100 Unique Hotels in East Asia

The world’s first on-land cruise ship, this hotel takes all the joy of a cruise ship and combines it with the usefulness of staying in one place. The sound of waves lapping at the hull is simulated, so you can imagine you are on a cruise. The location is on …

To get to this mountain-top hotel, you must climb up 60,000 steps – or take the cable car. If you choose to climb the stairs, you are in for an exciting time. They begin by traveling through the aperture of the cliff known as the Thread of Sky. Further up …

The Mira has emerged from a 65 million-dollar renovation to claim its place as a luxury hotel located in a stand-out fashion opposite the popular Kowloon Park in Hong Kong in the Tsim Sha Tsui district. The hotel stands out with its state-of-the-art design and has received numerous awards, including …

This hotel blends stylish modernity with traditional hospitality in one of China’s most dynamic cities. The hotel has some arresting contemporary artworks and original designs. When you enter, the first thing you see is the three-story glowing “waterwall” lit by 5000 LED lights; they’re choreographed to create an evanescent pattern …

The Mira Moon Hotel takes its name from the legend of the Chinese Moon Goddess of Immortality. The story goes that there were once 10 suns orbiting the Earth making our planet a hellish place to live. The hero, Hou Yi shot down nine of them making the Earth into …

This hotel is eco all over. Set in the thrall of a rocky volcano, the hotel harnesses the sulfuric heat generated below the soil to create geothermal power. It also captures the flow of fast streams and rivers to create hydroelectricity. Unique “onsen” (Japanese hot springs) are available to rejuvenate …

Shanghai is the center of commerce for Asia. It is rapidly expanding like China’s economy and is home to a staggering 21 million people. It is home to many architectural oddities and unique buildings but this is the only 24-story swimming pool with a glass-bottom I have ever seen. The …

Hong Kong is one of the world’s financial centres and is chock-full of infinite luxury so Traders Hotel must be pretty special to stand out against such still competition. And it does. It is situated right in the centre of the city. Near the galleries, business district and party hubs. …

Let’s say you like skiing. Well, the Yatsugatake Mountains and the Japanese Alps provide some excellent pistes. And let’s say you want to experience the neon hive of Tokyo. And let’s presume you hanker after the latest architecture and design. Then you will want to stay here. Risonare is Italian …

The Hawaiian Treehouse Company makes some pretty special treehouses and they have just constructed three in China’s tropical resort in Sanya Nanshan. Situated by miles of pristine coastline, these treehouses are shaped like bird’s nests and located high in very old Tamarian Trees. The largest of the houses can accommodate …

This compact luxury inn or “ryokan” is situated in a perfect location with mountains falling like curtains behind small valleys and rivers. The inn has balconies where you can relax and take in the amazing Japanese countryside. There is a nearby train station, so you will easily be able to …

Built in the heart of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia the experience hotel is staffed by Mongolians who offer traditional hospitality to visitors. You stay in a “Ger” which is the traditional tent of Mongolia’s nomadic herders. They are heated by a wood burner and supported by beautifully painted wooden …

Some call it the ‘Hotel of Doom’ while others have dubbed it the ‘Phantom Pyramid’ because the North Korean government went through a phase of airbrushing it from photos and denying its existence. Like many things in North Korea this hotel has been a source of confusion to people not …

Your room is one of the largest you will find in Tokyo. And this hotel has so many suites, conference centers, and ballrooms; who could resist the chance to get lost in such space-age opulence! Make sure you don’t miss The Void which is their abstract art installation. But take …

Minimalism meets reclaimed structures in a pretty Japanese harbor. Visionary architects, Yasutaka Yoshimura, have based their design for chic holiday cottages on ship containers. The containers are stacked on top of each other to create two floors. One end is all glass, and the walls are white to reflect light …

URBN is China’s first carbon-neutral hotel combining modern architecture and Chinese aesthetics. Using recycled materials and uber-efficient design, its energy usage is so much more efficient than equivalent establishments. The hotel is situated next to the historic French Concession area of the city known for its delights and high-class restaurants, …

The idea behind this trendy capsule hotel chain with locations in Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi, Fukuoka, and Miyagi, is that you get to sleep for 9 hours. Of course, if sleeping for 9 hours is your idea of ultimate luxury, you work too hard. Anyway, the concept here is simplicity and …

This capsule hotel is unusual because it is male-only. Sorry girls. I’m not sure why it is single-sex but aside from that, this capsule hotel is fairly typical of its kind. Expect to leave your shoes at the door, put your things in the locker room, and take advantage of …

Popular with travelers and drunk businessmen, the Japanese capsule hotel has caught imaginations all around the world and this is the original – first opening its doors in 1979. You will need to put your shoes away and change into slippers on arrival and then you are shown to your …

What makes this hotel so special is your host’s meticulous adherence to Japanese inn-keeping traditions. The aim is to anticipate and meet your needs before you are even aware of them yourself. Your hostess, Jeanie Fuji, is arguably the world’s best practitioner of the traditional Japanese art of hospitality. It …