Piste-Carving and Storm-Chasing in Japan

Just steps away from the popular streets of Gion, Kawaramachi and Pontocho, the Ritz-Carlton hotel is the perfect gateway for seeing Kyoto’s famous sights. Respecting the ancient traditions and culture of Kyoto, the extravagant space is inspired by the natural surroundings and traditional architecture. Famous for Zen Temples, palaces and gardens, Kyoto's atmosphere is incorporated in the Ritz-Carlton’s design. Built in the style of a traditional Meiji House and courtyard, a stay here is truly a cultural experience. A four-story waterfall is featured in the hotel entrance amidst patterned motifs. Luxury Ritz-Carlton touches include high-thread count linens, plush Japanese “IMABARI” robes and towels, Kyoto soap and seasonal bath salts, LED TVs and touch-panel environmental controls for automatic drape closure. Accommodation amenities include a concierge service, swimming pool, banquet room, babysitting service, sophisticated dining and drinking options, as well as an indulgent spa for any pampering needs. 

Inspired by the tranquility and contemplative calm of the region’s many temples and Zen gardens, Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto features 110 standard rooms, 12 suites, 57 condos and a Presidential Suite, which at over 2,600 square feet, is the largest hotel suite in Kyoto. The restrained chic of designer Agnes Ng’s modern ideas, allied with traditional design elements such as bamboo groves and shoji paper-walls, create an extraordinary set of contemporary, yet classic, accommodations – with a peaceful vibe, enhanced and completed by the gentle crash of water from the Waterfall Garden. The hotel features two restaurants, bar, lounge and even a tea house where guests can find a range of tantalizing treats and refreshments to expedite their relaxation – set off to perfection by a team of expertly trained, confident and multilingual service staff.

The highly anticipated Aman Kyoto brings an even higher level of luxury to the historic and cultural ancient capital. A blend of authentic, traditional ryokan hospitality and contemporary spaces, the Aman Kyoto offers travelers a respite in the heart of one of Japan's most visited cities. The secluded 80-acre property is situated in a hidden garden close to the Golden Pavilion at the foot of the Mountain of Hidari Daimonji, within easy reach of Kyoto's impressive collection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Scattered among the grounds is a series of standalone pavilions. The four guest pavilions house 24 guest rooms (choose between garden or stream views) and a pair of two-bedroom villas overlooking the forest canopy. Each room captures a contemporary, minimalistic style with nod to the quintessential ryokan feel; walls of windows bringing the outside in to spacious, light-filled interiors. Facilities include separate Arrival, Living and Spa pavilions. The signature restaurant, Taka-An, showcases Japanese haute cuisine in the form of the kaiseki banquet - a multi-course dining experience made using the season’s finest local produce. The Living Pavilion offers an inviting spaces with a central fireplace for guests to enjoy home-cooked Kyoto obanzai-style cuisine and afternoon tea. The Spa Pavilion’s onsen bathing facilities use water from a local spring and the range of treatments highlight local, natural ingredients such as green tea, black beans, sake and cold-pressed camellia oil.

Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto is tucked away next to Nijo-jo Castle, at the Kyoto home of the Kitake, a branch of the Mitsui Family. This land has been in the care of the family for more than 250 years. A contemporary twist on the quintessential Japanese tearoom aesthetic, the Mitsui Kyoto is composed of 161 guest rooms and suites, all decorated in earthy tones and furnishings sourced from natural materials. Some room types feature private onsen. There is a thermal spring spa on-site, which offers onsen healing baths (both private and shared), as well as a gym and massage treatments. In terms of dining, guests can enjoy four diverse dining venues: Gastronomy Teppan for a surprising fusion of French cuisine and Japanese teppanyaki, Forni for Italian, The Garden Bar, and SHIKI-NO-MA for private dining and tea ceremony. Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto is approximately 15 minutes by car from Kyoto Train Station.

A mere 10 kilometers from the scenic, snowy Mount Shirouma and walking distance the Hakuba Happo-one ski resort lies the Hakuba Tokyu Hotel. The chateau inspired formal guest rooms and suites have high ceilings, elegant features, and balconies that furnish stunning views of Hakuba's natural beauty. Modern amenities such aa television and Wi-Fi are included and essential toiletries are provided as well. Guests are invited to dine at the hotel's opulent Chamonix restaurant serving orthodox French dishes or Manyo, a traditional Japanese restaurant. The resort houses a refined spa and bathhouse that utilizes waters from the Happo Hot Spring and there is fun to be had in the surrounding regions during all seasons; from skiing excursions during the winter to nature walks and river rafting in the summer.

Located 38 floors above street level, the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo is a world away from the hustle and bustle below. The rooms and suites here are some of the largest in Japan and each offers soaring views across the city through floor-to-ceiling windows, amplifying a sense of serenity and detachment. The bathrooms are divided from the rooms by a pane of glass covered by a wooden blind; with the flick of a switch, privacy is achieved or the room is washed in daylight. All accommodations have an in-room entertainment system with iPod docking station, high definition LCD televisions in the bedroom and bathroom, wired and wireless high speed Internet access (for a fee) and your choice of preferred pillow type from the property’s extensive pillow menu. The restaurants in the hotel are some of the most highly regarded in the world; Signature (contemporary French), Sense (Chinese) and the Tapas Molecular Bar have each been awarded Michelin stars. Other restaurant options include Ventaglio (Italian), Oriental Lounge (continental bakery), Gourmet Shop, K’shiki (breakfast is served here and Japanese and continental food is served throughout the day) and the Mandarin Bar. The excellent spa has four treatment rooms and five private spa suites, and encompasses a 1,500-square-foot fitness center with the latest cardiovascular and weight training equipment.

Mere steps from the Imperial Palace sits Tokyo’s newest luxury hotel, The Peninsula Tokyo. Located in Marunouchi district just a short walk from the shopping paradise of Ginza, the hotel is perfectly located for business or pleasure. With a total of 314 elegantly decorated rooms and 47 suites, the Peninsula Tokyo’s accommodations are among the most spacious in all of Tokyo, and offer plenty of amenities including espresso machines, complimentary Internet access, multifunction fax machines, nail polish drying machines, and shoe shining service. The hotel’s culinary options include Cantonese cuisine at the Hei Fung Terrace, regional Japanese fare at Kyoto Tsuruya, and International food and beverages at Cirque Culinaire and Peter. For relaxation, enjoy the hotel’s state of the art health club with pool complex, undergo a “spa journey” at the Peninsula Spa by ESPA, or try a leisurely jog around the Imperial Palace. Other amenities include a business center and a boutique store that offers food, gifts and souvenir items.

Since its opening at the end of 2014, Aman Tokyo has been one of the most talked-about luxury hotels in the city. The most striking thing about it is its location; spread across the top six floors of a 40-storey tower in the Otemachi business district, the panoramic views are simply incredible. What’s more, all of the 84 rooms and suites take full advantage of the lofty position with floor-to-ceiling windows letting light in during the daytime, while also framing the breathtaking lit-up cityscape at night. Aman Tokyo has also received praise for its impressive interiors, which have been inspired by minimalistic design, including the use of camphor wood, washi paper and stone surfaces throughout the rooms as well as traditional Japanese facilities such as large ‘furo’ baths. Situated on the 33rd floor, both guests and non-guests can enjoy the fine Mediterranean food at the hotel’s signature restaurant, not forgetting more of those incredible views across Tokyo stretching as far as the Imperial Palace Gardens and Mount Fuji in the distance. Elsewhere, there is a spa, enclosed garden area, swimming pool, wine cellar, cigar lounge and a whole host of other facilities to keep guests entertained.

Under the umbrella of luxury hotel brand Aman, Janu Tokyo is one of a trio of flagship properties opening under the new sister brand (the others are opening in Montenegro and Saudi Arabia). The name Janu derives from the Sanskrit word for “soul” and is based around concepts of human interaction, playfulness and social wellness, particularly resonating with millennial travelers. Full property details have yet to be released, but expect the signature sophisticated design typical of a remote Aman resort, but with a slightly different playbook. Lifestyle elements such as DJ entertainment, a wide range of drinking and dining venues, yoga and meditation sessions and tech-focused amenities are just a few examples of Janu services that will take center stage.

This 5-star luxury resort hotel is located right on the slopes of Niseko Hirafu village, one of the most exclusive locations in Niseko, and features awe-inspiring views of Mount Yotei itself, as well as the majestic surrounding area. The Vale’s 49 ultra-chic hotel rooms range from studios through to two and three bedroom apartments and, of course, the award-winning super-deluxe penthouse apartments. All the apartments come with premium fit-outs, roaring open fires and open-plan bathrooms. One of the most outstanding features has to be the onsen (Japanese natural thermal spring) - water is pumped from 2000 feet below the surface, on a reported 160 year journey through Mount Yotei, directly to the hotel. Guests can recline in their own personal hot tub and take in the incredible views - all the while soaking in the healing minerals of this very special mountain water. The perfect end to a perfect day’s skiing.

Niseko’s high-end deluxe resort hotel, Ki, has the unique attraction of being the only hotel in the region offering ‘ski-in ski-out’ accommodation. The second floor takes guests to the ski valet service center where your equipment and boots are stored (and dried and warmed), enabling them to step from the hotel straight onto the slopes - and some of the finest powder-snow on the planet. The lavish hotel rooms, suitable for two to three adults, are carefully designed to be the epitome of the modern Japanese aesthetic. Ki Niseko also has a choice of one and two bedroom condos – as well as the stunning penthouse suite. All rooms are furnished to maximise space, views and relaxation, with picture windows and snug armchairs to enjoy the magnificent vistas of the Yotei and Annupuri mountains. Après Ski, guests can rejuvenate tired bodies with a dip in the onsen hot springs or a hot-stone massage in Ki Spa, before indulging in the exquisite creations of Celebrity Head Chef Shinichi Maeda at the An Dining, Café & Bar – Ki Niseko’s in-house restaurant. This hotel offers Japanese alpine charm at its best.

With a reputation for the world’s best powder snow and a growing international resort community, Niseko is quickly becoming one of the world’s premier mountain destinations. Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, is a ski and snowboarder’s paradise thanks to a near-constant wintertime stream of frigid air that blows in from Siberia. But whether you’re seeking the thrill of snowsports or the tranquility of a high-altitude getaway, the Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono – located in the heart of the Hanazono, Niseko resort area – embodies the best in luxury travel and lies at the foot of the slopes with dramatic views across the Annupuri ranges and Mount Yotei. The year-round mountain hotel features tasteful, contemporary design and artfully curated cuisine options. In a nod to the rugged, expansive landscapes surrounding the resort, Park Hyatt Niseko signature rooms and Annupuri and Yotei signature suites are laid out with spacious living and dining spaces, a private Japanese onsen bath, and an open-air terrace and veranda. The hotel also offers a selection of guided winter and summer activities, allowing guests convenient access to the best experiences available in surrounding Niseko. Optional experiences include guided backcountry ski, snowmobile, and snowshoe tours, reindeer sledding, and others, while summer activities range from golfing and mountain biking to hot air ballooning and white water rafting.

High on the slopes of Mount Moiwa, under the watchful eye of Mount Yotei, lies Aman’s fourth Japan property, Aman Niseko. The resort provides the perfect base for skiing and snowboarding in Hokkaido's powder-rich winters, as well as hiking, mountain biking and river rafting in the warmer months. Designed by the late Kerry Hill, Aman Niseko's style is clean and contemporary, with subtle nods to the traditional motifs of the Ainu, Hokkaido’s indigenous community. 30 suites offer sweeping mountain views, while the main pavilion houses communal spaces such as a living room, two restaurants (plus a private dining space), a bar, whiskey and cigar lounge, library, ski retail area and lockers, a boutique, as well as a gallery. Wellness facilities include a thermal spa, indoor and outdoor onsen (hot spring bathings pools, which are a staple of Japanese culture and a signature experience in Niseko), Finnish saunas, Watsu chambers, cold plunge pools, steam rooms, hammams and a range of "experience showers."

Located in Hokkaido’s second largest city, Asahikawa Grand Hotel is positioned in close proximity to Tokiwa Park, Asahikawa Museum of Art and Asahikawa City Museum. With a total of 237 rooms, Asahikawa Grand Hotel offers a variety of room types including Grand Double rooms, Japanese style rooms and suites. For relaxation, enjoy Asahikawa’s full-service spa, which includes a sauna, cold bath and an array of spa treatments such as facials, massage, exfoliation and aromatherapy treatments. Dining options include a Sichuan restaurant and Shiki, which serves traditional local Japanese cuisine. There is also a tea lounge and a bar on the premises. The hotel is located a 30-minute drive away from Asahikawa Airport.