visitor to Tokyo or know the city well, there are plenty of surprises waiting on the capital’s doorstep. The temples and shrines of Nikkō and Kamakura offer a window into Japanese history, while Mt Takao, Hakone, and Izu Oshima Island provide a natural contrast to Tokyo’s crowded, urban heart.

In a country revered for its hospitality, nowhere says omotenashi quite like a Japanese ryokan. Ryokan are a type of inn where guests are encouraged to mingle in communal ochanoma (tea rooms) and unwind in onsen baths. While associated with rural destinations in Japan, there is a prevalence of authentic ryokan in Tokyo.

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