A Guide to Japan’s Foodie Hotels

In the realm of gastronomic delights, Japan is often regarded as a gift that keeps on giving. Foodies coming to Japan can find delicious cuisine at every nook and corner. From the bustling city centers full of ramen and sushi restaurants to the serene countryside serving fresh multi-course feasts called kaiseki, there is no better way to experience Japanese culture than to taste it. For a guide to the best Japanese dishes to try during your stay here, we’ve got you covered here.

In this installment, instead of recommending specific dishes, we’ll introduce some of the best hotels perfect for the foodie traveler. From opulent hotels with Michelin-star restaurants to tranquil ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) with kaiseki courses, these are some of the must-stay or must-visit hotels across Japan to satisfy your tastebuds.

If you’re seeking culinary excellence, then The Kitano Hotel Tokyo should be at the top of your list. The hotel curated one of the finest dining options across Japan, including the Michelin two-star restaurant SANT PAU, authentic Edo-style sushi Sushi Oumi, all-day Tea Lounge Kafu, and rooftop bar Kitano Arms Lounge.

With SANT PAU, world-renowned chef Carme Ruscalleda has brought her culinary mastery to Japan’s shores. Chef Carme Ruscaelleda continues to dazzle, creating artistic ideas by fusing culinary tradition from Catalonia with premium Japanese ingredients. For dinner, Menú Degustació will give you the full spread of classical Catalan cuisine, featuring 11 dishes, and costs around 190 USD (26,400 JPY).

SANT PAU also offers alternative light courses, such as Menú Curt (8 dishes/120 USD) and Menú Gastronómic (9 dishes/152 USD). The restaurant also carries a superb selection of wine from all over Spain, including rare wines that can only be found at this restaurant in Japan.

If you’re looking to switch up your palate, The Kitano Hotel Tokyo also houses Sushi Oumi, an Edo-style sushi restaurant. Founded by a sushi chef who did his training at a top sushi establishment in Ginza, you’ll find delight in both the traditional sushi spread and the chefs’ bright personalities.

No trip to Japan would be complete without staying at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn with cozy tatami rooms, relaxing natural hot springs, and a delectable kaiseki dinner. While pretty much any ryokan kaiseki dinner is sure to delight your taste buds, Kanazawa Yuwaku Onsen Hyakurakuso is a one-of-a-kind culinary experience.

Hyakurakuso, which won the Rakuten Travel Gold Award in 2021, creates its kaiseki menus around the bountiful produce from the Noto Peninsula and Ishikawa region. That means you’ll taste some of the freshest seafood prepared by masterful chefs experienced in the techniques of Kanazawa’s traditional food culture.

You can choose from five courses during your stay at Hyakurakuso, ranging from Basic Kaiseki to the opulent Kanazawa Kaiseki-Zei. If you happen to stay between November and March, you also have a chance to savor the Hokuriku region’s ultimate luxury, the Kano crab!

A mere two-minute walk from Nakajima-koen Station in Sapporo, Hotel Mystays Premier Sapporo Park is perfect for the foodie traveler looking for convenient access to one of the best food scenes in Japan. The capital city of Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido boasts some spectacular dishes, including (but not limited to) soup curry, jiguisukan (grilled mutton), ishikari nabe (seafood hotpot), and of course, miso ramen.

The food offerings at the hotel are nothing to scoff at either. Hotel Mystays Premier Sapporo park is home to Farm to Table TERRA, an open-style restaurant that serves dishes made with Hokkaido’s freshest organic produce. With a 46 feet high glass wall filtering in natural sunlight and an interior filled with lush greenery and warm wooden furniture, Farm to Table TERRA is a delightful outdoor-themed dining experience. Try their gastronomic innovations across various cuisines, from Japanese to European, made from produce sourced directly from organic farms.

Besides Farm to Table TERRA, the hotel is also home to Bettei Nakajima, a traditional Japanese restaurant serving premium kaiseki courses using fresh seasonal ingredients from Hokkaido. Alternatively, you can try Unagi Nakajima, a restaurant specializing in broiled eel, a traditional delicacy in Japan known for its succulent meat and crispy skin.

With comfy double rooms available for a mere 75 USD a night, the hotel’s various food offerings plus accessibility to Japan’s food mecca make this an easy choice for any traveling gourmet!

Rated nine stars in the Forbes Travel Guide 2021, Hotel New Otani in Tokyo is the epitome of luxury and world-class hospitality. While there is much to say about Hotel New Otani, such as their commitment to sustainable practices and impressive range of facilities, for this article we’ll focus on the hotel’s appeal to foodie travelers.

Perhaps “appeal” is an understatement — the hotel has a total of 40 different food options ranging from traditional Japanese restaurants, to stylish modern cafes, to mouth-watering patisseries. One that you should check out is the Garden Lounge, which has a spectacular view of the 400-year-old Japanese garden on the hotel premises that can be enjoyed together with exquisite desserts, specialty coffees, and teas.

Travelers with a sweet tooth will be happy to know that there is a Super Sweets Buffet featuring a spread of sandwiches, soups, salads, pasta, pastries, and desserts served from 11:30 A.M. You can also indulge in the Afternoon Tea Set, featuring Hotel Otani’s signature “Super Series” pastries.

If you’re more into savory treats, there are three different teppanyaki restaurants on-site that serve top-quality Japanese beef prepared by a chef by your table. All three are located on the premises of the Japanese garden, creating a serene atmosphere perfect for sampling the finest cuts of wagyu.

Sekishin-te in particular serves Kobe beef, the most famous wagyu brand in the world. With rich flavors and marbling that melts in your mouth, this is one of the finest culinary experiences you will find in Japan.