Sep 9, 2015
ONCE THE PRIVATE RESIDENCE of Japanese Prime Minister Aritomo Yamagata, the Hotel Chinzanso has a long and illustrious history. Thankfully, it has also been given the full face-lift needed to bring it into the 21st century. The 260 rooms and suites sport local touches such as glazed Arita ceramic lamps, Nishijin-ori throws and silk-screen paintings, while Yu, the on-site onsen spa, draws mineral-rich waters all the way from Ito’s natural hot springs in Shizuoka. Still, the finest features predate the latest revamp. The surrounding Chinzanso Garden has 20 varieties of sakura trees and a 1,000-year-old pagoda.
