The New Hotels, Restaurants & Places To Know In Japan
THE NIGHT OUT:
Off Record, Fairmont Tokyo
Fairmont Tokyo’s Off Record is a hidden listening bar built around two things: good cocktails and good music. For a special evening, Bar Director Hide Saito is taking guests through four chapters of Tokyo’s musical influences, moving from J-Pop and UK Rock to Reggae and American Soul. Each is paired with a cocktail and small bite, with a Tokyo-based DJ sharing the stories behind the music. The evening also offers a look at the craft behind the bar, from cocktail-making to OFF RECORD’s high-fidelity sound system, before guests get the chance to take a turn behind the decks themselves. The experience then moves to the hotel’s Presidential Suite, where a selection of vinyl and a curated soundtrack continue the theme. Away from the hotel, the itinerary includes a private rickshaw ride and access to views from Tokyo Tower.
Visit FAIRMONT.COM
THE SUSHI BOOKING:
Sushi Masashi, Tokyo
For serious sushi fans, Sushi Masashi is one of the newer names to know. The restaurant features in Tokyo’s 2026 Michelin selection, joining a particularly strong new generation of sushi counters across the city. Expect the precision and seasonality associated with Edomae sushi, served across an intimate counter rather than a large dining room.
Visit GUIDE.MICHELIN.COM
THE NEW HOTEL:
Capella Kyoto
Capella Kyoto opened in March, marking the brand’s first Japanese outpost. Set in Miyagawa-cho, one of Kyoto’s historic geisha districts, the 89-room hotel has been designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates and Brewin Design Office as a contemporary take on the traditional machiya townhouse. The interiors combine timber, stone, Japanese artworks and local craftsmanship, with six of the 29 suites featuring private hot-spring baths. There’s a strong food offering too: the hotel’s signature restaurant is a collaboration with California’s three-Michelin-starred SingleThread, while guests can book experiences including lacquerware and traditional geta-making workshops.
Visit CAPELLAHOTELS.COM
THE ONE TO WATCH:
Hotel The Mitsui Hakone
For a post-Tokyo escape, Hotel The Mitsui Hakone is one to have on the list. Due to open in December 2026, the 126-room resort will sit among Hakone’s mountains and forests, with every room planned to have its own balcony or terrace and natural hot-spring bath. There will also be a large thermal spring overlooking Mount Sengen, a spa and several restaurants spanning kaiseki, sushi and teppanyaki.
Visit HOTELTHEMITSUI.COM
THE UNEXPECTED DESTINATION:
HOSHINOYA Nara Prison
A former prison might not be the first place you’d think of for a luxury hotel, but HOSHINOYA Nara Prison is one of Japan’s most unusual new openings. It opened in June inside the former Nara Prison, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property dating back to 1908. The original red-brick buildings and distinctive radial layout have been retained, while nine to 11 former cells have been combined to create each of the 48 suites. The result is surprisingly elegant, with high ceilings, exposed brick and contemporary Japanese interiors. There’s also a museum on the 25-acre site, making the hotel as much about the history of the building as the stay itself.
Visit HOSHINORESORTS.COM
THE TOKYO ADDRESS:
1 Hotel, Tokyo
The first 1 Hotel in Japan opened in Akasaka in March, bringing the brand’s nature-led approach to one of Tokyo’s newest skyscrapers. Spread across the upper floors of Akasaka Trust Tower, the 211-room hotel makes a strong case for sustainable luxury, with reclaimed timber, Oya stone, living greenery and interiors inspired by Japanese gardens. There’s a spa, indoor pool and sauna, plus NiNi, the hotel’s all-day restaurant, and a bar and lounge with sweeping views across the city.
Visit 1HOTELS.COM
THE HERITAGE STAY:
Imperial Hotel Kyoto
One of Kyoto’s most interesting new openings is also one of its oldest buildings. The Imperial Hotel Kyoto opened in March inside the restored Yasaka Kaikan, a 1936 registered Tangible Cultural Property on the grounds of the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo. Rather than starting from scratch, the hotel has preserved the building’s original character while giving it a contemporary makeover. There are just 55 rooms, alongside restaurants, a bar, spa, pool and gym. Its location is a big part of the appeal too, with the hotel offering guests access to experiences around Gion’s traditional arts and culture.
Visit IMPERIALHOTEL.CO.JP
THE THAI SPOT:
KHAO, Tokyo
Thai food gets a Japanese twist at KHAO, one of Tokyo’s newest Michelin-starred restaurants. Set in Jimbocho, the restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star in the 2026 guide, with chef Chihiro Naito using Japanese ingredients to reinterpret Thai dishes. On the menu are things like pomelo and seafood inspired by Bangkok’s royal-court cuisine, rice vermicelli yakisoba and curries made with freshly pressed coconut milk. It’s a good example of the increasingly interesting crossover between Japanese and international cooking happening across the city.
Visit GUIDE.MICHELIN.COM
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THE UNDISCOVERED REGION:
Ishikawa
If you’ve already done Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, Ishikawa is one of the regions to put on the radar. Kanazawa is the obvious starting point, known for its historic districts, gardens, ceramics, lacquerware and excellent seafood, but the wider prefecture is where things get more interesting. The Noto Peninsula offers a much slower side of Japan, with coastal scenery, hot springs and traditional crafts. It’s a good addition to a longer itinerary if you want to get beyond the usual tourist trail.
THE RURAL ESCAPE:
Azuma Farm Koiwai
For something completely different, head north to Iwate Prefecture and Azuma Farm Koiwai, which opened in April. The farm sits in a landscape that has been regenerating for more than a century and combines a stay in nature with farm-to-table dining and hands-on experiences. Guests can hike, ride horses and try traditional Nanbu ironware craft, including making their own iron kettle.
Visit AZUMAFARMS.COM
THE AUSTRIAN EXPERIENCE:
Ewig, Tokyo
Austrian food probably isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when planning a Tokyo food itinerary, which is exactly why EWIG is worth knowing. The restaurant picked up its first Michelin star in the 2026 guide, serving Austrian classics reworked around Japanese seasonal ingredients. Think foie gras served in the style of a Sachertorte, alongside more traditional Viennese flavours and techniques. The result is a clever meeting of two food cultures rather than a straightforward European restaurant transplanted to Tokyo.
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THE FOODIE RESTAURANT:
SoNoMa BY SingleThread, Kyoto
One for the food-focused traveller, SoNoMa by SingleThread opened inside Capella Kyoto in March. It marks the first Japanese restaurant from Kyle Connaughton, chef and co-owner of California’s three-Michelin-starred SingleThread. The menu draws on Japanese kaiseki traditions while bringing in Connaughton’s Californian, produce-led approach, with a focus on seasonality and ingredients sourced from farms and producers.
Visit CAPELLAHOTELS.COM
THE COOL-GIRL CAFÉ:
Fender Café Shimokitazawa
Opened in July 2026, Fender Café is the guitar brand’s first standalone café. Its location makes sense: Shimokitazawa is one of Tokyo’s best-known neighbourhoods for live music, record shops and vintage clothing. The café takes its design cues from Fender’s instruments, particularly the 1969 Rosewood Telecaster, with guitars and specialist audio equipment incorporated throughout. The menu follows the theme with drinks including the Stratocaster Rose Latte and Telecaster Maple Latte, alongside Fender’s own First Set coffee blend.
Visit FENDERCAFE.COM
THE REFURBISHED ONSEN:
Kai Matsumoto Asma Onsen Nagano
Reopened in August 2026 following a major refurbishment, KAI Matsumoto is an onsen ryokan with a focus on two things Nagano does particularly well: hot springs and wine. Set in Asama Onsen, the property combines traditional ryokan elements with a more contemporary take on the format, while its programme includes live performances featuring local musicians. It’s also a good base for exploring Matsumoto beyond the castle, with the surrounding Nagano countryside, vineyards and hot spring towns making it an appealing alternative to some of Japan’s better-known wellness destinations.
Visit ASAMAONSEN.COM
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THE OSAKA GO-TO:
Patina Osaka
Patina Osaka opened in 2025, but there are a couple of reasons to keep it on the radar this year. The 20-storey hotel has 221 rooms overlooking Osaka Castle Park or Naniwa-no-miya Park, with interiors that draw on kisetsukan, the Japanese appreciation of the changing seasons. There’s also a strong focus on art, music, design and wellness throughout the hotel. This year, Patina Osaka announced a collaboration with Osaka-born creator VERDY, spanning a limited-edition collection inspired by the city and the hotel. It’s also taking part in the 2026 Patina Art Residency, this year themed Rooted Realms, which will see an artist work from a dedicated creative space at the hotel before their work is displayed there.
Visit PATINAHOTELS.COM
THE CULTURE FIX:
Naoshima New Museum Of Art
Opened in May 2025, the Naoshima New Museum of Art is the latest addition to the island’s already impressive collection of art spaces. Designed by Tadao Ando, the hilltop museum focuses on modern and contemporary artists from Japan and across Asia. Its location near Honmura, away from Naoshima’s main cluster of museums, gives visitors another reason to explore the island beyond its best-known galleries. As with much of Ando’s work, the building itself is part of the experience, with concrete architecture, natural light and views across the Seto Inland Sea.
Visit BENESSE-ARTSITE.JP
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