Hotels in Japan with Michelin Star Dining

Japan is famous for the exceptional quality of its dining and accommodation — so why not combine both? There are many hotels throughout Japan with Michelin star dining, from the capital of Tokyo to sightseeing hotspots like Kyoto and Osaka. In this article, we’ll introduce five hotels with Michelin star dining to take your gourmet experience in Japan to the next level.

Four Seasons Hotel at Tokyo Marunouchi is one of Tokyo's most reputable and well-located 5-star hotels. It is directly connected to Tokyo Station, offering unrivaled access to the city and regional Japan on the bullet train, and is just a brief walk to the Imperial Palace.

With just 57 guestrooms, the hotel is quiet and exclusive — a welcome refuge amidst the buzzing energy of Tokyo. There is also a spa, sauna, and treatment services to enhance your rest between sightseeing and a gym to keep you feeling active.

Four Seasons Hotel at Tokyo Marunouchi is also home to Sézanne, a French restaurant awarded two stars in the MICHELIN Guide Tokyo 2023 a mere one and a half years after opening. The restaurant serves bold yet delicate dishes with exquisite, playful presentations sure to ignite all five senses.

The dishes are the genius creations of head chef Daniel Calvert, who honed his talents at two three-star Michelin restaurants in New York and Paris and has brought the best of what he learned to Tokyo. While inspired by French cuisine, many of the ingredients are sourced from across Japan, like the highly coveted kinki fish from Hokkaido's Abashiri and koshihikari rice from Niigata.

Four Seasons Hotel at Tokyo Marunouchi also hosts the French bistro Maison Marunouchi and the stylish bar named The Bar and Champagne Lounge.

For those seeking something a little more boutique, DDD Hotel is a sleek, minimalist designer hotel in Bakurocho, an up-and-coming neighborhood popular with young artists.

This self-styled “collective hotel” was tactfully renovated from an old business hotel and aimed to be a comfortable and stimulating space for locals and travelers to spend time. It embodies a simplistic yet luxurious design, providing only the necessities but at the absolute highest quality.

Its guestrooms are cool and modern, colored in soothing dual tones of white and “moss green,” with ample space and high-quality amenities. The hotel also hosts its own gallery to inspire further, converted from an old multi-story car park.

DDD Hotel also has a one Michelin starred restaurant called nôl. It is an amalgamation of French and Japanese food cultures, born through the trailblazing vision of chef Tatsuya Noda. The intrinsic flavors of each carefully sourced ingredient are skillfully taken to their full potential in the open “kitchen space” which connects seamlessly to the dining room for an intimate dining experience.

Premium delicacies are used without reserve, like Hida beef from Gifu, while other dishes are influenced by chef Noda’s own humble culinary beginnings, such as a salsa of traditional lightly pickled vegetables inspired by his mother’s garden and home cooking. DDD Hotel also has a cafe and bar serving specialty coffee with food and sweets pairings and alcoholic beverages like beer and original cocktails, giving guests plenty to enjoy during their stay.

ANA InterContinental Tokyo stands in a prime, upmarket Tokyo location surrounded by city icons like Tokyo Tower and the Imperial Palace, near top-notch shopping areas such as Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown.

On the room front, this hotel has variety! There are classic rooms to roomy suites for a home away from home. Views from the hotel are sublime, with many rooms looking out over Tokyo Tower surrounded by dazzling urban sprawl, while others present the greenery of the Imperial Palace Gardens, showcasing the diversity of Tokyo's landscapes.

Aside from the location, the biggest benefit of booking a night at ANA InterContinental Tokyo is enjoying your pick from its twelve restaurants and bars. Of these, Pierre Gagnaire stands out with its two star Michelin rating and stunning upper-floor views. Its dashing purple theme (a traditional, royal shade called "Edo purple") with splashes of gold exudes a sophisticated, glittering energy embodying the excitement of Tokyo.

The restaurant is the brainchild of French chef Pierre Gagnaire, nicknamed "the Picasso of the kitchen", whose original restaurant in France of the same name has been rated three Michelin Stars since 1996. He specializes in contemporary fusion cuisine and is a legend amongst fans of fine dining for his unbridled imagination in the kitchen.

With each dish as much a work of art, as it is food, Pierre's spirit is perfectly captured at ANA InterContinental Tokyo, with creativity and skill complemented by premium ingredients inspired by the seasons of Japan.

Guests staying multiple nights at ANA InterContinental Tokyo can also mix it up with teppanyaki, traditional Japanese, Chinese, sushi, steak, and more.

InterContinental Osaka is a five-star hotel directly connected to Osaka Station in the bustling Umeda district of central Osaka City. It has all the perks one can expect from a hotel of such caliber, like a Japanese-style bathhouse with multiple saunas, a 20-meter indoor pool, a 24-hour gym, professional spa treatments, and concierge services.

There are 272 guest rooms featuring stylish, clutter-free designs with warm wood tones and functional furniture, enhanced by dazzling panoramas over the Kansai region. Guests can treat themselves to delights of all sorts during their stay, from hearty breakfast buffets to delectable afternoon teas and cocktails — and, of course, Michelin Star dining.

InterContinental Osaka’s restaurant Pierre has flaunted a one-star rating in the Michelin Guide for seven consecutive years, being once again picked up for the Kyoto Osaka 2023 edition. Pierre specializes in creative dishes blending Japanese ingredients with contemporary French techniques, regularly adapting the menu to reflect the best of each season.

The restaurant interior is colored by refined dark wood hues and floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Osaka cityscape. Meals can be paired with wines from a sizable cellar curated by a professional sommelier. For those on extended stays, InterContinental Osaka has plenty of other dining options to explore, too, including the Noka Roast & Grill and the Stressed Patisserie.

The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto is another luxury hotel set apart by its magnificent location on the bank of Kyoto's Kamo River. Alongside superb scenery, the hotel is within convenient walking distance of many of the ancient capital's popular attractions, such as the Heian Shrine, Kyoto Imperial Palace, and the Nishiki Market.

Its quiet, unassuming, and low-rise structure blends flawlessly with the character of Kyoto, providing guests with a modest yet impeccable service embodying the spirit of Japanese hospitality. Guests looking to dive into local culture can partake in hotel-run experiences like sake tasting, Buddhist chanting, kimono dressing, and samurai classes, making your time in Kyoto even more gratifying. Of course, a luxury hotel's classic trimmings are present, including 24-hour in-room dining, an indoor swimming pool, a fitness center, and spa treatments.

No trip to Kyoto is complete without a taste of the fine local food, and the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto's own Tempura Mizuki earned itself one star in the Michelin Guide. Here, fresh ingredients are transformed into tempura in front of a granite table sitting just eight guests, forming a sumptuous, intimate atmosphere.

Michelin noted that the highlight of Tempura Mizuki was the remarkable assortment of shrimp, which included rare treats like sakura shrimp, shiba shrimp, and glass shrimp, depending on the season. Whether you've eaten tempura before or not, Tempura Mizuki will give you a full appreciation for this surprisingly versatile dish.

Ritz-Carlton Kyoto's other Japanese restaurants, which serve teppanyaki, sushi, and kaiseki (a multi-course meal of different small dishes), are also well worth checking out. With such a diverse assortment of Japanese cooking all at one establishment, it's the perfect base for those looking to dive into Kyoto's cuisine culture in the comfort of their hotel. There is also traditional Italian at La Locanda, and afternoon tea at The Lobby Lounge, so come hungry!