Miyajima Island, Honshu, Japan

Originally founded as a teahouse in the 1850s, this famous ryokan on Miyajima Island is a bastion of refined Japanese hospitality. The majority of its spacious rooms and suites date from 1930s–1950s, and are furnished in period, with polished, low tables on tatami floors, sliding paper screens, lattice walls and antique alcove posts. Panoramic views over the treetops of the Momijidoni Valley extend from the wood-floored balconies; deer routinely amble past the windows. The high quality kaiseki meals are very much in keeping with the décor, and feature the local speciality: steamed oysters with fresh lemon. There’s also a wonderful outdoor onsen pool open to the valley.

Spend a night at the Iwaso Ryokan on our 14-day Iconic Japan tailor-made tour.