Deals of the day
Juma Amazon Lodge
With its prime location in one of the most remote and preserved regions of the Amazon Rainforest, Juma Amazon Lodge is an intimate and inviting property harmoniously nestled into the forest environment which defines it. Juma Amazon Lodge features 19 intimate bungalows seamlessly nestled into the lush surroundings of the Amazon Rainforest. In order to accommodate the water levels of the wet season…
Laucala Island Fiji
A private island refuge in the South Pacific, Laucala unites dramatic rainforest-laced landscapes and white sandy beaches with unparalleled levels of luxury and privacy. No expense has been spared at the exclusive tropical hideaway, where 25 Fijian-styled villas are set amid coconut plantations, beside deserted beaches and atop the island’s volcanic mountains, overlooking fertile coral reefs and endless jungle. Style and…
Bawah Reserve
A gorgeous tropical paradise surrounded by a blue ocean, Bawah Reserve sits in sheltered seclusion 160 nautical miles (300km) northeast of Singapore in the remote Anambas Archipelago, Indonesia. This pristine and previously uninhabited marine conservation area is surrounded by turquoise lagoons and coral reefs, which cater to outdoor adventurers looking to indulge as well as those looking to relax in paradise…
Cavo Tagoo Santorini
The exclusive Cavo Tagoo Santorini, twin of Cavo Tagoo Mykonos is located within walking distance from Fira and just a few kilometers from Oia, the resort offers luxurious suites, spectacular sunsets over the sea and a personalized service exceptional. All Suites are modern and feature a hot tub or private pool on the terrace style, design details, 43-inch LCD satellite TV, patio or terrace with stunning panoramic view…
Kudadoo Private Island
Kudadoo’s renowned eco-consciousness and sleek design extend to the Maldives island’s 15 over-water residences where your uninterrupted enjoyment of the private island charm and the splendid natural surrounds are the norm….
Villa Principe Leopoldo Lugano
Live in a fairy tale, surrounded by prestige and nature. Imagine contemplating Lugano’s beauty in a princely residence. The former private home of German Emperor Wilhelm’s brother in law, the Villa is located on a picturesque promontory called the Collina d’Oro (Golden Hill), whose views and location are the best kept secret in town. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to live in a legendary home, a stay…
Boutique Hotel Die Alpbacherin
The history of DER ALPBACHERIN began in the former Angelika house. Some time ago, in the middle of Alpbach, at house number 405, stood the small bed and breakfast “Haus Angelika”. Georg and Lisa ran them with a lot of love. The success proved you right and so the desire for a new place for more guests was born. A dream came true. Together with daughter Valentina and her boyfriend Thomas, plans, dreams and…
Casa Casuarina Miami
Casa Casuarina was built in 1930 by Alden Freeman. Alden Freeman’s father, Joel Freeman was Treasurer of The Standard Oil Trust (also known as Rockefeller’s Company) and left Alden a fabulous wealth when he passed away. That gave the young and wealthy Alden the opportunity to retire at the age of 27 from being an architect and travel all over the world. Alden was also a descendent of the Mayflower on his mother’s side…
Azulik Tulum
In the heart of the Mayan jungle, a revolutionary project is about to redefine human evolution. A new vision of the future that is guided by ancestral knowledge and creates community is beginning to shape up.The VILLAS of AZULIK Tulum are built in harmony with the Mayan jungle and the Caribbean Sea. With no electric light, A/C, or television, we present nature as our main amenity, setting the perfect mood for a…
Aria Hotel Budapest
The Aria Hotel Budapest is a luxury boutique hotel with an exquisite design inspired by music. To compliment the musical concept, master designer Zoltan Varro’s vision was to simultaneously recreate the rich, lavish atmosphere of a historic Hungarian palace while also embracing visitors in the warmth and comfort of a private residence…
Cocos Hotel Antigua
Perched on a lush green hillside, encircled by miles of heavenly blue sea and sandwiched between two gorgeous white sand beaches is COCOS Hotel, an all inclusive Antigua resort for couples and adults only. This rustic yet romantic and cozy boutique resort is located on the sunset side of the beautiful Caribbean Island of Antigua and comprises of a collection of 35 quaint wooden Cottages positioned on a pictoresque…
Royal Mansour Marrakech
The Royal Mansour can be counted amongst the few establishments in the world that defy hotel excellence. Just a few steps away from the famous Jemaa El Fna square beats the heart of the Marrakesh Palace, offering travellers the unique concept of a medina within a medina.
Each area has been designed to intuitively take guests on a sensory journey. Take a step into the secret and sumptuous history of one of the…
Il San Pietro Di Positano
The San Pietro di Positano is more than a hotel. It is a journey within a journey, where memories are created and never forgotten. A haven of peace, immersed in nature, this elegant home harmonises old-world traditions of hospitality with contemporary, understated luxury. Escape to this small slice of paradise suspended between the sea and sky. Carved into the cliff overlooking the mediterranean Sea, our rooms are a…
Il Sereno Como
Il Sereno brings a new era of luxury to the banks of Italy’s iconic Lake Como. Awarded the title of “Most Anticipated New Luxury Hotel Opening in 2016” by Luxury Travel Advisor magazine, Il Sereno’s ethos of understated elegance presents a freshness to this well-established destination. Designed by Patricia Urquiola, Wallpaper* Magazine Designer of The Year 2015, the all-suite hotel promises modern style and an authentic…
La Clef Champs-Élysées Paris
La Clef Champs-Élysées Paris, a 5-star hotel in the centre of Paris, offers you a unique stay in a typically Parisian atmosphere. The building was built in 1907 by the Hennessy family, during the enchanting interlude offered by the Paris of the “Belle Époque”. Reflecting this magical era, our luxury hotel in Paris embodies a certain French art de vivre. La Clef Champs-Élysées Paris enjoys an idyllic setting and immerses you in the…
Relais Borgo Santo Pietro
Situated in the heart of Tuscany, Relais Borgo Santo Pietro was once a healing stopover for medieval pilgrims. Today it continues to provide a sanctuary for modern souls, merging a 5 star luxury hotel and spa concept with a ‘farm to plate’ philosophy on a 300-acre estate. A sumptuous feeling of home pervades the 800-year-old luxury farmhouse hotel, with its worn leather armchairs pulled up around open fires, fresh flower…
Gecko Hotel & Beach Club Formentera
In the beautiful and protected island of Formentera, Gecko Hotel & Beach Club was set out for like-minded individuals to unwind, connect with oneself and nature and above all celebrate life. Gecko brings to Formentera a new form of hospitality that unites our love for the island, the beach life and the elegance of a time in the past that continues to inspire us. Our clublike restaurant, in front of the Migjorn beach, offers a…
Cliveden House
Cliveden House is a privately owned 5 Red Star award-winning hotel, and sister to the world-renowned Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa in Hampshire. Our story is one of over 350 years of powerful personalities, iconic parties and scandalous affairs. Built in 1666 by the 2nd Duke of Buckingham, as a gift to his mistress, Cliveden House has remained a pinnacle of…
Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery
In search for unique places, sometimes you need to get off the main roads. However, let them lead you to Bale, Istria. Then slow down and follow the road that gets narrower with every mile, as nature draws closer. Slow down even more, and then make a turn into the white road. As the iron gates of the Meneghetti estate open up in front of you, stop for just one moment – and realize that the magic actually appears off the…
Mnemba Island Lodge
Steeped in culture and history, Zanzibar enticed adventurers, seafarers and traders from far and wide. Known as the spice island, from the centuries old trade of cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon, today the Zanzibar Archipelago is still bathed in the heady scents of spices and traditional dhows still drift across the horizon. A romantic hideaway, Mnemba Island is an exclusive paradise featuring twelve rustically chic beachside…
Villa Belvedere Taormina
Hotel Villa Belvedere is a delightful and charming boutique hotel, located at just a few minutes from Taormina’s lively town centre and from the world-famous Greek-Roman Theatre, which are both reachable by walking through the inspiring and panoramic Duca di Cesarò Botanic Gardens. The hotel benefits of wonderful views over the sea, the bay of Naxos and Mount Etna. The hotel has always been…
Piccolo Hotel Portofino
Hotel Piccolo Portofino, surrounded by the typical luxuriant vegetation of the Liguria Riviera, among the crystal clear water of Portofino and the blue sky, is a piece of art of the reception, unique of its kind. A hidden jewel, that has to be searched end discovered. Obtained from a refined period villa, today it is a boutique hotel, and from its generous terraces, a breathtaking view onto this exclusive stretch of coast…
Palazzo Navona Rome
The innovative Palazzo Navona Hotel fully deserved of its role as being amongst one of the most qualified 4 star Hotels within the city “centro”, capable of fulfilling its own lifestyle qualities to satisfy even the most demanding guest. The intimate and charming ambience emits a feeling of almost magic by creating a special atmosphere which pervades this residence surrounded by its historical-art and ancient Roman…
Château de La Chèvre d’Or
Nature is everywhere at Château de la Chèvre d’Or. There are lots of different gardens filled with sculptures, fountains, waterfalls, flowers, herbs, trees and shrubs. The area is perfumed with the scents of jasmine, bougainvillea and roses. The magnificent colors create a framework that blends into the horizon and the sea…
This gorge, with its sheer cliffs that cut through the Shikoku Mountains, has a dangerous beauty that is hard to match. In autumn, the red leaves combine with the sparkling emerald water below to create a rich, natural tapestry.
When new leaves begin to appear in spring, the valley pulses with vibrant green life. Expansive vistas of Iya Valley can be viewed from our hotel’s open-air baths.
Discover the deep, V-shaped Iya Valley, and the Iya River that flows along the bottom as if to sew it together. The sound of the whistling wind as it crosses the valley and the occasional bird call accents the silence of the gorge.
A cable car takes guests down to the open-air bath at the bottom of the valley. Look out at the deep valley and the Iya River flowing below on the relaxing, approximately five-minute journey.
The Hotel Iyaonsen hot spring has a pH of 9.1, and is a simple alkaline sulfur hot spring. This type of bath has the fortunate effect of removing dirt and making the skin slippery and smooth, just like washing with soap.
Soak in the hot spring water while gazing out at the scenery and feeling the solitude of the gorge. It’s the perfect place to breathe some fresh air and relieve stress.
While being Japanese style, it also adopted the taste of the West, We have 20 rooms with different buddies for each room. Suite above the clouds – Tamayura. This guest room offers a view over the entire gorge. Soak in the open-air bath while enjoying the amazing view.
Delicious Japanese Cuisine
Local vegetables grown in Iya’s grand natural environment are truly fresh. Piping hot potatoes, thick and meaty shiitake mushrooms, wild mountain plants that evoke a sense of the living forest… we offer simple yet varied cuisine that changes with the seasons.
Local Vegetables
Iya’s local cuisine is grown and prepared by people who carry on their local heritage, including Genpei Imo potatoes which can only be found locally, thick and meaty shiitake mushrooms, wild mountain vegetables, buckwheat (soba) noodles, and local Iya tofu.
The simple ingredients are prepared in creative ways to provide enjoyable meals that change with the seasons. (We strive to use ingredients produced in Miyoshi City and Tokushima prefecture as much as possible)
Sudachi Ayu Sweetfish
Sudachi ayu sweetfish are raised in the alluvial fans of the Yoshino and Akui rivers, with plenty of clean, flowing groundwater. As the name suggests, the sweetfish is a delicious, sweetly fragrant fish. Available from June to September.
Tokushima Brand Beef
Locally-raised Tokushima brand beef. Awa brand Awa-gyu The one and only wagyu brand Waichi and more… Served teppan-yaki style to fully bring out the meat’s flavor.
Local Sake and Wine
Kaiseki cuisine paired with sake and wine. Enjoy the synergy of good food and drink. There are three sake breweries in Miyoshi. Try some local sake with your meal.
Basic Kaiseki Course
Choose from “Flavors of the Season”, a set meal that uses seasonal ingredients at their peak, or “Flavors of the Land” which features locally-produced specialties like red-spotted trout, mountain vegetables, Iya soba (buckwheat noodles), Iya tofu, and more.
Both menus change with the seasons, so there’s something new to enjoy year-round.
Iya Special Kaiseki
This kaiseki course featuring Awa-gyu beef and seasonal flavors is the hotel’s third most popular kaiseki. Choose the Iya Special Kaiseki to enjoy Awa-gyu beef prepared teppanyaki style, seasonal vegetables, and mountain greens for a kaiseki course that is a little bit special.
Awa Special Kaiseki
This is the hotel’s most popular kaiseki course! For those who want it all – savor Awa-gyu brand beef, local roast venison, and whole red-spotted trout sashimi.
Awa Premium Kaiseki
Celebrate a special day with a special meal… Our second most popular! A5 grade Awa-gyu beef, and other specialties from land and sea!
Awa Grand Kaiseki
Tokushima’s own A5 Awa-gyu beef, Tanifuji Farm’s one and only Waichi wagyu beef, and wild venison from here in Iya, for a meaty kaiseki.
Omiki Hotpot
This hotpot contains warming sake, plenty of vegetables, and Awa Kintoki brand pork. The soup is specially made in collaboration with Miyoshi’s three sake brewers and a miso maker. Enjoy it with some good local sake!
Japanese-style Breakfast
Freshly-made tofu, simmered seasonal vegetables, dashimaki tamago egg, rice, miso soup, and more.
Western-style Breakfast
Bread, bacon and eggs, ham, thick-cut bacon, soup, salad, and more.
In addition to the Western and Japanese breakfast sets, there is also a breakfast buffet which allows guests to enjoy their fill of salad, yogurt, buckwheat grain soup, and more. (Depending on the number of guests, a set breakfast may be the only option. Thank you in advance for your understanding.)
Menu: Homemade yogurt, fruit, salad, buckwheat grain soup, miso soup, rice porridge, coffee, tea, orange juice, milk
Spend your holiday with a leisurely lunch overlooking the gorge
Café Dining Hana provides seasonal dishes and a relaxing atmosphere with a great view of the gorge.
Try the venison!
Locally hunted deer meat is prepared as venison roast as part of a set meal or on rice. Experience this unusual meat for yourself.
Furonotani
Long ago, the Heike Clan battled and lost to the Minamoto Clan, and they are said to have escaped to Iya. The surroundings in Iya, with its steep mountains,
has a holy atmosphere that has caused the area to be known as the “Tibet of Japan”.
The Iya Valley has always had hot spring water. When the Heike Clan came, they are said to have used the baths for health purposes.
There used to be hot spring water coming to the surface in many places along the Iya Valley, and even now, the name “Furonotani” (the valley of the bath) remains today in regional place names.
Beautiful Skin
The water has a slippery, soft quality. This texture is a characteristic of alkaline hot spring water. This type of water helps soften outer skin layers and gently washes away dead skin cells.
The hot spring water is gentle on skin because it is an alkaline water with a good balance of minerals. It helps to improve the skin’s natural healing abilities, promoting beauty from the inside out.
Be in nature, and experience free-flowing hot spring water straight from the source. The hot spring water at our hotel is free-flowing straight from the source for our guests to enjoy, which is rare for Shikoku. The volume of hot water is such that we can keep it flowing freely.
The white mineral deposits floating in the bath make the water cloudy, but this is proof that the water is coming straight from the source. The open-air bath juts out over the river, where bathers can enjoy soaking with the murmer of the flowing river water as background music.
Enjoy a pleasant moment as your body is enveloped in tiny bubbles from the champagne-like spring water.
Descend to the open-air baths by cable car
A cable car will take guests to the open-air bath at the bottom of the valley. The degree of the incline is 42 degress and it takes about five minutes to descend the 170 meters. Along the way one can enjoy a panoramic view of the valley.
The open-air baths, one for men and one for women, have been constructed as to protrude along the the Iya river. They flow with an abundance of hot spring water. Enjoy a luxurious moment in one of Japan’s most remote areas, viewed from the cable car.
Keikoku-no-yu
The chirping of little birds echoes from the depths of the forest, and the glossy green and jade of the river’s surface gently soothes your senses.
Seseragi-no-yu
Entrust yourbody to the clear spring water for a moment of bliss. Soft light plays on the water’s gently wavering surface.
Yamagiri-no-yu
Beside the open-air bath for men and women, there is a private open-air bath that can be reserved for a fee. Here, guests can relax even more knowing that they will not be disturbed.
Madoromi no Hotori Terrace
After enjoying the open-air bath, guests are welcome to lounge here on the bank of the Iya River. Spend a relaxing moment listening to the wind in the trees and the flowing river water.
Indoor Panorama Bath
The large bath is open 24 hours a day except for 1 hour between 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM when it is closed for cleaning. One for men and one for women.
Enjoy the vast nature of Iya
A chance to experience life in one of Japan’s most secluded regions. Iya has many natural and historical attractions, including Iya’s Kazurabashi vine bridge,
designated as a national important tangible cultural property, Ochiai Hamlet, registered as an important national preservation district for its collection of traditional homes, and Mt. Tsurugi, one of Japan’s top 100 mountains, which has beautiful highland plant life.
Peeing Boy Statue
This rocky outcropping that juts out over the Iya River was created when the Iya Highway was built. This statue of a peeing boy was built based on stories of local chidren and travellers testing their nerves at the hair-raising location.
Iya Valley
The emerald green Iya River flows through this deep, V-shaped gorge. In autumn the entire mountain, from the valley bottom to the summit turns red with leaves, and this can be seen from the windows of cars and buses passing by.
Iya Kazurabashi Vine Bridge
One of Japan’s three rare bridges, this suspension bridge is made of hardy kiwi vines.
It is 45 metres long, 2 metres wide, and 14 meters above the surface of the river. It’s thrilling to look through the slats to the river below.
Oboke Gorge Sightseeing Cruise
The Oboke Gorge was made over many years by the movement of the water wearing down the sandstone. See rock formations made of crystalline schist, a nationally designated natural monument, up close from the pleasure boat.
Ochiai Hamlet
These folk homes were built from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. Carefully constructed stone walls were used to form narrow gardens along the steep mountainside. The resulting scenery is like looking through a window to the past. This hamlet is a designated national preservation district.
Scarecrow Village
All around Higashi Iya are over 180 scarecrows, posed as if to be farming, chatting, and more. The delightful scarecrows are a joy to behold.
Oku Iya Double Vine Bridges
Two vine bridges located upstream on the Iya River. The two bridges made of vines are called the Men’s Bridge and the Women’s Bridge. The surrounding area is a panorama of natural beauty in every season.
Mt. Tsurugi
At a height of 1995 metres, the peak offers an unparalleled view of a mystical sea of clouds, with the Kii Peninsula, Seto Inland Sea, and Ashizuri Peninsula in the distance. It has been known as a holy place for mountain worship since ancient times.
Folk House Chiiori
Chiiori is an old restored folk house owned by American Japanologist, Alex Kerr. This house is available for observation.
Illuminated Kazurabashi Vine Bridge
The famous Iya Kazurabashi Vine Bridge is lit up. Shuttle bus available from the hotel to the bridge and back.
Stargazing Tour
Look up to the night sky to see a plethora of stars. The air is clear and there are no lights around, so the sky and the stars feel very near. (See the stars on the way home from the Kazurabashi Vine Bridge light-up tour)
Firefly Watching Tour
See fireflies along the riverside at night during rainy season. This tour is available for a short time in June. This is something city dwellers rarely have a chance to see.
