Page 76 - S/ Summer 2023

Pastures New
Discover another face of a recently-reopened Japan with
these luxurious destinations.
By Nour Abi-Nakhoul
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L ast October, Japan reopened its borders to foreign travelers. For two and a half years, the country had implemented some of the world’s strictest COVID-19 entry controls, at first closing their borders almost completely to foreign visitors, and then only permitting entry to those visiting with tour groups. For a country whose tourism industry is typically massive, with a legion of cutting-edge, architecturally brilliant hotels stretching from Hokkaido to Kagoshima, this closing-off from the world was an unprecedented blow—one that caused destinations across the East Asian archipelago to radically restructure their day- to-day operations. Now, these hotels are once again eager to receive foreign visitors. Here are three serene, unique, luxury-forward destinations across Japan that are worth exploring outside the capital for—and what they’re doing to adjust to the new influx of visitors. Sowaka is located in the Gion district of Kyoto,
a neighbourhood famous for its geishas and its historical super-narrow wooden shops. The hotel blends elegantly into the surroundings with its ryokan appearance—a type of traditional Japanese inn that’s existed for over a thousand years. Its two buildings, linked together by an inner courtyard, are rustic and serene, flush with dark woods and quaint eaves that emanate a calming residential feel. The secondary building is more contemporary, with minimalist
décor and clean lines, but it’s the main building— Sowaka’s modern interpretation of the open-air, tatami-matted ryokan—that really shines. Where possible, the architects have preserved the structure and woodwork of the original building, updating it in ways inspired by traditional Japanese craftsmanship.
Rakudo An: photo courtesy of Rakudo An.