My Hotel of the Year 2025 | InterContinental Beppu | Why This Michelin-Key hotel Won Me Over?

The Hotel of the Year 2025 was unexpectedly born on the very last day of 2025.The moment I checked out, I couldn’t wait to share the many surprises this hotel brought me. Beppu is, of course, one of Japan’s most famous onsen towns, widely known as a hot spring retreat destination. If you’re a Detective Conan fan, Episodes 906 and 907 feature many scenes inspired by Beppu. You can also check out my previous video on Beppu’s Hell Hot Springs. Now, back to the InterContinental Beppu. In 2025, the hotel was awarded one Michelin Key, a well-deserved recognition.We drove from Fukuoka, and using the expressway toll road, it took just over one hour to reach the hotel. The hotel sits high above the town, and from below, you can easily spot a striking building on the hillside—that’s the InterContinental Beppu. Its sense of privacy becomes apparent the moment you arrive. At the entrance, staff members checked our names and confirmed with the front desk that we were registered guests before allowing us to enter. The hotel offers valet parking—once we arrived, staff took care of parking the car for us seamlessly. We were then escorted directly to the club lounge. As IHG Diamond members and InterContinental Ambassadors, and since our arrival coincided with afternoon tea service, the staff invited us to enjoy afternoon tea while they completed our check-in.During this time, a staff member knelt beside us to finalize the check-in process. Truly impressive—Japanese hospitality never fails to amaze me.And by the way, the lounge restroom even has a shower! Next, let’s head to the room.Our room was located on the fourth floor, which is also the highest floor of the building. Access to each floor requires a key card, adding an extra layer of privacy. To be honest, the moment I opened the door, I was completely blown away.Let’s start with the door on the left—this is the walk-in closet, fully equipped with everything you might need. There are Japanese-style yukata, wooden geta sandals, socks, and even small baskets, perfect for carrying your belongings to the onsen. On the right side is another door with a sliding design, leading to the bathroom. The bathroom can only be described as pure luxury—clean color tones, minimalist yet elegant design, and the hotel even provides what I believe to be one of the most expensive hair dryers on the market. The layout of the living room and bedroom is absolutely to my taste. The color palette is refined and understated, elegant without being over the top.Our room had a mountain view, overlooking the parking area below. And a nice detail—the room key card even shows the proper etiquette for using the onsen. Now, let’s take a look around the public areas.I was already impressed upon arrival—the lobby and corridors feel incredibly artistic, and the hotel is beautiful from every angle. Even the signage is minimal yet thoughtfully designed.The outdoor pool is stunning, and the gym also offers an excellent view. This is one of the guest lounges, and beyond it lies the onsen area. Due to privacy reasons, filming inside the onsen is not allowed. Next, I experienced the hotel’s omakase restaurant, which was truly a feast for both the eyes and the palate. During happy hour at the lounge, we enjoyed champagne and canapés—and yes, the champagne is unlimited.Based on our many InterContinental stays, we’ve learned that if you have lounge access, breakfast is best enjoyed in the lounge. The atmosphere is calmer, and both the quality and consistency of the food are usually superior. So we also had breakfast in the lounge. Finally, I want to share our in-room dining experience. We ordered both dinner and lunch to enjoy in the room, and both experiences were excellent—the food quality was outstanding.However, do note that English proficiency can be limited, so it’s important to double-check your order carefully to avoid any misunderstandings. Overall, this hotel is flawless in every aspect—from its location, hardware, and architectural design, to the professionalism, attention to detail, and warmth of the staff, as well as the overall visual experience.My hotel stays in 2025 truly came to a perfect conclusion with this visit. If given the chance, I would absolutely return to InterContinental Beppu.Every single yen spent here was worth it.