Hotel Indigo Inuyama Urakuen Garden

IHG’s Indigo brand is unmistakably a creation of the boutique-hotel era, making liberal use of modern architecture and design in pursuit of something a little more memorable than an ordinary travel experience. But the Indigo hotels also excel at tailoring themselves to their setting; Hotel Indigo Inuyama Urakuen Garden, in the historic city of Inuyama, pays aesthetic tribute to Inuyama Castle and the famous Jo-An tea house, even as it offers its guests a thoroughly contemporary stay.

It’s actually set within the grounds of Urakuen Garden itself, which makes for verdant forest views as well as, on one side, views of the hilltop castle itself. And while the rooms and suites could hardly feel more Japanese, they’re not ultra-traditional — graphic murals and carpets contribute to a lively look, as do the colorful furnishings.

The hotel features its own onsen bath, a near-necessity for a proper Japanese mountain getaway, with indoor and outdoor baths. Meanwhile the hotel’s restaurant, Indigo Home Kitchen Yamateras, serves a modern interpretation of the region’s traditional cuisine in a stylish sunlit dining room, while the Bar Yoyama is designed as a tribute to the Jo-An tea house and to the festivals for which Inuyama is known.