The Luigans Spa and Resort

Too many foreign visitors never see more of Japan than Tokyo plus maybe a quick jaunt to Osaka or at most Kyoto. But it pays, when seeking out a new travel destination, to find out where the locals go on holiday. And in the Japan’s case, one of the answers is Kyushu, the most southwestern of the four main islands — here the climate is milder, almost tropical, and on the north end the mountains and valleys are traded in for calm seas and sandy beaches.

Here, in a seaside park twenty minutes from Fukuoka city, is where you’ll find the Luigans, a hotel that’s seemingly designed to confound your expectations of what Japan can be. All ninety-eight rooms face Hakata bay, and are decorated in one of two schemes: a simple white minimalist look or a slightly colonial, rattan-and-ceiling-fan theme. There’s plenty of space and plenty of creature comforts, from luxurious towels, linens and robes to rare Italian-made Acca Kappa toiletries, and a mini-fridge full of complimentary drinks. And though outdoor opportunities abound — public parks, golf courses, the beach, the bay — you’re a short drive from the city center, and less than a half hour from the airport.