Needless to say, there are countless holiday choices for the well-heeled traveler. Japan is a destination that offers something unique with a rich culture built on thousands of years tradition and where brave samurai and beautiful geishas capture our imagination.  Japan offers countless places of natural beauty where pristine lakes and bamboo forest allow us to immerse ourselves in calming vistas that bring an inner tranquillity. In contrast, the major cities are a buzz with action offering world class shopping, commerce and night life. It is no wonder that Japan’s tourism continues to grow  welcoming guests from around the world. There are plenty of options for the sophisticated traveler to choose for a pampering stay throughout Japan.

Japan’s popularity as a tourism destination come as no surprise, as a write-up on Japan by ExpatBets notes how the country is home to eight regions full of unique and beautiful places to visit. These regions — Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa — also offer visitors an array of accommodation options, from  ryokan and temple lodgings to palatial five star hotels. Heres our pick of five of Japan’s luxurious ryoken hotels sure to delight the most demanding travler to the stunningly exotic and beautiful destination.

Hoshinoya Tokyo

The Hoshinoya Tokyo is where history meets luxury, as  a feature on the Hoshinoya by Elle details how this 18-story skyscraper is Tokyo’s first luxury five-star traditional ryokan inn. It’s surrounded by stunning landscapes on the outside, and teeming with first-class amenities on the inside. Two worth noting are the onsens (hot springs) and the unnamed restaurant in the basement, where acclaimed chef Noriyuki Hamada serves visitors a sumptuous Nippon cuisine. Each room is spacious and has a distinctly ryokan look, but with a modern-day vibe complete with its very own Ochanoma lounge, a Japanese chill-out spot.

Aman Kyoto

It may have opened rather quietly last November, but  the Aman Kyoto is definitely up there in terms of luxury. The Aman group’s latest five-star resort only has 26 rooms, but each boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, traditional tatami floor mats, Ofuro soaking tubs, and bespoke furniture exclusive to the hotel. It’s most luxurious offering, though, is its world-class spa, complete with mineral-rich onsen baths and the Aman Kyoto Signature Journey: a restorative massage that uses pleasant-smelling oil made from Kyoto kitayama cedar trees, yuzu citrus, sakura cherry, and green tea. Not impressed yet? The spa also offers a Japanese gold leaf facial, with only the finest 24-karat gold from Kanazawa touching the guests’ face.

Zaborin

The sprawling ryokan of Zaborin lies hidden in Hokkaido’s thriving greens, and it looks like something straight from a James Bond movie. Here, guests stay not in rooms, but in spacious, private villas that are well spaced apart from one another. Impressively, each villa boasts floor-to-ceiling windows that offer an unobstructed view of nature, as well as an outdoor onsen tub and patio. The Zaborin even has its own in-house library of bestselling books and movies, which you can take to your villa to enjoy.

Japan is a destination like no other in the world. From the beautiful landscapes, culture, cuisine  and people, it is a place that beguiles the traveler and where once visited, one holiday there is never enough.