Asaba
Hotel and restaurant in a village
It is said that the great teacher of Japanese Buddhism, Kobo Daishi, bathed each morning in the river Katsura and emerged with his mind and body purified. A few minutes from this river, the hotel Asaba submerges you in the Japan of legends where Zen takes over your five senses. Entertainment comes in the form of traditional “Noh” theatre performed by the riverside. After a game of golf in picturesque surroundings, leave your kimono behind and enjoy the pleasures of an open-air bath filled with spring water. The restaurant serves traditional dishes with delightful combinations of sweet and savoury flavours. In the lounge, relax in a chair designed by famous Italian-American Harry Bertoia and in the garden, be inspired by the sweet fragrances of nature. ...Read more
Japan, Shizuoka-Ken

Restaurant Hôtel de Mikuni
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux in town
Grand Chef Kiyomi Mikuni, a maestro in the art of adding a Japanese flourish to French cuisine, has one of the most sought after restaurants in Tokyo. Thyme, rosemary and chervil are skillfully paired with maitake, a fragrant mushroom, and kaiware, a local herb. The best of both cultures are showcased in daring creations like the famous seabass borsch, Mikuni-style, pan-fried langoustines from Odawara and carrot cube fricassee in vermilion butter essence. In honour of the masters who inspired him, Kiyomi Mikuni’s menu also features Paul Bocuse’s truffle soup, Alain Chapel’s lobster salad and chicken liver gateau in a crayfish butter sauce. ...Read more
Japan, Tokyo

Gôra Kadan
Hotel and restaurant in the mountains
A stay in Gôra Kadan, the former retreat of the imperial family, Kanin-no-miya, in Hakone National Park, is an invitation to bring your five senses to life by immersing yourself in the ancient Japanese way of life. Listen to the gentle swoosh of a sliding wall made of rice paper, smell the fragrant flower incense, taste the traditional Kaiseki cuisine and feel the touch of silk. This calm retreat is located in an area known for its springs heated by volcanic rock. Suites have been designed in a minimalist style, and facilities include a swimming pool, a spa, and a beauty salon. ...Read more
Japan, Hakone

Restaurant Sant Pau
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux in town
One of the best Catalan restaurants is also present in the land of the rising sun. The Japanese version of the famous Sant Pau restaurant is located in the district of Nihonbashi, near to Ginza. People in Tokyo marvel at the delicate and modern Catalan cooking of Grands Chefs Carme Ruscalleda and Yosuke Okazaki, who raise cuisine to an art form. On the menu, you will find a wide variety of local Japanese fish and vegetables. Do not miss Iberian pork, pigeon cooked in an aroma of cherry blossom or the suite of desserts. ...Read more
Japan, Tokyo