Japan’s new luxury retreats: Hoshino Resorts Unveils KAI Hakone, LUCY Ozehatomachi, and RISONARE Shimonoseki

Kai Hakone.

KAI Hakone: Where Edo Travelers Once Wandered

Imagine stepping into a place where every detail tells the story of ancient journeyers who once walked the legendary Tokaido Road. KAI Hakone, reopening this August after a stunning redesign, captures that romantic spirit while wrapping you in contemporary luxury.

The moment you arrive at the Sawa-chaya Tea House in the courtyard, you'll understand. Staff greet you with sweet dango dumplings and tea, just as roadside tea houses welcomed weary Edo-period travelers centuries ago. It's theater, yes, but it's also genuine hospitality that makes you feel like you've arrived somewhere significant.

All 34 rooms now showcase the "Hakone Gokochi" style - think subtle nods to straw hats, lanterns, and the paraphernalia of old-world travel woven into elegant textiles and artwork. The two new suites are absolute dreams, each spanning over 110 square meters with private open-air baths and landscaped courtyards. Perfect for families or those who simply refuse to compromise on space.

But what truly captivated me? The hands-on yosegi-zaiku workshop, where you'll plane thin slices of patterned wood to reveal intricate mosaics - a craft Hakone has perfected over centuries. You'll leave with something far more meaningful than a souvenir: a connection to place.

LUCY Ozehatomachi.

LUCY Ozehatomachi: Adventure Elevated

Here's something thrilling: Japan's first purpose-built mountain hotel is arriving in September, and it's named after Isabella Bird, the fearless 19th-century British explorer who blazed trails across Japan when few Western women dared.

LUCY Ozehatomachi sits at Hatomachi Pass, the gateway to Oze National Park - Japan's largest high-altitude marshland. Picture boardwalks snaking through wetlands carpeted with alpine flowers, surrounded by 2,000-meter peaks. Until now, staying up here meant roughing it in basic mountain huts. Not anymore.

This isn't luxury in the traditional sense - it's something better. It's smart design that understands what modern explorers actually need: proper showers, comfortable beds, Wi-Fi that works, and hearty meals (that pork miso soup with grilled mackerel sounds perfect after a long hike). The 25 rooms include everything from dormitories for solo adventurers to family rooms for those bringing the kids.

What excites me most? The 24-hour Food & Drink Station and the emphasis on setting out at dawn. Stay here, and you'll experience the marshes in that magical morning light, before the day-trippers arrive. That's the kind of insider advantage worth waking up early for.

RISONARE Shimonoseki.

RISONARE Shimonoseki: Coastal Glamour Meets Fugu Culture

If you've been looking for an excuse to explore Kyushu, here it is. Opening in December, RISONARE Shimonoseki is pure coastal sophistication - 187 rooms overlooking the Kanmon Strait, where Honshu and Kyushu nearly touch.

The interiors, designed by Klein Dytham architecture, channel the emerald-green tones of the strait itself. But it's the Strait Cabana Suites that steal my heart: sandy "indoor beaches" in your living room, complete with telescopes for ship-watching and shells scattered like treasures. It's whimsical without being childish - a space that invites you to play.

Food lovers will swoon over OTTO SETTE, where Shimonoseki's famous fugu gets the Italian treatment. And yes, there's a 30-meter water slide that flows from indoors to outdoors, because why shouldn't luxury include a bit of exhilaration?

This isn't just another beach resort. It's where maritime history, culinary artistry, and design innovation converge into something completely fresh.

Rates for KAI Hakone start from ¥38,000 per person including meals. LUCY Ozehatomachi and RISONARE Shimonoseki rates available upon opening. For reservations: hoshinoresorts.com