Onyado Chikurintei

Some places take a while to reveal themselves. This is not one of them. From the moment you're greeted at the entrance by kimono-clad staff and your shoes are swapped for slippers, you're transported into a world of refined and unhurried Japanese ritual.

Tucked into the foothills of sacred Mt. Mifune in the rural hot spring town of Takeo, this intimate ryokan occupies a rather extraordinary position - woven into the fabric of Mifuneyama Rakuen, an Edo-period garden of such beauty it holds status as a Registered Monument of Japan. With just 11 rooms across a vast, forested estate, the sense of seclusion is absolute. The Michelin Guide clearly agrees, having awarded its highest honour of five red pavilions. Even the Japanese Imperial Family have checked in on multiple occasions, which tells you everything you need to know.