L’Hotel Du Lac

About the only thing L’Hotel du Lac has in common with a traditional ryokan is its country setting — in this case, on the shores of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture. The rest is pure of-the-moment luxury, and we don’t mean flatscreens juxtaposed with tatami floors and futons. This is wall-to-wall modern design, a precise aesthetic stripped to its essentials without feeling too spare. It can be a bit jarring to step out of the postcard-ready surroundings and into the airy, glass-walled lobby, but once you’ve arrived in your guest room, it all comes together.

The concept of “serenity” is one of those hotel intangibles that’s difficult to describe, and just as difficult to fake. Guests simply know it when they experience it, and the rooms at L’Hotel du Lac are serene without even trying. There’s no trick — just modern hospitality done very well, right down to the spacing between the sofas and tables. Private audio-visual rooms (read: home theaters) are a welcome touch, and if you’re in the mood for something a bit rustic, free-standing villa suites offer more in the way of country living, with lofted hideaways and sloped ceilings.

While it’s not a resort, per se, the facilities certainly aren’t skimpy. The tennis court, pool, and outdoor baths serve to relieve any vacation atrophy, and there’s a well-stocked library for rainy days. Cuisine at Le Paysage, the hotel restaurant, is French enhanced by local produce. And the after-dinner hangout is a chic lounge outfitted with hundreds of varieties of shochu.

How to get there:
Chubu Centrair International Airport is approximately 2.5 hours by car (90 miles/150 kilometers). Nagahara Station (JR LINE) is 10 minutes by car to the hotel.