Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
The jewel of Nyūtō, Tsuru-no-yu is the epitome of the Japanese ryokan: discreet, atmospheric and sumptuous. At every turn there's another picture-perfect…
Must-see hotels in Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Aomori Prefecture
Roughly 8km east of Hirosaki is your chance to go off the grid in style. Oil lamps (rampu) are used to light the corridors (though electricity has now…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Takamiya is an atmospheric, upmarket ryokan that has been in business for nearly three centuries. There are several beautiful indoor and outdoor baths,…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Elegantly perched atop Haguro-san, and accessed by an imposing gate, Saikan is a destination for reflective, quiet travel. The main building is sparingly…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Deep within the forest, surrounded by trees, this stunning ryokan is housed in a 200-year-old building that was carefully relocated from Iwate Prefecture…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Room options here range from quaint cottages with private bathrooms to split-level dwellings where you're just within snoring distance of your fellow…
Aomori Prefecture
One of our favourite hotels in Tōhoku sits by the trailhead for the lovely Oirase Keiryū hike. It's just the place to relax after tackling the trail in…
Niigata Prefecture
Sleek, modern architecture meets industrial chic at Urashima, housed in a former fishmongers redesigned by two prominent Japanese architects. The result…
Niigata Prefecture
This sumptuous ryokan perfects the aesthetic of an old-time travellers' inn with dim lighting and dark wood, while maintaining modern conveniences. Rooms…
Aomori Prefecture
Straight from an ukiyo-e (woodblock print), Sukayu's cavernous, dark-wooded bathhouse is a delight for the senses. The water is hot, acidic and sulphurous…
Niigata Prefecture
If you make it this far, you'll need to find somewhere worthwhile to rest your weary head. Luckily this 150-year-old former farmhouse has been relocated…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This classy seaside ryokan has inimitable, understated Japanese style. Elegant rooms are furnished sparingly with high-quality art and homewares. The…
Sendai
Set atop a chic shopping complex on the main thoroughfare running through Sendai, the Westin is the best five-star chain hotel in the whole far north. The…
Sendai
Converted from an old restaurant into the best guesthouse in Sendai, Keyaki has sleek wooden floors, stylish, spotless dorms and a first-class bar. In the…
Aomori Prefecture
Run by a wildlife photographer who takes pride in the region's natural attractions (including snow monkeys!), this remote hostel is perched on a hillside…
Aomori Prefecture
Ishiba is the only decent ryokan within Hirosaki itself, but luckily it's also excellent value. Set inside a late 19th-century property a block from the…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Expect superlative hospitality at this seaside gem. The dining experience at this ryokan is exceptional for such a remote place and the onsen facility…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Set in the hills, among tall trees and with ocean views, this elegant guesthouse is the epitome of hip. Light-filled rooms are simple and supremely…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Kakunodate is still a largely agricultural community, and this working farm nestled among rice paddies 3km north of the train station provides an…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This small ryokan is the most modern in Nyūtō Onsen. The stylish lodging combines urbane sensibility with a forest setting; think a Parisian apartment…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
The stunning location, only a short stroll from Jodogahama beach, is the biggest draw for this elegant oceanfront hotel. Most rooms are Japanese-style,…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Among the many charms of this country inn is its impressive rotemburo (outdoor bath) in an isolated building surrounded by a dense thicket of trees. The…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Guesthouses where hosts and guests interact freely with each other are a rarity in Japan, which makes the childhood home of English-speaking Sato-san all…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
A lovely mama-san oversees this quaint budget guesthouse. The rooms are on the small side, but the beautiful 24-hour hinoki (cypress bath), massage chairs…
Sendai
You'll need some resolve to find this former farmhouse, but it's worth it. Go to Taishidō Station (¥180, eight minutes from Sendai Station) on the JR…
Iwate Prefecture
Guests rave about Kuranoya, a classic Japanese homestay with urbane owners who sought refuge from the city in Tōno's foothills. They speak magnificent…
Aomori Prefecture
The pre-WWII Towada Hotel has a dramatic lobby of hulking timbers, rising to a chandelier-lit cathedral ceiling. The historic main building has elegant…
Aomori Prefecture
The colourful Dormy Inn is perfectly placed on a hill near Hirosaki-kōen, affording glorious views from the rooftop onsen and rotemburo. Rooms are…
Niigata Prefecture
Starting on the 23rd floor of the tallest building in the prefecture, the Nikkō looms over the mouth of Shinano-gawa and the Sado-ga-shima ferry terminal…
Sendai
Perfect for families with kids or couples looking for a luxurious, old-fashioned weekender, the Royal Park feels like a Gatsby-esque film set in Japanese…
Iwate Prefecture
In a very attractive setting overlooking Gosho-ko, 14km west of Morioka, Hotel Shion is a decadent onsen hotel catering largely to groups. Individual…
Iwate Prefecture
Travellers usually just pass through Morioka, but you'll find reason to linger in this spacious ryokan surrounded by a pleasant garden filled with various…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This very local onsen resort is affordable and fun, especially for those well versed in Japanese custom (or those happy enough to bumble along!). The long…
Iwate Prefecture
This is a very hospitable, upscale hotel near the town museum. Staff are highly knowledgeable about the local area and encourage guests to venture out…
Niigata Prefecture
Over 4000 books, including 1000 English-language titles, line the walls of this quirky hostel a five-minute walk from the train station. Guests sleep in…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
A picture of the artist Kenji Uchino greets guests to Ginzan-so, an enchanting mountain hotel with spacious, traditional accommodation where soft…
Sendai
A step up from a generic business hotel, Foliage is handily located a few minutes' walk from the train station on a busy little street. The lobby and…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Alight the train at Naruko Goten-yu and walk 500m west until you reach this peaceful ryokan with an indefatigable staff who will soak, feed and replenish…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Part of the new generation of socially conscious creatives setting up shop in Ishinomaki, the folk at Long Beach House have built a minimalist guesthouse…
Gas-san Shizu Onsen Ochimizu no Yu Tsutaya
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Perform some toji (restorative bathing) at this mellow onsen hotel in Shizu village, then walk the attractive streets in between feasting on mountain…
