Tsuki Tokyo is a refined, design-focused boutique hotel offering a calm, contemporary take on traditional Japanese hospitality in the heart of Nihonbashi. With warm natural materials, elegant minimalism and a quietly luxurious atmosphere, it provides a serene base close to Tokyo Station while feeling pleasantly removed from the city’s bustle.
Rooms are compact but beautifully crafted, featuring soft lighting, high-quality bedding, tatami-inspired accents, minibars, kettles, air purifiers and strong Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are sleek and modern, with excellent showers, premium amenities and deep soaking tubs in higher categories. The design is understated and calming, offering a modern interpretation of a traditional ryokan aesthetic.
Breakfast is offered as a refined Japanese-style meal featuring seasonal ingredients, rice, fish, miso soup and small side dishes, served with the same elegance that defines the hotel’s design philosophy. Guests who prefer a Western-style breakfast will find cafés and bakeries within a short walk.
The location is excellent—set in the quiet streets of Nihonbashi, just a short walk from Ningyōchō, Suitengūmae and Kayabachō stations. Tokyo Station, Ginza, the riverside paths and traditional shops of Nihonbashi are all close by, making it easy to explore both modern and historic Tokyo on foot or by metro.
Facilities include a beautiful artisanal sake bar, lounge area, small public baths, 24-hour reception, luggage storage, self-service laundry, vending machines and secure building access. Staff are warm, polished and knowledgeable, often providing thoughtful recommendations on local dining and culture.
Reviews consistently praise the hotel’s elegant design, peaceful atmosphere, cleanliness and attentive service. Guests appreciate the blend of modern simplicity and Japanese tradition. Some note that rooms are small, but the ambience and craftsmanship of the interiors receive high praise.
Bottom line: Tsuki Tokyo is an excellent choice for travellers seeking a stylish, tranquil boutique stay with refined Japanese touches and superb access to Tokyo Station and historic Nihonbashi. Perfect for couples and design-minded guests.
3 Nights
Room Only
1x Deluxe Room with Furo Bath
Hotel
Aura Tachibana is a refined, modern ryokan-style hotel in Hakone, offering elegant design, warm hospitality and soothing hot-spring bathing in a peaceful setting close to Hakone-Yumoto. Blending contemporary Japanese aesthetics with traditional touches, it provides a calm, comfortable base for exploring Hakone’s galleries, nature trails and classic sightseeing spots.
Rooms are spacious and beautifully presented, ranging from modern Japanese-style rooms with tatami flooring to Western-Japanese hybrids with low beds and minimalist décor. Expect soft lighting, seasonal design elements, yukata robes, tea sets, mini-fridges and strong Wi-Fi. Many rooms feature private open-air baths, giving guests a serene hot-spring experience in complete privacy. Bathrooms are clean, modern and equipped with quality amenities.
Breakfast is offered as a beautifully prepared Japanese set meal or a refined Western option, depending on your booking. Expect dishes made with regional produce, grilled fish, miso soup, fresh vegetables, pastries and excellent coffee. Dinner, for those choosing a half-board plan, features multi-course kaiseki cuisine showcasing Hakone’s seasonal flavours.
The location is excellent—set on a quiet hillside a short walk or shuttle ride from Hakone-Yumoto Station. Local shops, cafés, the Hakone Tozan Railway and bus connections to Gora, Lake Ashi and the Open-Air Museum are all within easy reach, while the ryokan itself feels secluded and tranquil.
Facilities include elegant onsen baths (indoor and open-air), private baths for reservation, lounges, a reading space, a rooftop terrace, massage services and 24-hour front desk support. The shared baths are a highlight, with calming views and soothing mineral water. Staff are warm, attentive and experienced in hosting international travellers.
Reviews consistently praise the serene atmosphere, beautifully maintained rooms, wonderful meals and exceptional onsen facilities. Guests love the modern-meets-traditional style and the feeling of being tucked into nature while still close to transport. Some note that the walk from the station includes a slope, but most find the setting peaceful and rewarding.
Bottom line: Aura Tachibana is an excellent choice for travellers seeking a refined, modern ryokan experience with superb onsen bathing, elegant design and convenient access to Hakone-Yumoto. Ideal for couples and anyone wanting a relaxing escape.
1 Night
Half Board - Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
1x Japanese Style Room
Hotel
Mercure Hida Takayama is a smart, modern base just a few minutes’ walk from Takayama Station, making it a very easy option for travellers arriving by train and wanting to explore the Old Town on foot. It’s a contemporary hotel with a calm, uncluttered feel, and it works particularly well for couples or families who value comfort, convenience, and a good onsen-style wind-down at the end of the day.
The atmosphere is clean and relaxed, with simple, well-considered design touches that nod to the region without leaning too heavily into theme. It’s not a traditional ryokan experience, but it does offer a pleasant sense of place, especially in the public spaces.
Rooms are compact (as you’d expect in central Japan), but thoughtfully laid out with comfortable beds, good storage, and a neat, modern bathroom. Higher room categories give you more breathing space, and twin options are handy for friends or family members sharing.
For those who enjoy a soak after sightseeing, the hotel’s public bath is a real bonus. It’s an onsen-style experience rather than a ryokan, but it’s ideal for easing tired legs after walking Takayama’s lanes, morning markets, or a day trip into the mountains.
Dining is straightforward and convenient, with breakfast typically geared to an easy start before heading out early. In the evenings, you’re better off exploring Takayama’s excellent local dining scene, with plenty of small restaurants and izakayas within a short walk. Hida beef is the must-try in town, whether as a simple grilled set, sushi, or a hotpot-style dish.
Location is one of the hotel’s strongest points. You’re close to transport, an easy walk to the Old Town and riverside areas, and well placed for day trips such as Shirakawa-go or onward travel to Kanazawa, Matsumoto or Kyoto.
Reviews tend to highlight the convenient station-side location, modern cleanliness, and the comfort factor of having an onsen-style bath on site. Guests also often mention the hotel as a dependable, good-value choice compared with pricier ryokan options in peak seasons.
Bottom Line: a comfortable, modern Takayama base with excellent access and a welcome public bath, ideal if you want simplicity and convenience without giving up a few nice touches.
2 Nights
Bed and Breakfast
1x Superior Room
Hotel
Soki Kanazawa offers a new, well-located Zen style minimalist, boutique hotel, 15 minutes walk from Kanazawa Station and acorss the road from Omicho market. You can easily walk to the castle and gardens from here also.
Calming, stylish, peaceful are the first words that come to mind to describe Soki.
The hotel has a great public bath and a popular in house restaurant. Breakfast is mainly a Japanese Bento Box affair but dinner here is exceptional. It's best to make a reservation.
There is a 24-hour front desk, a concierge service and luggage storage for guests. There is also a free umbrella rental service.
Room have Japanese-style beds in a raised space, and indirect lighting. Next to the bed, is a lovely japanese low table. Balmuda electric pods and Japanese tea packs are provided and rooms come with LCD TV, safe, kettle, fridge and hair dryer.
Family rooms are available and some rooms feature bathtubs.
2 Nights
Bed and Breakfast
1x Moderate King Room
Hotel
Daiwa Roynet Hotel Hiroshima-Ekimae is a modern, reliable base right by Hiroshima Station, ideal if you want to keep getting around simple and minimise walking with luggage. It’s a straightforward, comfortable choice for families and couples using Hiroshima as a hub for Miyajima, Iwakuni, or onward shinkansen travel.
The feel is contemporary and business-like, with a calm lobby, efficient check-in, and the kind of practical set-up that works well after a long travel day. It’s not a “boutique” experience, but it’s clean, well run, and consistently dependable.
Rooms are smartly designed with comfortable beds, good soundproofing, and the usual Japan business-hotel conveniences such as a proper desk, kettle and fridge. Rooms are not huge, so packing cubes and tidy luggage management helps, but it’s a comfortable place to sleep and reset.
If you can, prioritise a higher-floor room for a quieter feel, and consider twin or larger room categories if travelling with children.
Dining is typically centred around a breakfast service with a mix of Japanese and Western options, designed to get you out the door quickly.
Location is the headline. With the station on your doorstep, you have easy access to trains, the airport limousine bus, and local transport into the city centre.
Reviews regularly highlight the unbeatable convenience, cleanliness, and overall value, with occasional comments that rooms can feel compact and breakfast areas can be busy at peak times.
Bottom Line: a very practical, good-value Hiroshima stay where the location does the heavy lifting.
2 Nights
Bed and Breakfast
1x Run of House Room
Hotel
Right beside the tranquil gardens of the Kyoto Imperial Palace and steps from Marutamachi subway, Noku Hotel Kyoto blends boutique elegance with local colour, making it a standout base for exploring the city’s heritage and neighbourhood gems. The light-filled lobby is all sculpted wood and calm tones, and staff are known for their attentive, multilingual service—whether you’re checking in early, seeking dinner suggestions, or organising a city tour, nothing is too much trouble.
Each of the 81 guest rooms is a soothing, contemporary retreat, pairing custom art and earthy hues with practical comforts: plush beds, blackout drapes, an air purifier, and strong, complimentary Wi-Fi. Guests appreciate thoughtful details—Maeda artisan coffee and Kyoto tea sets, generous minibars (with complimentary bottled water and juice), fluffy robes and slippers, and sparkling bathrooms with full-size tubs or rain showers. Larger rooms offer sitting areas or city views and all are notably spacious by Kyoto standards, promising restful sleep after a day temple-hopping.
On-site, you’ll find a relaxed café for breakfasts, a stylish bar for pre-dinner cocktails, and a small shop curating Kyoto crafts and snacks. Laundry service, 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, and bicycle rentals are on hand to smooth out any stay. Though reviews mention breakfast can sometimes be crowded or slow, especially at peak times, most guests find the quality more than sufficient for a daily start.
The hotel’s location in a “real Kyoto” neighbourhood is repeatedly praised: surrounded by local shops and restaurants, with major sights like Nijo Castle a short stroll away, but blissfully quiet after dark.
Guests often say Noku becomes “a home away from home” for repeat Kyoto visits. Occasional minor quibbles about street noise or lack of on-site evening dining are outweighed by the blend of comfort, style, and the heartfelt hospitality that defines a true Kyoto welcome.
4 Nights
Room Only
1x Deluxe Room
Hotel
