Hilton Hiroshima

The public spaces strike that particularly Japanese balance between international grandeur and local sensibility. FLOW Lounge anchors the lobby with its all-day energy – morning pastries morph into afternoon cakes and evening tapas. Up on the sixth floor, MOZAIK spreads its ambitious buffet beneath soaring ceilings, while SENSUI next door whispers sophistication with its Michelin two-starred chef overseeing pristine sushi and kaiseki. The real surprise lurks in the basement though – a proper lap pool (not a plunge pool pretending to be one), flanked by a L'Occitane spa that feels genuinely indulgent rather than tacked on. Even the 22nd-floor executive lounge manages to avoid stuffiness, though you'll need to book evening slots during busy periods.

While the hotel itself could keep you busy – that pool deserves proper laps, the spa offers hot stone treatments, and there's a 24-hour gym – Hiroshima's emotional geography lies just outside. The Peace Memorial Park and Museum sit 15 minutes' walk away (prepare yourself emotionally), while the covered Hondori shopping arcade buzzes five minutes from the front door. Miyajima Island with its famous floating torii makes an easy day trip, either via the ferry from Peace Park or the more conventional train-and-ferry combo. The hotel can arrange everything from bicycle rentals for pottering around town to tickets for the Hiroshima Carp baseball team. There's even a model train set in the lobby that occasionally appears – apparently it's quite the thing with Japanese railway enthusiasts.