The past few years have brought a run of openings in Japan: the first Japanese hotels of international brands, and inns built into historic buildings. This article covers luxury hotels and ryokan that opened or reopened between 2024 and 2026, limited to those whose opening dates we could confirm from official information. Some are too new to have many stay reports yet, so check each page for the latest.
Opened in 2026
HOSHINOYA Nara Prison (Nara) — June 2026
A HOSHINOYA built into the former Nara Prison, a Meiji-era building designated an Important Cultural Property. The rooms are made by joining the red-brick cell blocks, with high ceilings, and the corridors and windows keep the layout of a building designed as a prison. There are 48 rooms, a restaurant and a café-lounge.
Suits: anyone who wants the building itself to be the experience, or a memorable night in Nara.
Opened in 2025
GORA KADAN FUJI (Oyama, Shizuoka) — July 2025
Hakone’s Gora Kadan opened this inn at Subashiri, on the eastern foot of Mount Fuji. All 42 rooms are suites, three of them separate pavilions. It has natural alkaline hot-spring baths, a heated pool whose far end points towards Mount Fuji, and a golf course on the grounds.
Suits: those who want hot springs and a pool with Mount Fuji in view, and perhaps a round of golf.
Fairmont Tokyo (Minato) — July 2025
Fairmont’s first hotel in Japan, in BLUE FRONT SHIBAURA at Hamamatsucho. It is six minutes on foot from the south exit of JR Hamamatsucho Station, with easy monorail access to Haneda Airport. One Michelin Key in 2026.
Suits: travellers who want easy access to Haneda, or to try a new international hotel.
JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo (Minato) — October 2025
The first JW Marriott in the Tokyo area, connected directly to JR Takanawa Gateway Station. Shinagawa is close, which makes the shinkansen and Haneda Airport easy. Rooms are on high floors, with a restaurant and spa in the building.
Suits: a night before or after a shinkansen trip or a flight from Haneda.
Opened or reopened in 2024
Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto (Kyoto) — summer 2024
Banyan Tree’s first hotel in Japan, at the foot of the Higashiyama hills close to Kodai-ji and Kiyomizu-dera. The rooms follow the slope, and there is a spa. About 20 minutes by taxi from Kyoto Station.
Suits: a Higashiyama base close to Kiyomizu-dera and Kodai-ji, with time in the spa.
Hacienda VISON Hotel (Taki, Mie) — August 2024
A hotel inside the VISON resort complex, with design supervised by The Conran Shop. It connects directly to the Ise Expressway, about 20 minutes from Ise Grand Shrine — a good fit for a road trip that includes the shrine.
Suits: a road trip that includes a visit to Ise Grand Shrine.
MAMPEI HOTEL (Karuizawa) — reopened 2024
A classic hotel in old Karuizawa, founded in 1894, reopened after a major renovation for its 130th anniversary. Its emblem, the Alps wing, dates from 1936 and became a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2018.
Suits: anyone who wants the atmosphere of a classic hotel in old Karuizawa.
DOGGYWOOD Awaji (Awaji Island) — July 2024
An inn built for guests with dogs, where large dogs are welcome with no limit on numbers. Each unit stands on its own, with a dog run on site. About an hour’s drive from Kobe.
Suits: travellers with large dogs, or more than one dog.
FAQ
- Q. Which luxury hotels opened in Japan in 2026?
- A. This article covers HOSHINOYA Nara Prison, which opened in June 2026. We only include opening dates confirmed from official information.
- Q. Which are the first Japanese hotels of international brands?
- A. In this list, Fairmont Tokyo (July 2025) and Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto (summer 2024) are each brand’s first hotel in Japan.
- Q. Do you list hotels that have not opened yet?
- A. No. We add properties once their opening can be confirmed from official information.
Related reading
- Tattoos at Japanese ryokan and resorts: which parts of the hotel the rules cover
Where the tattoo rules of six Japanese hotels and ryokan apply — shared baths, pools, the spa, public areas — compared using the wording on their official sites, checked October 2026. Whether each accepts guests with tattoos is not stated on the pages we read.