Hoshifuru Village Tengu Hotel

High up in the Tengu Highlands in Shikoku Karst National Park, this elegant and airy lodge was renovated in July 2021. The many skylights and picture windows make the most of the mountain views during the day and starry skies at night.

Located along the border between Kochi and Ehime prefectures, the 1355-meter highland location is ideal for hikers looking to explore green trails (dotted with the occasional friendly cow!) in spring and summer, and take in the blazing foliage in the fall. However, no matter what season you visit, the real showstopper comes after sunset, when the stars come out and seem to shine just an arm’s breadth away.

If the evening is rainy (or you are only coming up for a day trip), you can still see the stars at their planetarium, which offers four showings a day of enchanting night skies.

The Tengu Highlands are a 30 minute drive away from the nearby town of Yusuhara, which is well-worth a stop to see the incredible buildings designed by internationally-renowned architect Kengo Kuma, along with walking part of the Dappan no Michi trail, following the escape route of Ryoma Sakamoto, a Kochi-born samurai who played a major role in the modernization of Japan.