Park Hyatt Kyoto

What the classifiers highlight

Built with Kyoto's own construction dynasties, this 70-room hotel blends into Higashiyama's black-tiled rooftops so well guests could walk past it. Rooms start at 484 square feet with marble soaking tubs and tamo-wood details. Forbes highlights the Soyotei teahouse, dating to the Edo era, where samurai once met in secret during the shogunate's final years.