The Best Hotels in Nasu County

Beeches and cedars crowd the windows at this mountain auberge in the forests of Nasu, where the Japanese imperial family have long come to disappear quietly. A water garden wanders through the grounds, the architecture nods to local timber traditions, and the general agenda is stillness. Draw a bath, watch the trees, and resist the urge to do anything else. The Michelin Guide awarded it one Key.

Every room at this ryokan-style resort in the Nasu Highlands comes with its own private onsen, partly open to the forest air, plus cedar paneling and bespoke bedding for when you finally step out. Minimalist design and floor-to-ceiling glass keep the surrounding woodland front and center. The communal library stocks art books and Karuizawa whiskies beside a fireplace, which is either meditative or dangerously comfortable, depending on your schedule.