Covering the Murasaki Shonan Open in Fujisawa brought me back to where my surf photography began more than a decade ago. What started as a personal project–photographing surfers along the Shonan coast–has become a recurring thread in my work, influencing everything from story development to aesthetics. A look at how my visual exploration of Japan’s surf culture has shaped my editorial and travel photography.

As a photographer based in Japan, I spend a lot of time in hotels, from no-frills business stays to historic ryokan and high-end retreats. I started compiling a mental list of some of my favorite places, so I’ve decided to write about a few of them here in the hopes of inspiring travelers to include them on their itinerary. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, eat, or simply experience the best of omotenashi, the accommodations on this list are definitely worth checking out.

When editors at National Geographic Traveller (UK) approached me with a proposal for a five-day train trip to photograph northeastern Japan, I was immediately on board.