Small Boutique hotels in JAPAN

Surrounded by centuries old forest on the shores of tranquil Lake Akan, Akan Tsuruga Bessou Hinanoza is a newly built, contemporary-style ryokan, offering all the charm of traditional Japanese inns with an extensive range of modern facilities and services. Akan Tsuruga Bessou Hinanoza provides luxurious accommodation, top-class cuisine and friendly, efficient service in a beautiful lakeside location. The perfect spot to ''get away from it all'' in this beautiful area of Hokkaido, in the Akan National Park, Akan Tsuruga Besso Hinanoza lends itself to a variety of outdoor activities, including skiing in winter, hiking on the Oakan and Meakan volcanoes, and boat trips on the lake. Fascinating sights include the ''bokke'' bubbling mud pools, and the green ''marimo'' algae balls. Each suite at Akan Tsuruga Besso Hinanoza has a private open-air bath fed by hot spring waters, and the hotel also boasts two larger open air hot-spring baths (onsen) on the top floor and the sixth floor, both with breathtaking lake views. Both also feature hot stone spas, created from natural stones quarried in the Akan area. Akan Tsuruga Besso Hinanoza's fine dining restaurant serves traditional Japanese ''Kaiseki'' dinners, along with local, seasonal delicacies based on the freshest, seasonal produce and ingredients from the land and sea of Hokkaido. Guests can also enjoy an excellent selection of wines, and locally brewed boutique sake.

Located in the charming historic town of Akizuki, Akizuki Spa Ryokan Seiryuan is an elegant, modern-style take on the traditional Japanese ryokan. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and an ornamental lake, this fabulous property offers luxurious traditional accommodation and fine Japanese cuisine in an elegant, boutique-style atmosphere. Ideally placed for visiting this fascinating town, with its historic streets, its archaeological site with the remains of the castle, and above all the cherry trees, Akizuki Spa Ryokan Seiryuan offers all the facilities of these typical Japanese inns, including ''onsen'' hot-spring baths and traditionally styled décor and furnishings. There is also a hot stone bed, with a range of treatments. The ''ryokan'' also offers all modern amenities and facilities, including air-conditioning, en-suite bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, and access for guests with limited mobility. Akizuki Spa Ryokan Seiryuan's gourmet restaurant serves traditional Kaiseki multi-course Japanese meals, based on the finest locally sourced, fresh and seasonal produce. Guests can also expect top-class seafood, and an excellent selection of sake, along with fine wines, beers and spirits.

This charming ''ryokan'' - one of Japan's traditional inns - enjoys a quiet, lush setting in Hita, and is set in a traditionally designed and built structure. Perfect for relaxing stays in this popular tourist destination, Hatago Kayausagi offers luxurious, authentic accommodation, fine cuisine and friendly, welcoming hospitality. Accommodation at Hatago Kayausagi is situated in the main building and a number of annexes. The rooms feature authentic Japanese styling, with tatamis, futons, and period style woodwork and screens. Spacious and elegantly furnished, all rooms are air-conditioned, and come with flat-screen TVs, DVD players, and in-room safes. Continuing on the genuine ryokan experience, Hatago Kayausagi also features an open air-bath fed by natural hot springs, and a range of spa services and massages. On prior request, guests can enjoy delicious traditional kaiseki cuisine, accompanied by a fine selection of sakes, and an excellent selection of wines, beers and spirits.

Enjoying a quiet situation in the heart of Kyoto's Shimogyō-ku district, Hotel Kanra Kyoto is set in a modern design building, and offers spacious, luxurious accommodation and top-class cuisine in a highly practical city centre location. Just two minute's walk from Gojō Station, Hotel Kanra Kyoto is perfect for both business and pleasure in this beautiful, fascinating city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with countless temples and shrines, along with fascinating museums and art galleries. Featuring avant-garde modern design, guest rooms at Hotel Kanra Kyoto boast clean, minimalitic design, highlighted by delicate lattice-work and original works of art, while the lobby features unique lighting that changes with the time of day and the movement of guests. All rooms offer the comfort of bathtubs made from aromatic Japanese cypress. Hotel Kanra Kyoto's on-site restaurant, the Kitchen Kanra, serves a delicious range of dishes created from the finest Kyoto vegetables and seasonal produce, and features charcoal grilled and Kyoto Obanzai cuisine, along with unique Kyoto tapas, wines and beverages. Other amenities and services include a spacious events room, for all kinds of private celebrations, seminars and presentations, and guests can also take advantage of the hotel's electric rental bikes, the perfect way to explore the city in an ecologically friendly fashion.

Located in the heart of Tokyo's Kanda-Ochanomizu district, Hotel Ryumeikan Ochanomizu Honten is a small family owned and run boutique hotel with more than 100 years' of history providing genuine, traditional Japanese hospitality. After a number of rebuilds over the years, Hotel Ryumeikan Ochanomizu Honten reopened in 2014, and now offers luxurious accommodation in a Tokyo-modern style in just nine spacious suites. Ideally placed for relaxing stays in this spectacular city, Hotel Ryumeikan Ochanomizu Honten is just a five-minute walk from Shin-Ochanomizu Station, providing quick and easy links with the rest of Tokyo and the greater region. Nearby attractions include the Tokyo Resurrection Cathedral, the Kanda myoujin shrine, long established shops, antique book stores and traditional family-run restaurants. 1899 Ochanomizu Green Tea restaurant serves delicious green tea-based cuisine in the elegant first-floor restaurant. Breakfast is usually served in guests' rooms, and consists of traditional Japanese ''bento'' dining caskets, or lighter Japanese and western-style ''asage'' breakfasts. Accommodation at Hotel Ryumeikan Ochanomizu Honten is unusually spacious for Tokyo, with all suites measuring at least fifty square metres. The suites feature an elegant combination of traditional Japanese décor and Tokyo-Modern design, and come with an extensive range of high-tech amenities, including 40-inch LCD TVs, air-conditioning, high-speed wired and wireless internet connections, mini-bars and safes. The private bathrooms feature a traditional deep-soaking ''Shigaraki'' ceramic bathtub.

Enjoying a fine location a short distance from Shiozawa lake in Karuizawa, Kyu Karuizawa Hotel is a small luxury boutique hotel, offering exclusive accommodation, top-class service and fine cuisine in a tranquil, sophisticated ambiance. Perfect for relaxing stays in this charming resort, famous for its outdoor activities in both winter and summer, along with its ample shopping opportunities, Kyu Karuizawa Hotel is within easy reach of all of the town's principal points of interest. Surrounded by lush gardens, the hotel has a country house atmosphere, elegant yet relaxed. All guests receive exclusive butler services from the moment of their arrival, the hotel offers spa facilities, and free shuttle services are also available to and from the railway station, with its fast Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet) services from Tokyo. Kyu Karuizawa Hotel's restaurant, Le Signe, serves stylish fusion of French and Japanese cuisine prepared with the finest fresh local produce and other choice ingredients from around Japan and the world, in the elegant, open setting of the dining room, with delightful garden views.

Enjoying a spectacular waterfront location on the eastern coast of Awaji Island, Nagisa-no-Sho Hanagoyomi is a contemporary design hotel, offering luxurious Japanese-style accommodation, onsen hot-spring baths and fine regional cuisine in a traditionally hospitable atmosphere. Ideally placed for relaxing stays on the island of Awaji, Nagisa-no-Sho Hanagoyomi is a short drive from Sumoto, and is also within easy reach of one of the island's most famous landmarks, Sumoto-Jo Castle. Another attraction, the Thirteen Buddhas sacred sites, are also a short drive away. The hotel offers a free shuttle service to and from the Sumoto Express Bus Station. Many of Nagisa-no-Sho's spacious, elegantly decorated rooms feature magnificent views of the bay and the inland sea, and all rooms come with an en-suite bathroom and all modern amenities. Accommodation is traditional Japanese-style, with airy, light-filled spaces and a contemporary take on traditional Japanese décor. Nagisa-no-Sho's traditional hot-spring baths also offer fabulous sea views. Exquisite traditional regional cuisine is served at the hotel's Akura restaurant, and there is also a tea and coffee lounge, the Hama Azami.

Enjoying a spectacular location, perched on the banks of the river Jinzu, and surrounded by the lush forests of the foothills of the Northern Japanese Alps, River Retreat Garaku is a contemporary design hotel, featuring a unique combination of stunning minimalist Japanese and Western décor. This fabulous property provides luxurious boutique style accommodation, first-class gourmet cuisine and polished, bespoke service in an idyllic riverside setting. Fabulous for relaxing escapes in the heart of nature, River Retreat Garaku offers many opportunities for exploring this fascinating region. Nearby attractions include the The Suiboku Museum, the Toyama Glass Art Museum or the Rakusui-tei Art Museum and Garden. Golf enthusiasts will be delighted by the number of excellent courses in the area, and other outdoor activities available in the region include hiking, climbing and winter sports. River Retreat Garaku is home to two fine dining restaurants, the Rakumi Japanese Restaurant and the French Restaurant L'évo. Rakumi offers memorable creations based on the finest local seafood and vegetables, while L'évo's chef Eiji Taniguchi brings his immense experience with some of Tokyo's finest restaurants and three Michelin star chef Bernard Loisean, resulting in an unforgettable culinary marriage between masterful French techniques and exquisite local ingredients.

Standing on a quiet street on the outskirts of Ureshino, Ryokan Yoshidaya is set in two distinctly designed buildings, the first being the original part of the ''ryokan'', and the second a new, avant-garde styled wing, featuring minimalistic lines in natural timber and airy, light-filled spaces. Offering the full 'ryokan' experience, this charming property provides luxurious accommodation, fine cuisine and excellent service in a tranquil, sophisticated setting. Ideally placed for visiting Ureshino, with its numerous ''onsen'' or traditional Japanese spas, and the Hizen Yume Kaido amusement park, Ryokan Yoshidaya is also within easy reach of a golf course and the region's historic tea plantations. Ryokan Yoshidaya has a French Bar and Restaurant, the Chronicle Terrace, as well as an on-site café, Kihako, which also sells typical local produce. As part of the traditional ryokan experience, guests can also enjoy traditional Kaiseki multi-course dinners, and enjoy the curative qualities of the ''onsen'' waters of the traditional outdoor hot-spring bath.

Standing on a gently sloping hillside above Miyahama Onsen, just outside Ono-ura, Sekitei is a luxurious take on a ryokan, a typical Japanese inn. With a beautiful Japanese garden, and sweeping views to the island of Miyajima, this charming property offers exclusive traditional Japanese accommodation, fine cuisine and genuine Japanese hospitality in a magnificent picture-book setting. Ideal for visiting the Onsen spas of Myahama, and especially Miyajima, the Shrine Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, accommodation at Sekitei is arranged in a number of independent buildings, all with wonderful garden and inland sea views. Each suite is individually designed and decorated, with traditional Japanese furnishings, including tatamis, futons and screens. Many rooms have a traditional cypress wood bath, and Sekitei also has public hot-spring baths, both indoors and outdoors. To complete the luxurious ryokan experience, Sekitei serves traditional Kaiseki multi-course dinners, always based on the finest, in-season vegetables, fish and seafood, beef and tempura. Evening meals are normally served in guests' rooms, while Sekitei's delicious Japanese breakfast is served in the dining room.

Shiroiya Hotel, surrounded by pristine lakes, hot springs, and rolling mountains, is a haven full of artistic elements such as gourmet gastronomy, playful artwork, and sharp architecture. The hotel consists of two towers and have kept many of its original materials while inventing a new look of sophistication. Within its tasteful walls is a seductive lounge, an haute-cuisine restaurant, a bakery and café, and a secret bar only fit for six. In addition to these gastronomic pleasures is the option to enjoy the onsite saunas and meditation rooms. Pure luxury and transformative designs are felt within all 25 rooms of the hotel which are located across the two towers which make the hotel. Each have their own unique touch whether it is views of the city from a balcony or of the inner atrium and its sculptures. Due to the absolutely outstanding environment of the hotel, it is an ideal sport for nature lovers and culture explorers. The lake offers a chance for canoeing and hiking and the nearby towns provide traditional instruction on kimono dressing.

Located in the heart of the Sapporo mountain area, Suizantei Club Jozankei is a contemporary-style boutique hotel, featuring traditional Japanese décor and hot-spring facilities in a charming garden setting. Offering luxurious Japanese-style and western-style accommodation, along with delicious cuisine, this magnificent property is perfect for relaxing stays in this beautiful mountainous region. A short distance from the Jozankeimikasa Ski Area, and about twenty-six kilometres from the centre Sapporo, Suizantei Club Jyozantei lends itself to a range of outdoor activities, especially skiing and hiking. On site, Suizantei Club Jyozantei has a natural hot spring sourced traditional Japanese spa bath, with water that emerges at an average temperature of about 69º C from the bedrock of the Toyohira River. Suizantei Club Jyozantei offers guests the choice of of Japanese and Western dining, based on freshly caught fish and seafood, grilled meat and vegetable specialities, and the seasonal flavours of Hokkaido, including the traditional kaiseki. There is also a spectacular lounge bar with a fireplace, ideal for moments of relaxation with a sake or a selection of fine beers, spirits and wines.

Located in a delightful corner of Karatsu, between the estuary and the beach, Yoyokaku is a charming small ''ryokan'' - a traditional Japanese inn - with a history stretching back over a hundred years. Lovingly restored and maintained, Yoyokaku offers boutique-style accommodation, fine Japanese cuisine and friendly, welcoming service in an atmosphere of traditional Japanese hospitality. Ideally placed for visiting Karatsu, Yoyokaku is situated in a quiet, tranquil zone of the town, yet is within easy reach of all the main landmarks and attractions - the Higashinohama Seaside Park, the spectacular Karatsu Castle, the Nijinomatsubara pine forest area, or Hamatama beach. Shuttle services are offered to Karatsu railway station, and free parking is available on site. Most rooms at Yoyokaku have a private bathroom with a bathtub, some with a traditional cypress timber bathtub. All rooms feature elegant, traditional Japanese design and décor, and come with tatami mats and cosy futons. Yoyokaku also boasts two large, traditional Japanese public baths, with naturally heated waters. The ''ryokan'' also has an exclusive exhibition area of the work of renowned ceramic artists Takashi Nakazato and his son Taki, who create fabulous pieces in the style of the famous pottery of Karatsu. Guests at Yoyokaku can enjoy traditional multi course Kaiseki dinners, or other local specialities such as Shabu-shabu. Meals are always freshly cooked and based on the finest locally sourced farm-fresh produce, fish and seafood, and usually served in guests' rooms.

Just footsteps from the famous Yasaka Shrine, in the Gion of Kyoto, Yuzuya Ryokan is a luxurious five-star traditional Japanese Hotel, and offers exclusive accommodation, first-class service and fine traditional cuisine in a unique heritage setting. Perfect for relaxing stays in this historic city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and filled with fascinating shrines, temples and other heritage attractions, Yuzuya Ryokan is ideally placed for visiting Kyoto. Other landmarks close by include the Chion-in temple, the Kennin-ji temple and the Shoren-in temple. On-site, the hotel boasts a traditional yuzu hot bath, made with cypress timber and offering a unique, relaxing experience in the citron infused water. For unique fine dining experiences, the Isshinkyo restaurant serves a delicious range of traditional Japanese dishes, expertly prepared from the finest locally sourced, seasonal produce. The restaurant is located on the first floor of the Ryokan, and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.