Hotel Karae

Reclaimed timber from an old sake brewery threads through the common areas of this boutique hotel in the castle town of Karatsu. Rooms run from women's-only dormitory beds to executive suites, all in quiet, muted tones, some looking down onto the town's narrow lanes. Breakfast downstairs leans on local and seasonal ingredients, and when you're not ready to sleep after a full day out, there's a movie theater in the building, which feels like a very sensible idea.