Best Hotels & Lodges

Matsuyama, the laid-back capital of Shikoku, is a literary and bathing city that most never reach – and that's exactly why you should go. Perched on a hillside above the 3,000-year-old Dogo Onsen district, Dogo-Kan is the work of the late Kisho Kurokawa, one of Japan's most celebrated architects, who poured his philosophy of 'symbiosis' into every detail. The result is a ryokan that is both centuries old in tradition yet contemporary in spirit, with an Edo-inspired lobby, communal baths fed by pure Dogo spring water, and kaiseki dinners built around the seasonal catch of the Setouchi coast. All in all, a thoroughly Japanese experience in a town that feels worlds away from anything familiar.

Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando has a gift for making concrete feel spiritual, and this extraordinary seven-suite retreat - perched on a mountaintop in Ehime Prefecture with the island-dotted Seto Inland Sea unfurling below - might be his most quietly thrilling project yet. Originally built as a private guesthouse, then used as a small modern art museum, the building was reimagined as a hotel under Ando's watchful eye, and his signature smooth-as-silk concrete walls, vast floor-to-ceiling windows and profoundly empty stretches of space create something closer to a meditative experience than a conventional stay. With museum-quality artwork throughout (Frank Stella in the dining room, calligrapher Rieko Kawabe in the corridors), a 30-metre infinity pool that appears to spill into the sea, and a staff whose attentiveness borders on telepathic, it's the kind of place where the frenetic activity of the mind begins to slow. The Michelin Guide awarded it a Key, and it's not hard to understand why.

Matsuyama is Shikoku's largest city, but at it's heart, it's an old-fashioned tram town with a hilltop fortress, Japan's oldest hot springs and a literary heritage that inspired some of the country's finest haiku. Slotted right into the heart of it, the dependable Crowne Plaza puts the castle ropeway and buzzing Okaido shopping arcade on your doorstep, with Dogo Onsen just a ten-minute tram ride away. It's a chain hotel (and there's no two ways about it!), but the 14th-floor Sky Lounge with its panoramic views of Matsuyama Castle and the handsome French Renaissance-style Bansuisou Villa, elevates morning coffee into something really quite special.

Set in the picturesque hills of Thekkady, Spice Village is surrounded by forests and waterways, where you wake up to the sight of swirling mist over the hilltops. Spice Village is made up of 52 cottages, each thatched in the traditional style of the Mannan tribe. The village takes care of its home with plenty of eco-credentials and products sourced locally - the restaurant is even called 50 Mile Diet. Don't miss the specialty spiced teas! The grassy lawns are dotted with places to relax and as you stroll across the grounds, keep an eye out for signs naming every tree and flower.

The setting for Auberge Tosayama is Tosayama, the inner sanctum of Kochi City, on the island of Shikoku. With a backdrop of Kenmin no Mori Mt. Kuishi, and blessed with the abundantly flowing headwaters of the Kagami River, this place is laden with the graces of nature. Escape the hustle and bustle in only 30 minutes. Since first opening its doors in this beautiful village, Auberge Tosayama has continued to walk forward with the surrounding area. It exists as a bridge builder, taking action at home together with the next generation, and sending that energy outward.

A charming 4-star hotel nestled in the heart of Kochi, Japan. With its rich history and traditional architecture, this hotel offers a unique blend of comfort and cultural immersion. Built in 1968 and last renovated in 1994, Hotel Jyoseikan seamlessly combines modern amenities with a touch of old-world charm. Step into our hotel and be transported back in time. The well-preserved traditional architecture and decor create an atmosphere of elegance and tranquility.

Seminyak's sleek social hub. Double Six leans into the buzz rather than escaping it. Sunset cocktails on the rooftop with half the neighbourhood, a pool scene made for lingering, and that unmistakable energy of Bali's most fashionable strip. You come here to have a good time, look good doing it, and wake up to ocean views before doing it all again. Contemporary, confident, and unapologetically fun.

Tucked into the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains, Buffelsdrift is a convenient safari pitstop on the Garden Route that delivers proper bushveld atmosphere without the malaria tablets. The lodge hugs a five-hectare waterhole where hippos grunt and terrapins paddle, while giraffe, zebra and buffalo graze the opposite banks. It's more accessible glamping than remote wilderness – just ten minutes from Oudtshoorn and the famous Cango Caves – but that proximity to civilisation is part of its charm. Dawn meerkat safaris, night drives in search of the elusive 'shy five', and encounters with rescued elephants add genuine wildlife credentials, whilst the restaurant dishes up hearty Karoo fare alongside award-winning Route 62 wines. A solid choice for families or anyone wanting to dip their toes into safari life.

Hotel New Nagasaki is adjacent to JR Nagasaki Station and easily accessible from Nagasaki Airport. The Nagasaki Ekimae tram stop is also nearby, making it an ideal location for sightseeing in Nagasaki city, including the World Heritage sites of Glover Garden and Dejima. You are offerred a comfortable stay in Nagasaki, as well as for use as a restaurant, for weddings, banquets, and meetings.