Embrace Slow Travel with These 7 Memorable Stays
If you are craving stillness, thoughtful design and cultural depth, these seven hotels offer something deeper than just a place to sleep; they’re invitations to slow down, connect with your surroundings, and enjoy exceptional experiences.
Whether it’s a private soak in an open-air onsen or a night inside a centuries-old sake brewery, each stay reflects the essence of slow travel.
Onyado Fukuchiyo, Saga
Attached to a centuries-old sake brewery in the historical brewing town of Hizen Hamashuku, Onyado Fukuchiyo offers a rare blend of cultural depth and intimate design. With just one group welcomed per night, this exclusive auberge invites guests into a world of whitewashed walls, warm wood tones, and the quiet rituals of one of Japan’s most respected sake labels, Nabeshima. Renovated with sensitivity and restraint, the space preserves its merchant-era bones while introducing soft lighting, Japanese modern furnishings, and a thoughtful balance between stillness and indulgence.
Discover more destinations in Kyushu.
KAI Tamatsukuri, Shimane
Healing spring water, magatama-inspired rooms and dancing Kagura legends after dark. We invite you to check in to KAI Tamatsukuri, a riverside ryokan that channels Shimane’s oldest hot spring straight to every in-room cypress tub. Signature suites pick up the curve of the region’s ancient ‘magatama’ beads, while wall art mirrors the Tamayu River outside. Ideal for design-minded visitors eager to slow down and connect with a quieter side of Japan, it appeals to those who value tradition, regional identity, and subtle elegance over spectacle.
Garrya Kyoto
With just 25 rooms, Garrya Kyoto, one of the first openings by Banyan Tree in Japan, offers a highly intimate stay with a design that pays homage to both the city’s historic past and innovative present. There’s perhaps no better way to start your day with a morning forest meditation to set you up for a day exploring Kyoto, a reflection of the hotel’s dedication to health and wellness throughout. If you’re a traveller who values impeccable food, health and wellbeing, and a blend of history with modernity, Garrya Kyoto is highly worth considering.
For more on Kyoto’s diverse attractions, head to my 50 Things to Do in Kyoto guide.
Yoruya Kurashiki, Okayama
Historic architecture, private courtyard baths, and deep-rooted local craftsmanship, Yoruya Kurashiki offers a refined escape in one of Japan’s most beautifully preserved merchant towns. Housed within a 110-year-old former kimono merchant’s residence, this discreet 13-room hotel sits just outside the Bikan Historical Quarter, Kurashiki’s canal-lined district known for Edo-era warehouses, indigo-dyed fabrics, and a thriving craft legacy. Yoruya balances traditional architecture with serene modern interiors, slow-seasonal dining, and an almost meditative sense of stillness.
Kumano Bettei Nakanoshima, Wakayama
Perched on a private island in Wakayama Prefecture with a history of over 80 years, Kumano Bettei Nakanoshima is a private retreat that combines coastal beauty and traditional Japanese hospitality in one. From the sweeping views of Nachi-Katsuura town and the Pacific Ocean to the open-air onsen, every detail here feels thoughtfully connected to its surroundings. This is the perfect place to slow down and reconnect with Japan’s natural beauty.
Book Kumano Bettei Nakanoshima
Discover our bespoke journey: Sacred Pathways: A 14-Day Adventure Across Japan.
Hoshinoya Karuizawa, Nagano
Nestled in a secluded valley, Hoshinoya Karuizawa is more than just a luxury resort; it’s an immersive experience in nature, wellness, and refined Japanese hospitality. As Hoshino Resorts’ first flagship property, this intimate retreat seamlessly blends contemporary design with a deep reverence for its surroundings. The accommodation consists of individually designed villas, each offering floor-to-ceiling views of Karuizawa’s lush landscape, allowing guests to feel completely enveloped by the seasons. From forest meditation sessions to starlit dining experiences, Hoshinoya Karuizawa curates every moment to encourage deep relaxation and an appreciation for the rhythms of nature.
LOG, Onomichi
Compared to high-intensity cities like Tokyo, I feel like Onomichi invites travellers to slow down and take a breath. It’s one of many beautiful places in Japan that gave me a new outlook and taught me the power of slow travel. LOG stands on a hillside overlooking Onomichi; a 1960s apartment block turned contemplative retreat where time stands still. At LOG, design isn’t simply for aesthetics; it’s a philosophy. Each space is thoughtfully created to engage the senses and inspire reflection, from the dappled morning light that falls onto exposed brick to the walls of stretched Japanese paper that soften the sun’s glow each evening.
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