Japan is full of picturesque locations where you can be at one with nature and soak the tiredness of your body away in the onsen baths. If you are looking for an escape from busy working life, then you’re in luck: Today we’ll be introducing you to a modern onsen hotel which is perfect for families, lovers, and even solo travellers. 

Escape from Tokyo on the bullet train, ride the Zairai line and finally, catch a bus. After your two-hour journey, you will arrive at onsen hot spot Uonuma city in Niigata Prefecture. Today, we’ll be heading to Tomoya Hotel. The picturesque scenery of paddy fields and mountains will unfold before your very eyes and put your mind at ease.    

Sunlight pours over the reception desk from the giant window. It was time to check in. After being informed on meal times and private onsen rentals, I quickly headed to my room.

I was given room 305. The warm wooden structure made the room feel lavishly large. Whether you’re snuggling up with a lover, chilling out with friends or relaxing with family, the atmosphere and size of the room allows for flexible usage.

The Sanashi river was right outside my window. I could watch the soothing clear water flow out to the horizon for hours. 

The room was prepared with loungewear, bath towels, toothbrushes, socks and many other amenities. It was even fitted with a fridge and water heater. 

From the lamps lighting the stairway and hallway sofas to the displayed artwork, every item in Tomoya Hotel is a carefully selected item of special design. 

There was even a DJ area next to the lobby which contained a surprising stash of records, CDs and DVDs which was uncountably large. Being able to discover new music and films is another admirable feature of the hotel. 

The front lobby is filled with a fresh and liberating atmosphere. There are plenty of spots to sit and read to yourself as the melodies of records weave through the air.

The shop sells specially selected products including locally produced juice, snacks and much more. You can even purchase Tomoya Hotel’s original skincare goods. Reading the cheerful and thoughtful comments written on the goods by the manager made it clear that every single item in the shop was chosen with the utmost care. 

One by one, several lavish courses arrived at my door for dinner that evening. The locally-sourced ingredients and seasonal vegetables were served with Niigata prefecture’s uonuma koshihikari rice, which is famed as Japan’s best rice. 

Nameko mushroom hotpot, salt-fried East Asian trout, tofu mixed with lotus root, and sashimi were just some of the hotel’s many original dishes that were brought to my door. As the rice was harvested from the first crop of the year, it was very sweet and so delicious that I helped myself to multiple servings without realising. The food was flavoured and seasoned very lightly to ensure that guests could fully enjoy the true flavours of the fresh harvest from the mountains and the sea. The luxurious dinner was highly enjoyable. 

I enjoyed sipping a small glass of Tomoya’s chilled Reishu sake with my meal. This is an original recipe sake created by Tomoya Hotel and local sake brewery Tamagawa Shuzo. It was so refreshing, easy to drink and perfectly complimented every dish. The hotel provided a rich variety of alcoholic dinks including refreshing beer, carefully-selected wines, rare local sake, homemade fruit liqueurs, and more.

The onsen is home to rich history dating back to the year 1300 when it first opened its doors to the public. There are two types of private rental onsen and large public onsen indoors. Some square-shaped baths sit right beside a small stream which branches off from the Sanashi river. Treat yourself to a soothing soak in a historical onsen while absorbing the beautiful scenery. 

After finishing your relaxing soak, head to floor 1 of the main building to spend some time relaxing. This space is for guests to use freely and how they please. There are bookshelves lined with books and games available.

The first floor of the hotel annexe was my favourite place. Music from a variety of genres is played here. A disco ball hangs high, splashing light across the spacious room. There is a ping-pong table, a pool table, massage chair, piano, an old Nintendo game, manga and much more. It may seem like a relaxing place at first glance, but my heart was racing with excitement as I got hooked on the games.

The following morning, breakfast was delivered right to my room again. Seeing the tray filled with a luxurious mix of both western and Japanese-style cuisine was very pleasing to see. I indulged in yaki-fu: baked wheat gluten which is a specialty of Niigata, fried fish, rolled Japanese-style omelette, homemade cheesecake and much more. All the meals served at the hotel are made with the utmost care and precision. 

If I were to introduce all the wonderful services and features of Tomoya hotel then there would be no end to this article. The main highlights were the delicious meals made with locally sourced ingredients, the soothing onsen, the music, films and experience of art culture, and of course, the opportunity to get in touch with nature, watching the water trickle down the mountain streams as your mind discovers peace. 

 

If you are looking to heal your body, mind and soul whilst discovering nature and art, then Tomoya Hotel is perfect for you. 

 

Writer：Ellie（MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON）

Shin Kabuki-za is an old theatre in Osaka that has been loved by locals since it opened in 1926. The theatre is set to find new life as Hotel Royal Classic Osaka, a new hotel developed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma which is set to open on December 1, 2019. The MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON editorial team received exclusive access to view the hotel before it opens to report on it and showcase how it differs completely from other hotels with its characteristic charms.

 

Its direct connect to Namba Station means super easy access

Hotel Royal Classic Osaka is situated in the central part of Osaka Minami. Direct access to the hotel from the Osaka Metro section of Namba Station will be made available from March 2020, allowing for easy access and the reassurance that you won’t get lost wandering the streets trying to find your accommodation. Its location means easy access for tourists and travellers with a lot of luggage, working professionals who want to shorten the distance between commutes as much as possible, and pretty much any other scenario where accessibility is a priority.

 

An iconic building exterior combining tradition and modern innovation

Shin Kabuki-za is known by the locals who live in the area for its magnificent karahafu roof gables. The hotel will inherit this symbolic part of the theatre’s design and restore the lower part of the building. The upper part makes use of multiple layers of aluminium to create a dynamic and intricate design, resulting in a unique appearance that fuses both the traditional formation of the original theatre with a modern touch. Thanks to Kengo Kuma’s skillful architectural work, the building merges effortlessly with the surrounding buildings while retaining the local culture.

 

It’s as much of an art museum as a hotel

Olympic Girl 100m by Ay-O (Takao Iijima)

The hotel also stands tall and proud as an art museum. As you walk down its corridors, your eyes will meet a plethora of gorgeous pieces of artwork which serve to lay guests into a sense of calmness and tranquility. These works are scattered throughout the hotel, both at the front desk, guest rooms, and elsewhere, making it feel like you have really stepped into a museum of art. High-class pieces also line the walls nonchalantly, so give yourself time to appreciate the many masterpieces you’ll find there.

  

High ceilings create spaceーspace which is nothing less than relaxing

There are 150 guest rooms in total, consisting of Standard Rooms, Premium Rooms, and Suite Rooms. Not only does each and every room boast a beautiful and panoramic window view of Osaka’s nightscape, they also enjoy high ceilings, creating a sense of space and freedom.

Wood is the base of all the rooms, giving them a natural and relaxed feeling. The furniture is simple which gives the rooms a minimalist design, again adding to the space and sense of luxury. We stayed in one of the Standard Rooms. Don’t let going for Standard make you feel inferior, however, as we felt the room was incredibly spacious with plenty of space to store luggage.

Room lighting is controlled with a tablet located next to the bed. The tablets are compatible in four languages. Each icon on them also has universally easy-to-recognise pictures for easy use.

Also, the bathtubs in Standard Rooms have a little window that looks into the main bedroom. If you’re with someone you’re on good terms with, whether friends, family or a loved one, you can communicate back and forth while you take a soak. (There is of course a sliding door so you can close it off too!)

We were also shown around one of the Suite Rooms which are fitted with a living room and spacious washroom. It really is penthouse-level extraordinary.

The bathrooms have a window that looks out across the city nightscape, allowing for an indulging soak with a breathtaking view. It’s not one we could afford every single time we book a hotel, on a special occasion one time it’s an absolute definite.

 

Amenities galore to pamper your hair and body

The rooms come with a long line-up of fantastic amenities, like comfy cotton PJs, fluffy slippers, and our personal favourite: a compressed bag for your clothing. 

The amenities in the washroom were bountiful too, from shampoo to conditioner, shower gel and body gelーall of which, by the way, are by the Thai organic brand Panpuri. They all smelled incredible and filled the bathroom with their gorgeous scent.

They have all your ordinary must-haves too like a hair comb, cotton buds, toothbrush, and so on.

 

KUMO KUMO: The bar and lounge with comfy sofas

The hotel building has a total of twenty floors. After enjoying our time in the hotel portion, we headed up to the bar and lounge KUMO KUMO on the 20th floor. Inside the elevator, piano music plays while you gaze at the several pieces of art fitted inside. There was even a piece by Yayoi Kusama, so be sure to take a look.

When entering KUMO KUMO, there’s not only seats at the counter, but lots of sofas too with a window view.

Jazz music flowed through the bar and lounge, which is best enjoyed with a cup of delicious sake while staring out over nighttime Osaka.

 

HAFU is a restaurant for guests only that serves breakfast.

Their menu consists of lots of healthy options, from fruits to salads.

The chef will also prepare fresh hotel-grade egg and meat dishes too, amongst other delicious delights. There’s also a range of slim-friendly menu items made with foreign guests in mind. The assortment was truly incredible, we can’t recommend this place enough.

Of course, there’s yogurt, mini sweets and other dessert-like morning treats to indulge in too. It was a breakfast for the gods.

 

YURAYURA: A restaurant that combines Japanese and Western cuisine

The team enjoyed lunch at YURAYURA too, a buffet-style restaurant that also seats non-guests. Their menu is an amalgamation of the Japanese and Western palate, serving carefully-selected ingredients from countries around the world.

They had various foods from around Asia too like nasi goreng from Indonesia, as well as Korean japchae, and more.

Other things we spotted were pincho and small-cut sweets too.

For Japanese food there were things like freshly-fried tempura, and large cuts of roast beef which were cut there and then by the chef.

 

What I was personally happy about was their cafe menu, with things like cafe latte and other hot drinks. It was a satisfying 90-minutes spent, wolfing down food and then enjoying some sweets with a cafe latte.

 

5 spaces that can be used for weddings, parties & more

The hotel building even houses two chapels, as well as banquet halls, which can be used for weddings, parties and more. The chapels have large windows that let in plenty of natural sunlight. The use of natural wood also gives the room a warm feeling to it.

Floor 8’s HANAEMI

There are five banquet halls in total each on a different floor and each with their own concept. Those on floors 7, 8 and 9 even have terraces for parties too. Whether you’re having a party, a wedding, or a conference, there is a room for you.

Hotel Royal Classic Osaka’s speciality is its inclusion of leaving a part of traditional Japan in there while still letting you feel the Japan of today. Whether you’re travelling to Osaka for some sightseeing and fun, or you’re in the business scene and need a regular-use hotel, look no further. We felt connected to Osaka in our experience there, so if you’re planning a trip to Osaka, be sure to book with Namba’s newest landmark.

The diverse range and large number of accommodations and trip services found on Booking.com is phenomenal. As one of the world’s largest travel accommodation booking websites, this is the first port of call for many who want to guarantee seamless travel plans. Today we’re announcing Booking.com’s top accommodations for heart-warming light up events and nighttime views. For couples looking for a romantic getaway in Japan, let this article be your guide.

 

Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland (Kobe, Hyogo)

Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland is a five-star hotel located near Harborland Waterfront which enjoys an extraordinary view of the sea. The rooms are fitted with a spa bath and there is even a rooftop terrace with comfy sofas to relax. All guests are treated to a romantic view right from their window. The hotel is situated just a 20-minute walk from Kobe’s grandest winter illumination event called 2019 Kobe Luminarie. If you want to get up close to magnificent works of art, this hotel is for you.

Review Rating: 9.5/10.

Click here to view Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland on Booking.com

 

Yokohama Royal Park Hotel (Yokohama, Kanagawa)

Yokohama Royal Park Hotel is situated on floor 52 and upwards in Yokohama Landmark Tower. Being located in the second tallest building in Japan surely has its perks. Soak in the beautiful cityscape and the best view of Yokohama Bay Bridge to your heart’s content. You can only imagine the breathtaking view available in every room. Facilities in the hotel include a fitness centre with an indoor pool, eight diverse restaurants and a massage facility (fee applies). A brand new shopping mall called Yokohama Hammerhead recently opened in close vicinity which is the perfect place to spend the afternoon or have a bite to eat.  

Review Rating: 9.0/10.

Click here to view Yokohama Royal Park Hotel on Booking.com

 

The Prince Park Tower Tokyo, Minato, Tokyo

With the iconic figure of Tokyo Tower glowing right outside your window, the Prince Park Tower Tokyo stands tall in Shiba Park. Prince Park Tower Tokyo enjoys spacious rooms, entertainment facilities such as bowling and karaoke, and relaxation facilities such as saunas, massage services and much more. Limited facilities include access to the fitness centre, onsen spas, indoor swimming pool and the lounge on floor 33. You can purchase a room with the view of Tokyo Tower on Booking.com 

Review Rating: 8.9/10 

Click here to view Prince Park Tower Tokyo on Booking.com 

 

Garden Terrace Nagasaki Hotel & Resort (Fukuoka, Nagasaki)

Located on Mount Inasa, this hotel offers a beautiful view of Nagasaki. There is a wide variety of facilities including an outdoor swimming pool (open depending on the season) and bars. Guests can enjoy the mystical and romantic nighttime scenery from the poolside. The hotel even offers a wedding plan, making it the perfect place for couples. 

Review Rating: 8.9/10.

Click here to view Garden Terrace Nagasaki Hotel & Resort on Booking.com

 

mizuka Nakasu 3mizuka Nakasu 3 -unmanned hotel (Fukuoka)

This hotel is located in Nakasu, Fukuoka just 500m away from Seiryu Park, the old municipal guest palace Kihinkan Hall and the historic monument Hakata Machiya Kishin Takatoro. Each room has two bunk beds and can fit up to four guests. Enjoy the hotel’s barbeque or takoyaki set with friends or family with the fantastic nighttime view of Fukuoka. 

Review Rating: 8.8/10

Click here to view mizuka Nakasu 3 -unmanned hotel on Booking.com

 

Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel (Naha, Okinawa)

Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel’s magnificent outdoor pools, onsen, massage services and buffet restaurant that overlooks the picturesque sea at night should be enough to get your attention. You can enjoy a SPA OSa beauty treatment and even water sports or golf in the area. This is a wonderful way to celebrate the first Christmas of the Reiwa Era with your friends or family.

Review Rating: 8/7/10

Click here to view Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel on Booking.com

 

If you’re visiting Japan this Christmas, consider one of these relaxing hotels and their glorious views.

 

*Review Ratings are based on reviews received in the past two years (from December 2017 to December 2019) on Booking.com and are calculated based on scores given in the following categories: cleanliness, comfort, location, facilities, staff and value for money.