Oriental Hotel Kobe

In one form or another, the Oriental Hotel Kobe dates back as far as 1870, but a glance at its modern form reveals that it’s undergone some fairly substantial changes in the intervening years. (The earthquake of 1995 played a decisive role.) The present building was established in 2010, but it’s suffused with as much historical atmosphere as its designers could pack into its (impressively sturdy) structure.

In this port city, historical atmosphere means a blend of Japanese tradition and globetrotting influences — there’s a touch of Art Deco, recalling the golden age of international travel, before the Second World War. The Oriental offers a range of accommodations, from the relative modesty of the Regular floors on up through the increasingly luxe Executive levels and into the truly lavish suites, with their far-ranging views and their extravagant Jaxson Air-Blower massaging bathtubs.

The Oriental claims some of the credit for the worldwide reputation of Kobe beef, and its restaurants display a commensurate seriousness — Medium Rare, the steak house, serves Kobe and Hida beef prepared to perfection, while the House of Pacific is the open-kitchen restaurant specializing in Italian cuisine and regional Japanese specialties. Meanwhile Kobe Sushi Kanesaka is the obligatory high-end sushi joint, and the cocktail bar is named for J.W. Hart, the British designer of Kobe’s international settlement.