Secluded luxury: Japan’s most exclusive retreats beyond the golden route

From forest-hidden ryokans to barefoot island villas, uncover Japan’s most secluded luxury retreats where design, culture and landscape converge far from the crowds.

There is a moment, somewhere between stepping off a rural train platform and hearing nothing but cicadas, when Japan reveals its most intoxicating luxury – silence. Beyond the neon corridors of Tokyo and the temple-to-temple pilgrimages of Kyoto lies a quieter country shaped by mossy forests, dreamy islands, remote mountain valleys and onsen towns that still move to the rhythm of ritual rather than rush.

Here, indulgence is measured in space and stillness. Ryokans are framed by cedar and cloud, meals are foraged from mountain soil and beachfront villas seem to belong more to the sea than the shore. These are places you choose deliberately, reached slowly and remembered deeply – from the alpine spine of Nagano to the subtropical calm of Amami Oshima and the far-flung corners of Kyushu and Okinawa – each one an invitation to get beautifully lost in Japan.

Bettei Senjuan, Minakami

Alpine ryokan elevated to art

High in Gunma Prefecture’s snow country, 160 kilometres northwest of Tokyo, Bettei Senjuan turns the classic ryokan into a dramatic mountain stage. Suites face ravines and cedar forests surrounding Mt. Tanigawa, each with a private open-air, mineral-water-fed bath allowing views over winter snowfall and spring cherry blossoms. Architecture balances refined minimalism with a touch of drama. Think wooden sliding doors carved by artisans in Niigata, washi paper artwork by Eriko Horiki, and calligraphy by Nobuko Kawahara that depicts the passage of the four seasons. Then there’s the eight-meter-high curved corridor with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on the garden.

Minakami is known for outdoor adventure, yet at Senjuan the real thrill is stillness. Is there anything better than soaking in steaming springs before a kaiseki dinner served in your room and built around river fish, mountain vegetables and wagyu raised nearby.

Tobira Onsen Myojinkan, Matsumoto

Onsen heritage meets fine dining

On the foothills of Yatsugatake Mountains in Nagano Prefecture, Tobira Onsen Myojinkan is a masterclass in relaxation. This long-established ryokan blends tatami tradition with discreet modern comforts, while its onsen baths are fed by mineral-rich waters revered for centuries.

The real surprise is the dining – its French-Japanese restaurant has earned Michelin recognition, pairing Shinshu produce with classical technique. Days are spent drifting between steaming baths, woodland walks and visits to Matsumoto Castle, returning each evening to a sense of ceremony that never feels staged.

The Expedition Hotel Zenagi, Nagiso

For the modern explorer

Hidden deep in Nagano’s backcountry, Zenagi feels less like a hotel and more like a secret lodge (limited to one group per day). There are three spacious suites that accommodates up to 12 guests, each designed for immersion: cedar tubs, washi paper screens, urushi lacquer floors and windows that frame private Zen gardens.

Experiences here are participatory: guided walks along historic samurai trails, canyoning the Kiso River, cycling through rice terraces, paragliding to get a bird’s-eye view of the Japanese Alps, and fireside dinners made with ingredients gathered that day. Zenagi attracts travellers who value narrative over novelty, where luxury is defined by reconnection rather than indulgence.

Denpaku The Beachfront MIJORA, Amami Oshima

Island solitude with a design soul

Floating between Kyushu and Okinawa in southwest Japan, Amami Oshima – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is a subtropical dreamscape of coral reefs, rainforest and sugar-white beaches. Denpaku The Beachfront MIJORA sits quietly on the north of the island, its minimalist villas opening directly onto the waterfront.

Timber, stone and woven textures anchor the design to place, while floor-to-ceiling glass draws the outside in. Days drift between snorkelling crystalline waters, cycling through fishing villages and lingering over seafood that travelled from reef to plate in hours. MIJORA isn’t about spectacle – it is about recalibrating to island time.