Tokyo
Aman Tokyo
Anyone arriving in Tokyo who wants a sanctuary, not a scene.
A private guide by Nadine Brady
The Japan
Edit
Updated October 2026
A more considered way to see Japan, shaped by first-hand experience.
The overview
At a glance
Highlights
- Tokyo's best hotels, from Aman's calm to the newest openings, and the districts worth staying in.
- Osaka for food, energy and the hotel named the best in the world in 2026.
- Kyoto with the right guide: the quieter temples, kaiseki and a ryokan night.
- Ten experiences worth planning a trip around, and 26 small things that change everything.
Best time to go
Spring and autumn are the loveliest. Cherry blossom runs late March to early April and autumn leaves peak in November, so book months ahead. I'd avoid July and August, when the heat is relentless.
Three hotels I'd book
Osaka
Patina Osaka
Anyone who wants calm, meaning and a castle view, and the best hotel in Japan right now.
Kyoto
Aman Kyoto
Total privacy and a true retreat.
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Every hotel, the tables worth booking, and the small details I'd only share with a friend.
Let me make Japan feel effortless.
Most journeys begin with a conversation rather than a booking. Tell me who is travelling and what you're drawn to, and I'll shape the trip around that. Cherry blossom and autumn 2027 are already booking, and the best hotels go first.