Hotel Indigo Karuizawa

The Japanese mountain resort town of Karuizawa, at the foot of the volcanic Mount Asama, has long been a popular outdoor-focused destination for local travelers and overseas visitors alike. And in the Hotel Indigo Karuizawa it’s got a hotel with an equally broad appeal: enough Japanese architecture and design to remain connected with its setting and the local hospitality tradition, and enough international-style boutique-hotel atmosphere to feel instantly familiar and accessible to travelers from all around the world.

Its 155 rooms and suites spread out across three distinct wings, and all of them are quietly stylish and humbly luxurious, as contradictory as that may sound. Some have private gardens or patios, others have views of the forest from their bathtubs, and all of them are equipped with all the comforts, both high-tech and low, that a modern traveler expects.

Amenities in common include a 24-hour fitness center and a Thai-style spa by HARNN; the more traditional onsen experience may be found elsewhere. And while there’s just one restaurant, Kagaribi, it’s a versatile one, open all day, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a menu that’s perhaps surprisingly accented with Italian flavors.