Michelin Key 2024: Unlock Japan’s Best Hotels & Restaurants

Breaking news: the Michelin Guide now includes hotels, handing out brand-new Michelin Keys to a carefully curated selection of hotels, each representing the pinnacle of luxury and hospitality.

Starting strong with 108 premium hotels in Japan, there are plenty of extravagant destinations for relaxation and rejuvenation across the country — each with its own collection of fine dining restaurants, bars and cafes for a 360-degree experience of spoiling yourself.

So, let’s get into the creme de la creme of Michelin Key hotels and their decadent dining options.

A Michelin Key — much like a Michelin Star — recognizes the best hotels in the world, putting unforgettable spaces in the spotlight. Each hotel is judged across five categories: architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall personality and character, value for the price, and a significant contribution to the guest experience in a particular setting. 

If it’s hitting the mark across the board in each of these categories, it will receive one, two or three Michelin Keys. Find out more about Michelin Keys.

1. Gora Kadan (Three Michelin Keys)
2. Bulgari Hotel Tokyo (Three Michelin Keys)
3. Palace Hotel Tokyo (Three Michelin Keys)
4. Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi (Three Michelin Keys)
5. Amanemu (Three Michelin Keys)
6. Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto (Three Michelin Keys)
7. Aman Tokyo (Two Michelin Keys)
8. Bonus: Four Seasons Tokyo at Marunouchi (Sezanne)

Gora Kadan was always destined for greatness with its location on the scenic grounds of Kan’in-no-miya Villa, the former summer villa of a member of the Imperial Family, based in the rural town of Gora in Hakone.

Blending Japanese tradition with modern design elements, private hot spring baths and some of the most delicious kaiseki multi-course cuisine and sushi in the area, there’s no doubt as to why Gora Kadan has unlocked all three Michelin Keys.

Kaiseki Kadan: Set in a villa built in the Showa Period, indulge in a meal with as much history as the location and explore their kaiseki menus, tapping into three basic principles: “to use ingredients at the peak of their freshness, to cherish the true flavors of each ingredient, and to cook while being mindful toward those who eat them.”

Sushi Kadan: Based in the former Kanin no Miya detached residence and supervised by Sushi Yoshitake, a prominent restaurant in Ginza, step into modern, minimalist interiors for an artisanal sushi experience like no other.

Bulgari Hotel Tokyo brings its unique Italian style and glamor to the Tokyo Midtown Yaesu skyscraper, filling the 40th to 45th floors with opulence and hotel rooms with sweeping views of Tokyo’s iconic skyline. Of course, you’re here to wine and dine, so let’s get to it.

Bulgari Bar: Sitting pretty on the 45th floor is The Bulgari Bar, set between two rooftop terraces and boasting some of the best views of the city. With doors that create a seamless flow from inside to outside during hotter months, this is the place for sipping cocktails on summer evenings.

Il Ristorante Niko Romito: Head down to the 40th floor for the authentic Italian cuisine of Il Ristorante Niko Romito, sure to sweep you off its feet with its curved wood ceiling and contemporary take on Italian dishes.

Bulgari Lounge: Somehow balancing the disparate atmospheres of cozy and relaxing with an effortless elegance, the 40th-floor Bulgari Lounge is where guests go for the luxury of light bites and afternoon tea experiences.

Sushi Hoseki Kenji Gyoten: Named after the Japanese word for “jewels,” this exclusive omakase sushi (chef’s choice) restaurant is anything but a hidden gem. Ease into one of the restaurant's eight seats, looking out over their Zen garden, and indulge in the elite of sushi dining.

Overlooking the Imperial Palace, the Palace Hotel Tokyo is another 5-star Tokyo hotel deserving of three Michelin Keys, giving you a space for moat-side memories with a side of “understated luxury.”

Palace Hotel Tokyo also has one of the widest selection of restaurants and bars on this list, crafting everything from French fine dining at Esterre, Japanese cuisine at Wadakura and exquisite Chinese food at Amber Palace.

Over in the stunning main lobby, dive into the all-day dining of American, French, Spanish and Italian cuisine at Grand Kitchen. Craving a luxurious cocktail? Head to the dark and moody ambience of Royal Bar and Lounge Bar Prive, or opt or cheerful and chic in the refined backdrop of The Palace Lounge — complemented by live jazz in the evenings.

Four Seasons has long been known as one of the leaders of hospitality, so it should come as no surprise to see Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi amongst the first hotels in Japan to be awarded three Michelin Keys. If you had any doubts, only one look out over Tokyo from one of its deluxe bedrooms and it’d all make sense.

Step outside your room and you’ll discover the wealth of restaurants ready and waiting to elevate your stay.

Savor contemporary French cuisine at Michelin-starred est, taste authentic Italian dishes at PIGNETO or head to The Lounge to relish the relaxed atmosphere alongside Japanese teas and pastries.

Est: Indulge in a 10-course dinner of eco-conscious Japanese-French cuisine made of 95% local ingredients from independent farmers, fishermen and foragers. 

PIGNETO: Designed with the leisurely joys of “abbondanza” (a life of plenty) in mind, this Italian restaurant brings together the expertise of Japan’s finest chefs and ingredients with unmatched views of the sprawling metropolis.

Virtu: Giving you a place to experience a world-leading collection of vintage French spirits and rare cognacs, sink into a rich, leather armchair in this atmospheric bar and you’ll soon see that all bars are not created equal.

The Lounge: Afternoon tea served with a side of seasonal sweets and savories is the order of the day in this serene lounge location, allowing you to treat yourself while soaking up sky-high views.

Amanemu is a ryokan-inspired onsen resort in the tree-lined hills of Ise-Shima, right by the natural beauty of Ago Bay. Somewhere between enjoying coastline walks and taking dips in the mineral-rich hot springs, don’t forget to make time for elevated Japanese cuisine and cocktails. 

The Restaurant: With a selection of elegant international dishes from morning to night, experience the full breadth of the season’s flavors — including premium Matsusaka Wagyu beef and seafood such as spiny lobster and abalone — all while enjoying views over the surrounding forest and down to the bay below.

The Bar & Lounge: Sip on Japanese craft beers and house cocktails by the pool or take your drinks out to the terrace for evenings lit by the gentle light of traditional lanterns.

Capturing all the effortless elegance of Japan’s past capital, Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto excels in all elements of your stay: seasonal spectacles change the scenery along with every season; chic, natural interiors will have you rushing to Muji straight after checkout; and wait until you discover their outstanding restaurants and bars. 

Miyako-ki: Miyako-ki features the finest local ingredients in Japanese-French fusion cuisine, embracing the underground channels of Kyoto’s freshest water source to elevant each dish to the next level.

FORNI: Oven-baked pizza. Authentic grilled dishes. Flavors that change with every season. This is the peak of Italian cuisine and you’ll have a table waiting.

The Garden Bar: With a backdrop of a traditional Japanese garden lit up against the dusk, you’ve likely never had drinks as atmospheric as this.

In a gorgeous space of green, Aman Tokyo blends modernity and nature into one beautiful, luxurious escape in the center of the city. Embrace ikebana flower arrangement displays, washi paper doors and ryokan-style rooms before taking a seat at one of the more exquisite Edomae sushi restaurants in Tokyo.

Musashi by Aman: Musashi by Aman Tokyo is where Chef Musashi puts his own personal Yamanashi Prefecture rice fields to work, tending to his rice crop by hand and ensuring that every grain is optimized for perfect sushi.

With four decades of experience in the craft of sushi, Musashi’s Edomae sushi uses ingredients sourced on the morning of the day you’ll be indulging — and you will be, as omakase course menus and sake pairings, courtesy of in-house master sommelier Fujiwara Ryu, will tempt you to keep coming back for more.

Reserve your table at Musashi for Edomae sushi.

That’s not all that’s waiting to be discovered inside Aman either, with a selection of other cuisines and delights to choose from:

La Patisserie: Start your day with a sweet treat from this bakery, more than worth finding on the B2 floor of the Otemachi Tower.

Arva: From the kitchens of Venice to Aman’s Italian restaurant, sit down for a celebration of innovative flavors and seasonal dishes.

The Cafe: Not many cafes are fancy enough to serve champagne, teas and hand-crafted sweets at the base of Otemachi Tower, but this one does — all with luxuriously leafy views.

The Lounge: Pop in at any time for a relaxing moment of cocktails and afternoon teas with iconic skyline views.

Overall, there were 108 hotels announced in the 2024 Michelin Key Guide:

• Six Three Key hotels
• 17 Two Key hotels
• 85 One Key hotels

And, likely, each one of them has an equally stylish and memorable restaurant or cafe inside — if not multiple — so you can wine and dine your way across Japan, one hotel at a time. Explore the full 2024 Michelin Key guide.

Though the Four Seasons Marunouchi hotel hasn’t received a Michelin Key (yet), its luxurious French-Japanese fusion restaurant Sezanne is no stranger to the Michelin Guide, having held two Michelin Stars since 2023. 

Located on the seventh floor of the hotel, the bright, airy space and marble-topped counters are immediately extravagant, yet relaxing, exactly as you’d expect from a 5-star hotel in Tokyo.

With two different course menu options: the MENU DU JOUR and MENU SÉZANNE, you’ll have two taste bud-pleasing paths available to you — and either way, you’ll soon be lost in a world of picturesque platings, fine dining and an equally impressive champagne and wine selection.

Reserve your table at Sezanne.

If you want to work your way through Japan’s Michelin-starred restaurants, you should read our blogs on Michelin Star restaurants in Osaka and Michelin Star restaurants in Kyoto. Oh, don’t forget Tokyo’s Michelin Star spots either!

Yes, Michelin Keys are awarded to outstanding hotels around the world as of 2024, spanning various styles and locations to celebrate excellence in the hospitality scene.

Yes, a restaurant can lose its Michelin Key if its standards decline or fail to meet the criteria set by the Michelin Guide inspectors during subsequent evaluations.

Guests can identify Michelin Key hotels by referring to the Michelin Key Guide, which lists and reviews establishments that have been awarded one or more Michelin Keys for their exceptional hotel experience.

Keep an eye out for the new Michelin Key award for stays that are sure to be memorable.

Michelin Key hotels stand out for their stunning interiors, breathtaking views and an exceptional quality of food across their internal restaurants, bars and cafes.