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If you have a luxury tour to Japan on the cards, lucky you. Whether you’re looking for see-it-to-believe-it skyscrapers, zen retreats in the forest, sleek addresses in shopping districts, cozy traditional inns, thermal spa sanctuaries, or all of the above, our favorite Japan hotels guarantee you one thing: a super-soft and soothing landing in this dazzling country.

Experience it Yourself On: Majestic Japan

1. Tokyo Edition, Ginza

Just off Chuo Street, with its many lavish boutiques and department stores, this is one of the best hotels in Tokyo for couples, particularly if those couples love to shop. The sleek building glows amber, like a 14-storey lantern, and it’s topped with a lush green oasis-like rooftop bar. For the colder months, there’s the Punch Room, proudly Japan’s first punch-focused cocktail bar. Rooms are exquisitely adorned with warm walnut wood and white faux furs.

Credit: @editionginza on Instagram

2. Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel

This is one of our favorite luxury stays on our Majestic Japan journey, not least for its dazzling views of the Oirase Stream. In the winter, you can enjoy natural hot springs among frozen waterfalls and snow-capped rock formations. These are some of the most epic surroundings a hotel can have; why not be luxuriating in warm water while you behold them? Rooms are chic and understated, with huge windows to remind you where you are.

Credit: @hoshinoresorts_oirasekeiryuhtl on Instagram

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3. Aman Kyoto

There are over 400 Shinto shrines in Kyoto and Aman Kyoto is the perfect luxury ryokan-inspired base from which to explore as many as possible. After a hard day’s basking in the golden glory of Kinkaku-ji (a zen temple, very nearby), flop in your light-filled room, soaking up floor-to-ceiling forest views, or – better yet – in the soothing spa, with its indoor and outdoor onsen, and treatments that draw on Japan’s apothecary (green tea, tamba kuromame black beans, sake and cold-pressed camellia oil).

Credit: @aman_kyoto on Instagram

4. Janu Tokyo

Janu is Aman’s little sibling brand and this was its first iteration – in the luxury enclave of Azabudai Hills. Unlike the Amans, which provide full escapist luxury spa breaks, Janu feels more connected to its neighborhood, with a buzzier vibe, splashes of colour and cuisine worth traversing the city for. There are eight places to eat, including Hu Jing (sparkly Cantonese food) and Sumi (13 seats around a wood grill).

Credit: @janutokyo on Instagram

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5. Azumi Setoda, Hiroshima

Now one of the best hotels in Japan, this special place was (for 140 years) the family estate of the Horiuchi family. The luxury minimalism at play here involves lots of gentle, smooth cypress and cedar woods, shoji screens, hinoki bath tubs, washi paper and white linens. The Horiuchi family were the largest salt barons on Ikuchijima island in the Meiji Period. The island’s location in the middle of the Seto Inland Sea was an optimal location and now means: sea breeze on the balcony of your gorgeous tatami room.

Credit: @azumi.setoda on Instagram

6. The Mitsui, Kyoto

Across the road from UNESCO World Heritage Site Nijo Castle, this 160-room glossy retreat is newly built on the grounds of the centuries-old former residence of the powerful Mitsui family. An all-glass lounge looks out to the courtyard garden, with its cherry tree and twinkling pond. But after a full day of Kyoto sightseeing, the spa is the star – the subterranean hot spring offers dark stone walls and the sound of running water for deep relaxation.

Credit: @hotel_the_mitsui_kyoto on Instagram

7. Hoshinoya Tokyo

This high-rise ryokan is one of the most seamless luxury hotels in Japan for blending traditional design and customs with cozy, city-slick mod-cons. Upon entry, a member of staff will tuck your shoes into one of the bamboo cubbies in the hall and from there, everything is softer. Breakfast is one of the most esconcing experiences in the city – a bento-style parade of fish, pickles, tamago, and fresh tea. Nowhere says ‘you are here’ quite like Hoshinoya Tokyo.

Credit: @hoshinoya.official on Instagram

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8. Benesse House, Naoshima

Part-hotel, part-museum, Benesse House is a deeply special address on the island of Naoshima, known as the art island. The rooms themselves are luxurious but simple, with floor-to-ceiling views over the Inland Sea – majestic at sunset. But it’s the proximity to the artworks that makes this one of the best hotels in Japan. Art is everywhere, including scattered locations along the seashore – Niki de Sant Phalle’s elephant and cat, for instance – and Kusama’s iconic pumpkin.

Credit @benesse.artsite on Instagram

9 Mimaru apartments, various locations

There are 15 of these in Tokyo alone, and more than 25 across the country. Mimaru is an incredibly useful name to know because these represent some of the best hotels in Japan for families. They are conveniently located and the spacious rooms have separate sleeping areas (sometimes with bunkbeds). They have beautiful bathrooms, well-appointed kitchenettes and (all-important, with kids) laundry services.

10. The Ritz Carlton, Nikko

One of the most serene luxury hotels in Japan, this one is set within Nikko National Park, on the shores of Lake Chuzenji, beneath the revered Mount Nantai, which is a sacred deity in Shinto. Soak up the tranquility from your big, soothing room’s engawa (porch), with a cashmere blanket and a view of the lake or mountains. Sink even further into warm, cedar-scented bliss in the outside onsen.

Credit: @ritzcarltonnikko on Instagram

What is the most luxurious place in Japan?

If you just want to know what’s happening among the creme de la creme of luxury hotels in Japan, go to Tokyo for big-name, five-star addresses that keep getting sleeker, chicer and more divine. But if you like the idea of sumptuous high-end ryokans, Kyoto might be more your cup of (sencha) tea.

Where do celebrities stay in Japan?

All of the addresses above will make you feel like a celebrity, but each will also protect your privacy. We do know that Beyonce has stayed at The Mitsui Kyoto. And that Kim K’s favorite hotel is the Aman Tokyo. And that the Lost in Translation hotel is the Park Hyatt Tokyo. That just about covers it.

If you’ve been meaning to “do” Japan for the first time, our luxury Japan itinerary is here for you. Aptly named Majestic Japan for its supreme majesty in all areas: iconic temples, fairytale lanscapes (seen from the windows of bullet trains), magical metropolises, luxury hotels (often with their own onsen or hot springs) and life-altering food, this is an 11-day luxury tour to Japan that will leave you thrillingly sated (and planning to come back for more).

Days 1-2: Osaka

Categorically not just a smaller Tokyo, Osaka is a singular city that sparkles with life. It has street food like nowhere else on earth, a cracking nightlife scene and daytime strolls that are not too arduous but dotted with delights. We kick off our tour of Japan in style at the Imperial Hotel Osaka, which has terrific, welcoming views of the skyline and the shimmering Okawa River (which is popular for cherry blossom cruising). Once everyone’s settled at the hotel (perhaps after a swim in the brilliant pool, with its epic views), our guests meet over tempura, sushi and sake. And we’re off…

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Day 3: Hiroshima

Kyoto and Osaka are about an hour from each other by car, and a mere 14-15 minutes by shinkansen, not even long enough to require a bento box picnic. On our luxury Japan itinerary, however, we slow things down by traveling via Hiroshima, so we have time to sit back and relax as we travel past small towns, rice fields and snow-capped mountains. In Hiroshima, the itinerary is as varied as this thriving, cosmopolitan community; we pause to reflect at the Peace Memorial Park and meet a survivor of the world’s first atomic-bomb attack. Later, we try okonomiyaki – one of many unmissable gastronomic experiences –  before heading onward to one of the loveliest luxury hotels in Kyoto: The Thousands.

Day 4: Kyoto

There is much to see in Kyoto, and often visitors encounter a long distance between key sights, so we’ve carefully designed a fulfilling day taking in temples, bamboo groves, and the Gion district, which is famed for its geisha, as well as its teahouses and lantern-lit restaurants. Guests love our visit to the picture postcard Zen Buddhist temple Kinkaku-ji, a three-tiered pavilion covered with gold leaf, which reflects spectacularly in the pond beneath. Lunch is traditional Kyo-Kaiseki cuisine (multi-course, Kyoto cooking), with an unforgettable performance by a maiko – an apprentice geisha.

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Day 5: Mount Fuji

Is there a more iconic mountain in the world than Mount Fuji? Many visitors to Japan encounter it through the window on their way somewhere else, but on day five, we board the bullet train to Mishima, an oasis-like town built on the lava flow of Mount Fuji – for our close up. This is your luxury Japan itinerary, so you might choose to soak up the views on the Kachi-Kachi Ropeway cable car, or to visit the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum for an alternative dose of serenity (in the gardens), some spectacular architecture and a dazzling collection of kimonos. We head straight on to the Cerulean Tower Tokyo Hotel for a well-earned rest before a big day in the capital.

Day 6: Tokyo

Where to begin? Tokyo is a simply thrilling place to be, and you have some difficult choices to make. Will you join a local expert on a tour of the arty, fashion-forward Omotesando and Harajuku neighborhoods? Will you spend time crafting your own lunch with a master sushi chef? Will you prioritize the Tokyo National Museum or the Meiji-jingu Shrine? And what on earth will you eat first? We’ll help you work all this out and more, so that your day in Tokyo is everything you want it to be. But don’t panic – you’ll be back on day 10.

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Day 7: Sendai

Our luxury Japan itinerary is all about balance, so after the energy of Tokyo, we take the opportunity to revel in Japan’s soothing nature. On a private cruise of Matsushima Bay, we listen to the many haikus it has inspired, which describe it as a place of love and wonder. We eat fresh seafood in a local inn, and we embrace the nourishment and calm of a traditional tea ceremony.

Day 8: Tsugaru and Hirosaki Castle

This is a magical stop that makes a trip to Japan extra special. This wedding cake castle features fortified moats and castle gates, and is one of the country’s cherry blossom hotspots. In season, the blush pink petals fill the moat so it looks like a strawberry milkshake. We learn about the meticulous care and nurturing of the trees from a specialized cherry blossom doctor.

Day 9: Oirase

You are booked into the Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel, a wildly serene mountain stream resort inside a National Park, surrounded by clear streams, mossy rocks, and a forest of deciduous broad-leaved trees. The hotel features hot springs and restaurants out in the thick of it, surrounded by a changing colour palette, depending on the season of your visit. While we’re in Oirase, we enjoy a rare opportunity to meet a sake brewmaster, Takeshi Miura, and share some of Japan’s sacred drink in stunning surroundings.

Day 10: Back to Tokyo

However you choose to spend your remaining time in Tokyo, we always toast to a successful trip to Japan with a celebratory dinner at Hoshinonaruki. It’s always an intensely atmospheric meal, showcasing Japanese culinary techniques and seasonal ingredients.

Day 11: Arigato Nihon!

Your private car takes you to Narita or Haneda International Airport. Unless, of course, you choose to stay awhile…

Each year, Mercer, the consultancy focused on global economics, publishes its list of the most expensive cities in the world. The index lists 226 cities in the world in order, measuring how ‘expensive’ each one is by comparing the costs of more than 200 items in each location, including transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment. Mercer says “the comprehensive ranking serves as a valuable compass, providing guidance through the intricate landscape of living expenses in cities worldwide”. At the other end of the Mercer list, the cities that ranked the lowest for living costs last year are Islamabad, Lagos and Abuja.

Mercer’s list of the most expensive cities in the world is aimed at companies with employees who are assigned internationally and it includes four Swiss cities (Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Bern). There are other similar lists, including one by The EIU (Economist Intelligence Unit), which publishes a worldwide cost of living survey naming its most expensive cities in the world each year. And there’s another, by Numbeo, which focuses on the prices of consumer goods such as food, restaurants, and transportation, but not housing. Below, we’ve combined our findings to make a list of the 10 most expensive cities in the world, which happen to make wonderful luxury travel destinations.

1. Singapore

Poised at the top of both lists, there is no denying this luxury paradise’s position as one of the most expensive cities in the world. Singapore has pizzazz in abundance – even its botanical garden is described by Lonely Planet as “a S$1 billion, 101-hectare fantasy land of space-age biodomes, high-tech Supertrees and whimsical sculptures”. The soothing Mandarin Oriental overlooks the Marina Bay Sands development – the crown jewel of the skyline, and the symbol of modern Singapore.

2. Hong Kong

This city wears its luxury credentials glamorously, via an iconic skyline, glittering harbour and spectacular restaurant scene. But there are lush green peaks all around, too, offering panoramic views, Hong Kong camellias and sightings of spoon-billed sandpipers. Stay at the Peninsula to absorb some old-world magic, right on the Kowloon waterfront, and dine at Wing, Vicky Cheng’s rule-free fine dining establishment, which celebrates the eight great Chinese cuisines to dazzling effect.

3. Zurich

Another long-term resident of the top 10 list, this Swiss city rides high as a result of expensive housing prices and high transportation costs. Our 10-day Majestic Switzerland journey begins and ends in Zurich, where we stay at the stunning art deco AMERON Zürich Bellerive au Lac on the shore of Lake Zurich, a short walk from the opera house.

4. Geneva

On the same captivating Switzerland journey, which sweeps round the country with a stint on the Glacier Express, we pause in Geneva for a stay at the uniquely grand but intimate Hotel d’Angleterre, on the shores of the lake. It’s a sumptuous address – lots of dark wood, soothing tones, rich fabrics and imposing drapery. The lake views from the restaurant are exquisite, making for a meal perfectly befitting one of the most expensive cities in the world.

5. Copenhagen

Number 8 on the EIU list, Denmark’s impossibly cool capital is well documented as an expensive destination to while away a weekend. It’s worth every penny. Our Timeless Scandinavia journey combines a divine mix of fjords, scenic railways, countryside abodes and dazzling cities, starting in Copenhagen. Our chosen city lodgings are the epitome of Scandi minimalism: 71 Nyhavn is made up of restored canalside warehouse buildings, originally built in the early 1800s. We dine at the Michelin-star Høst – on the best Nordic ingredients, meticulously assembled.

6. Paris

Naturalement, some of the world’s most fabulous vacations are taken in Paris. On our Ultimate France journey we luxuriate in Paris last of all, so you can also extend your trip and linger longer. We stay at the Hotel Napoleon, a romantic address in the city’s heart, a short walk from the Arc de Triomphe. At the very end, our guests reminisce over dinner on the Eiffel Tower, potentially the most alluring dining destination in the world.

7. New York City

We flock to the Big Apple to shop widely, dine opulently and sleep soundly in some of the world’s most exquisite boudoirs, amid the unmistakable buzz of one of the most expensive cities in the world. Our current hotel pick for sheer grandiosity is the Fifth Avenue Hotel, once part of the estate of a 19th century socialite, sensationally restored with a jewel box palette, elaborate wallpapers, ornate paneling and oysters à la pomme at Café Carmellini.

8. London

Maintaining its position in the top 10 thanks to enormous demand for a tightly constrained supply of city-centre property, London is still Europe’s biggest financial centre, and the average house costs around 850,000 USD. On our journey through the regal glory of Great Britain, we begin in London – very centrally – across the road from Buckingham Palace. The Rubens at the Palace is a riot of lavish Englishness, with four poster beds, doormen in tailcoats and afternoon tea.

9. Nassau

The high cost of living in Nassau is due to its status as a tourist destination and financial hub, and because of high demand for limited housing from both locals and expatriates. Modern Nassau is all high-end fashion designers, extremely fine dining and superyachts – all with that turquoise backdrop. Soak it up at the Rosewood Baha Mar, a haven of exclusivity, with a golf course, French restaurant and soothing, richly decorated residences, opening on to the powder white sands of Cable Beach.

10. Los Angeles

LA has higher than average costs for housing, taxes, food, transport, health care, and utilities. The most expensive neighbourhood is Bel-Air. If you’re in town, only the rose-coloured Hotel Bel-Air will do, set within 18 acres of bougainvillea, ficus, orange blossom and fern. This classic Hollywood hideaway makes guests feel like A-listers, and is a peaceful antidote to the traffic.