For these hotels designed by famous architects, you deserve to go to Japan again!
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Sep 22, 2024
Sep 22, 2024
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There are many different styles of hotels in Japan, but one of them is even more interesting - hotels designed by famous Japanese architects. In these top design hotels, you can not only experience the beauty of the architect's exquisite design, but also the ultimate pursuit of the designer can only be felt by arriving in person.

🤗 The Shinmonzen Kyoto | Designer: Tadao Ando

Address: 235 Shinmonmae-dori Nishinomachi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Transportation: About 15 minutes from Kyoto Station
Opening date: December 2021
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The Shinmonzen is located in Shinmonzen-dori in Kyoto, Japan, known as the “Street of Ancient Art”, and stands quietly beside the Gion Shirakawa River, which runs through the city with crystal clear water. This boutique hotel is Tadao Ando's first small-scale architectural design in Kyoto after 40 years, and “Shinmonzen” is the Japanese pronunciation for “new gate”.
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This small but beautiful ryokan has only nine rooms, all suites, and a terrace with views of the Gion Shirakawa River. Designed by Rémi Tessier, the interiors are simple and clean, with light whites and wood tones intertwining to create a clean and elegant look, while the traditional Japanese style is harmoniously integrated into the modern design, with log-style round tables and hinoki spas stirring up a sense of natural interest. The bathroom is skillfully integrated with marble material, adding a bit of modernity to the space.
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There is also a beautiful riverside restaurant on the first floor, with a menu by renowned chef Jean-Georges that focuses on modern French cuisine, using fresh ingredients from the estate to create a fusion of French, American and Asian styles, with seasonal menus that change according to the seasons, and up to 3,000 bottles of wine to add the finishing touches.
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🤗 Nara Zetsu Luxury Collection Hotel | Designer: Kengo Kuma

Address: 62 Noboribetsuji-machi, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
Access: Take a bus from JR Nara Station and get off at Kencho Higashi stop.
3-minute walk or 15-minute walk from Nara Station on Kintetsu Line
Opening date: August 2023
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Located at the western end of Nara Park, the boutique hotel “Violet” by architect Kengo Kuma is a place where Nara's history and traditions meet, surrounded by Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Todaiji Temple and Kofuku-ji Temple, with Wakakusa Mountain and Yoshijoen Garden in the distance, making for a naturally vibrant environment.
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On the side of a quiet path, under the cover of greenery, is the traditional Japanese-style “Zizui”, a 3,000-square-meter garden with eight buildings arranged in an orderly fashion, creating a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere. The restaurant in the main building was converted from the Nara Prefectural Governor's residence built during the Taisho era, and is designed in a unique style where you can savor Nara's cuisine and experience its long history of culinary culture.
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There are 43 guest rooms, 23 of which are equipped with hot springs. The design incorporates traditional Nara craftsmanship for durability and comfort, and the large floor-to-ceiling windows that bring the greenery outside into the room make it feel as if you are living in a forest, a refreshing and cozy experience.
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🤗 SHISHI-IWA HOUSE KARUIZAWA | Designer: Shigeru Ban/Tatewei Nishizawa

Address: Nagakura, Karuizawa-cho, Kita-Saku-gun, Nagano 2147-646
Access: About 15 minutes by taxi from the JR Karuizawa North Exit
Opening date: SSH No.2, July 2022; SSH No.3, May 2023
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“SHISHI-IWA-HOUSE KARUIZAWA”, a Pritzker Prize-winning building, stands amidst the quiet nature of Nakaruizawa, which is only an hour away from Tokyo by Shinkansen. SSH No.1,” one of the two buildings built by world-class architect Shigeru Ban, opened in 2018 to great acclaim, and in July 2022, the second building, ‘SSH No.2,’ will open. “SSH No.3, designed by renowned architect Tatewei Nishizawa, will open in May 2023.
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“SHISHI-IWA-HOUSE KARUIZAWA” has been described as a competition of ‘Architecture x Nature x Modern Art’, where architecture is perfectly integrated into nature, nature is present in the interior, and modern works of art are added to the interior decoration. The interior is decorated with modern works that add a touch of art.
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Shigeru Ban's “SSH No.1 & No.2” continues to deconstruct wooden buildings at a high level, and you can enjoy his representative “paper tube” style. “No.2” also features a sky corridor, which is very interesting. The library has the largest wooden window frames in Japan, where you can enjoy the sun and the view.
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SSH No.3” by Tatsugu Nishizawa has a cool and calm facade made of black cedar wood. The rooms are connected by wooden corridors, adding a sense of fun. Inside the guest rooms, the beauty of the Japanese style is emphasized, and the space is comfortable and open. After enjoying the wonderful architectural design, the modern French restaurant hidden in the forest will amaze your taste buds with its delicious cuisine.
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💡
Often a hotel, a hostel.
is enough to constitute the whole reason for a trip.
If you're traveling to Japan, you should mark this list as a “to sleep list”.
This is definitely a “to sleep list” that you can't miss.

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