A Japanese Adventure: Volcanos, Valleys, Shrines, & Spas

In the heart of Osaka's Midosuji area lies the St. Regis Osaka, an elegant five-star hotel composed of 160 guest rooms and suites over 12 categories. All accommodations have city views and are beautifully decorated in Kyoto silks, with 300-thread-count sheets, carefully-selected art and ceramics, as well as classic Japanese motifs, such as gingko and cherry blossom. Guest rooms are appointed with state-of-the-art amenities, as well as Japanese-style bathtubs and SOTHYS or Remède bath products. Hotel facilities include a 24-hour fitness center and the IRIDIUM featuring SOTHYS spa. For dining, guests can choose from Rue d’Or for classically-inspired French bistro cuisine, La Veduta for innovative Northern Italian dishes, WAJO for prime cuts of beef served teppanyaki-style, the Boulangerie Rue d'Or for baguettes and pastries, or the The St. Regis Bar for a menu of sophisticated cocktails, afternoon teas, and small plates. The St. Regis Osaka is located a 20-minute drive from Osaka International Airport and a 10-minute drive from Osaka Train Station.

Conrad Osaka is a 5-star hotel that boasts stunning views and a central location. Situated in Osaka's Kita district, guests are a 15 minutes' walk from Nakanoshima Park, and a castle, museum, and church are all accessible by foot. There is an abundance of artwork in the lobby and scattered throughout the hotel. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, inviting beds, and indulgent bathrooms, and upgraded accommodations feature access to the Executive Lounge that offers complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails. There are a number of gourmet restaurants on the 40th floor, such as a sushi and teppanyaki restaurant and a noteworthy crustacean bar. In particular, Atmos Dining boasts an extensive breakfast buffet in the morning and a mixture of Western and Asian dishes throughout the day. The spa is a highlight, and there is also an indoor heated pool, 24-hour gym, and a fitness center.

Yakushima Island, on the southernmost tip of Japan’s toes, is a designated UNESCO world heritage site. Nestled between its mountains and cedar forests, still within close proximity of the ocean, is the Sankara Hotel & Spa. The ideal secluded retreat for nature lovers, the hotel is surrounded by stunning, rugged scenery and hiking trails which lead intrepid explorers to ravines and waterfalls and through forests filled with exotic flora and fauna. Guests seeking a more relaxing experience will be delighted with the cozy on-site library, a perfect spot to curl up with a good book. What’s more, the resort boasts the first Asia Herb Association spa in Japan, where a range of Thai herbal treatments are available. The auberge-style hotel pays homage to French style and elegance, with delicious French cuisine cooked in an open kitchen and served in Okas Restaurant. Meanwhile, the 29 suites and villas are warm and sumptuous, clad with deep cedar wood, yet maintaining a sense of space and light with their high ceilings.

This cozy, homey hotel feels almost like a private residence - with only eight rooms, it possesses an intimate atmosphere that blends perfectly with the serene natural surroundings. Each room has its own private hot spring bath attached. Guests may choose from either Japanese-style, or Japanese-Western-style rooms, according to their tastes. Rooms are spacious, comfortable, and provide a relaxed environment. There is limited public space offered at Oyada Nonohana. Meals are made with freshly-picked vegetables from the hotel’s own farm. The hotel is located an hour’s drive away from the nearest railway station, making it somewhat isolated, but that is often just what guests who choose to stay here are looking for. 

This ryokan sits on an expansive property 32 acres wide, on which bamboo groves grow amidst many varieties of lush greenery. A natural hot spring makes up its centerpiece, which boasts healing waters for guests to enjoy. Its 11 lodges are set amongst the bamboo forest, and provide guests with unique touches, such as a stone coffee grinder, an aroma diffuser mister, and gauze yukatas, which are softer on the skin. An expansive communal outdoor hot spring is available for all guests’ use, rich in minerals and containing fewer impurities than most hot springs, which has healing music playing to add to the natural, healthy atmosphere. From Takefue, it’s only 10 minutes by car to Kurokawa Onsen. 

Located in a secluded forest along a mountain stream, Ryokan Sanga is the perfect getaway for travelers looking for peace and relaxation. Featuring 16 traditional Japanese-style rooms, each accommodation is equipped with tatami flooring, a low table and chairs, a flat-screen TV and a mini kitchenette. Once settled in, guests can unwind at one of the eight on-site hot springs or spoil themeselves with a soothing in-room massage. After, patrons can relax in the spacious lobby, which is equipped with cozy sofas, a fireplace and complimentary WiFi. Visitors will also enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine in the privacy of their guest room and have the opportunity to try kaiseki, a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner. Other services provided include luggage storage, a souvenir shop, photocopying, a free shuttle service and more. The majestic Aso Mountain is also an hour’s drive away while the stunning Mangan-ji Temple is a 10-minute drive from the hotel.

This traditional Japanese-style ryokan in Uwajima is a beautifully presented two-story wooden building providing comfortable accommodation, delicious local cuisine and luxurious natural hot spring baths. After closing in 1995, it was left untouched for several years before being brought back to life in the spring of 2012, thanks to a makeover by the famous Japanese architect Yuko Nakayama. She combined modern technology with traditional Japanese furnishings and it is this mix of contemporary and classic styles that makes Kiya Ryokan so unique. With just one room, which sleeps between two and 10 guests, you can enjoy a peaceful stay here with the utmost freedom while you take advantage of the ryokan’s many facilities, including massages and beauty treatments.  In the room you will discover an air conditioner, an LCD television, dining table and safe, as well as an audio system with bluetooth connection.

On the very tip of Muroto in Kochi, surrounded by the rugged and dramatic landscape on the very edge of the ‘black sea’,  the UTOCO Auberge is a truly unique retreat. The super-modern resort resembles a sleek, white, circular spaceship, amidst the craggy rocks of Muroto geopark and its mysterious caves. And from the black current, the bubbles from the seabed provide health-giving benefits available in the hotel spa. Guests can unwind in the pool or indulge in deep sea therapies designed to relax and re-invigorate the whole body and spirit. Meanwhile, the hotel restaurant, Italian Kuroshio serves a smorgasbord of flavorful dishes made from the freshest seafood and local ingredients and inspired by the Mediterranean. The 17 guest rooms are arranged so that each enjoys a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean; decorated with a simple and sleek style, not a single detail has been overlooked, and the accommodation at UTOCO is perfectly designed to conduce to a restful stay. At sunset guests can take to the fresh air on the Typhoon Terrace for unforgettable views of sea and sky.

The unexplored beauty of Iya Valley attracts intrepid visitors with its green terraces and soaring mountains dotted with rural hamlets. Nature has protected this small corner of Shikoku Island and it remains largely untouched. What’s more, its life-giving hot springs are a huge draw, and what better way to reap their benefit than with a stay at the Iya Onsen? Here, a cable car carries guests down into the ravine, where open-air baths are filled with bubbling hot spring water. After a day of hiking, exploring and full immersion into nature, guests can retreat to their comfortable rooms at Iya Onsen, complete with tatami mats, gorgeous mountain views and a choice of indoor or outdoor baths. What’s more, the rooms are stocked with traditional yukata robes and Japanese tea and equipped with WiFi, audio player and massage chair for complete comfort in authentic surroundings. Keikoku no Sato restaurant also enjoys views of the valley and here, guests can take their time over multi-course Japanese meals, made with fresh and delicious ingredients.