Royal Park Hotel Takamatsu (Takamatsu, JAPAN)

My first-ever trip to Shikoku (四國) got off to a fast start this morning. We had our first taste of the newly launched Terminal 2 at Hong Kong International Airport early on, and a few hours later, we finally touched down in Takamatsu (高松市), the lively capital of Kagawa Prefecture (香川縣) on the north side of the island.

During my research for this trip, I already realized that lodging options in Takamatsu (and throughout Shikoku) weren’t exactly abundant. There are plenty of budget hotels and some mid-tier properties, but for someone like me who tends to prioritize newer hotels with a more contemporary design, the choices were slim picking. Maybe just a handful of them at best.

73-key Royal Park Hotel Takamatsu came to mind mainly because of its proximity to the city centre. It’s basically a stone’s throw from the city’s main shopping street — the very area we planned to head to for our first dinner. So in my mind, it ticked most of the boxes.

Despite a major renovation in 2016, the building that houses Royal Park Hotel still felt a bit aged.

The hotel lobby, in particular, has a nice, modern design that creates an inviting vibe.

But beyond the lobby, the mood changed. Most of the interior areas felt a little dark, including the corridors, and the same was true inside the rooms.

The rooms themselves have been tastefully designed with a modern European style in mind.

The room layout was less than efficient, though. It would have felt even more spacious without the table and two chairs taking up a good chunk of central floor space. Not surprisingly, we ended up re-arranging the setup almost immediately after stepping inside.

When it said everything has been renewed since the major renovation, I guess I didn’t pay enough attention to the bathroom. It was noticeably dim, and based on my first impression, it seemed like it might be due for a facelift at some point.

Overall, we had a nice stay at Royal Park Hotel Takamatsu. With less than 24 hours in the city and even less time inside our room, it wasn’t really possible to judge the hotel in great depth. Still, aside from the absence of an onsite parking lot, it proved to be a serviceable option for a short stay. (The hotel has an agreement with a parking facility just across the street, around 1,200 yen per night.)

Rewind to early this morning — everyone in our group was genuinely impressed by how Terminal 2 at Hong Kong International Airport looked. Little nugget joked that it felt more like an aquarium than an airport. I’m sure a lot of us felt the same too.

Rating: ❤❤❤

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: 1-3-11 Kawaramachi, Takamatsu, Kagawa, 760-0052, Japan

Closest Train Station: Kawaramachi

Tel: +81 (0)87-823-2222

Website: http://ryl.anabuki-enter.jp/

Daybreak 曉宅山 (Jiufen, TAIWAN)

The second leg of my Taipei getaway was a short trip to Jiufen (九份), a charming historic hillside village in northern Taiwan renowned for its narrow, lantern-lit alleyways, traditional teahouses, and sweeping ocean views. I first visited this dreamy village as a young man on a foggy, lightly rainy day and not surprisingly, the atmosphere felt straight out of a fairytale. Almost two decades later, I found myself returning to Jiufen hoping to rediscover that same sense of magic.

After a satisfying lunch at T+T, I called an Uber to take me to my accommodation in Jiufen. The drive from Taipei took around 40 minutes, mostly along highways. It wasn’t until the car began pulling up the tiny uphill roads that Jiufen truly revealed itself. It wasn't long before we arrived right at the footsteps of Daybreak (曉宅山民宿).

When I first came across Daybreak, a hillside Airbnb, on social media, I was instantly sold. The property consists of two buildings. The first, 曉宅山, clings dramatically to the cliffside, offering breathtaking, unobstructed views of the sea. 

The second, 暮宅山, sits higher up the hill across the street, with a more modest vantage point and a noticeably more conservative interior design.

Needless to say, I decided to drop a few bucks more for the contemporarily designed room with the full sea view. Check-in was quick and straightforward. I was given two passcodes — one for the entrance to the Airbnb and another for my room. As expected, the property is unmanned after 6 pm daily.

I went straight to my room to take in the view, and it matched the online photos by at least 95%.

The room was flooded with natural light thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The expansive glass panels framed the hills and sea like a living painting, and in the early morning and around sunset, soft light spilled into the space, creating a visually stunning and almost meditative atmosphere.

The bathroom itself was simple and functional — nothing fancy. 

There was a separate shower room next door.

And of course, a large bathtub positioned by the window overlooking the hills and sea. It was one of those amenities that looked fantastic on paper but, in reality, I never ended up using.

Even from the bed, the view was nothing short of spectacular.

While the scenery was as good as advertised, I didn’t end up soaking in the tub or spending much time on the terrace.

The problem? Directly connected to the terrace was a small, somewhat worn-out grass field that could clearly use better upkeep. Being a corner room, I also noticed groups of tourists occasionally wandering through the backyard area near the grass field, which compromised privacy more than I would have liked.

That said, Daybreak is probably still one of the best accommodation options in Jiufen. After an afternoon spent climbing stairs and weaving through crowded, lantern-lit streets, returning to the room felt like a quiet exhale. At night, with Jiufen’s lights glowing softly in the distance, the space remained calm and still.

A complimentary breakfast was served at the ground-floor restaurant of the sister hotel across the street, and it was a good one — bacon and eggs, vegetables, corn soup, and more.

This trip felt like a long-overdue return to Jiufen. Hopefully, I won’t have to wait another two decades to revisit this magnificent village.

Rating: ❤❤❤

Price: $$$

Address: No. 49, Shuqi Road, Ruifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Tel: +886 2-2496-0988

Website: http://daybreaktw.com/ 

EPISODE Daan Taipei — JDV by Hyatt (Taipei, TAIWAN)

I had a so-so stay at Kimpton Da An Hotel (台北金普頓大安酒店) last time I was in Taipei so while I wanted to stay within Da'an district again, I decided to search for another accommodation option. And the reasonably new EPISODE Daan Taipei - JDV by Hyatt worked out perfectly for me.

Situated right across the street from Far Eastern SOGO Taipei Fuxing Store (遠東SOGO 台北復興館), EPISODE Daan Taipei embraces a "Less but Better" philosophy. With its retro-modern interior, music-themed décor, and intuitive self-service check-in.

The property includes The SOCIAL by Lay Low on the 5th floor (lobby floor), a multi-purpose social space and bar that also operates as a breakfast hall for hotel guests in the morning. 

The moment I pushed open the door, I knew I was going to fall in love this place.

The interiors are a perfect blend of vintage aesthetics and modern living. Think nostalgic textures paired with contemporary comfort. It's clear that every design detail was chosen with intention — and with the guest in mind.

All guest rooms are fitted with premium Sealy mattresses, ensuring a restful night’s sleep. 

The open-concept bathrooms adopt a modern, minimalist layout with smooth sliding doors.

The bathroom wasn't the biggest but was thoughtfully designed, offering both function and style.

As is typical in many Taipei hotels, the toilet and shower sit side by side.

Separated by sleek glass partitions for a clean, airy feel.

For a hotel known for its music theme, a throw-back CD player is a must!

Small touches like the "sleeping kit", which includes an eye mask and pillow spray, further underscore the thoughtful hospitality.

My room offered a lovely city view overlooking the vibrant Da’an District.

With the Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT Station just a quick 3-minute walk away, exploring the city couldn’t be easier. Needless to say, I will be back for my next stay.

Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Price: $$$

Address: No.219-2, Section 1, Fuxing South Road, Da’an District, 106 Taipei, Taiwan

Closest Metro Station: Da'an

Tel: +886 2-2711-7268

Website: https://www.hyatt.com/jdv-by-hyatt/en-US/tpejd-jdv-episode-daan-taipei

The Gate Hotel Fukuoka by HULIC (Fukuoka, JAPAN)

Tonight, life comes full circle as we arrive back where it all started almost 10 days ago—right here in Fukuoka City. While I decided to kick off this trip in Hakata (博多), the final chapter will be written in trendy Tenjin (天神) district. 

Located just off the busiest streets of Fukuoka, right next to PARCO, The Gate Hotel Fukuoka by HULIC is our final stay of the journey. As we took the elevator up for check-in, a bright and airy lobby quietly awaited us.

Check-in was a breeze, and I managed to squeeze in a couple of minutes to check out the outdoor terrace from the lobby.

It offers a pleasant city view, though nothing particularly jaw-dropping.

I actually had a hard time finding hotel accommodation for tonight. For some reason, most of the hotels in the city were already sold out months in advance for this particular night (but not during Christmas!). So, honestly, this was my fifth or sixth choice.

With all the basic rooms gone, I went with a three-bed deluxe room, hoping for more space. Even with the added room, we had a tough time finding space for all our luggage and shopping bags. I guess we really bought a lot on this trip!

For a room of this size, the designer did a great job of including two basins in the bathroom. So, we didn’t have to fight over one while getting ready the next morning.

The bathroom itself was pretty standard — dark-colored tiles and a tub inside.



I passed out before the lights were even off, so I guess I was truly exhausted. It’s been a long trip, and everyone simply wanted to go home and rest ASAP.

Rating: ❤❤❤

Price: ￥￥￥￥

Address: 2-8-49 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, 810-0001, Japan

Closest Metro Station: Tenjin

Tel: +81 (0)92-406-2605

Website: https://www.gate-hotel.jp/fukuoka/

Ryokan Ohana Yanagawa Tachibana-Tei 柳川藩主立花邸 御花 (Yanagawa, JAPAN)

Secretly, I’ve been looking forward to our stay at Ryokan Ohana Yanagawa Tachibana-Tei (柳川藩主立花邸 御花) since we arrived in Fukuoka last week. Spread across a historic 23,000-square-metre Yanagawa estate, it once served as the villa and residence of the Tachibana family — feudal lords of the Yanagawa domain for 400 years. Today, it’s been restored into a modern Japanese-style boutique hotel that blends heritage with classy elegance.

Yanagawa is famous for its canal tours so not surprisingly, we could see those river boats parked alongside the canal right from the hotel entrance.

The stunning estate blends traditional Japanese architecture with Western influences from the Meiji era (明治時代).

An elegant white wooden building constructed in 1910 to entertain guests, stands alongside traditional Japanese structures, reflecting the design spirit of that time.

The reception area takes a minimalist design approach, which is a stark contrast to the rest of the décor and furnishing.

The staircase in the lobby leads to a large banquet hall on the first floor, which can be used for wedding services.

More traditional Japanese style décor in the hallway that leads us to the other side of the building where the Japanese restaurant and Shoto-en Garden (松濤園) are located.

Ohiroma (Grand Hall) — A massive 100-tatami-mat hall that offers a panoramic view of the Shoto-en Garden.

We got the chance to revisit the Grand Hall the next morning after we enjoyed our Japanese-style breakfast.

Shoto-en Garden — A stunning ornamental garden at the back of the hotel featuring a central pond, over 280 black pine trees, and 1,500 stones. It was designed to evoke the famous scenery of Matsushima.

Little nugget was absolutely amazed by it.

A complimentary breakfast was served in one of the function rooms on the second floor where the window seats offer some of the most breathtaking view of the garden up close.

Our room was tastefully updated with modern touches while still honoring its Japanese heritage. 

The extensive use of wood furnishings and traditional Japanese panels creates a warm and comfortable atmosphere. 

I love the classic Japanese sliding window, or better known as shoji (障子) — with its wooden lattice and translucent paper (or sometimes glass) designed to diffuse light, provide privacy, and blend interiors with nature. 

The room wasn’t large but it was perfectly sized with just enough space for a dining (or reading) table in the middle.

Even the bathroom felt like a thoughtful hybrid between contemporary and classic. 

It offered a large bath tub and a shower facility.

A standard toilet near the raised-floor entrance area.

There was a beautifully designed lounge area hidden behind the reception area. It's open until 10pm everyday offering free alcoholic and alcoholic drinks in a self-serve setup.

Look what little one found. Local fresh milk in a bottle.

I decided to take a couple of them back to my room. Yeah, we can never get enough of these richly flavored Japanese milk.

This is what quiet luxury (低調奢華) looks like in a hotel: a focus on sensory experiences —minimalist design, understated sophistication, personalized yet discreet service, natural materials, and authentic local charm. It all creates an intimate, calm, and truly exclusive environment. By far, the best hotel we’ve stayed at on this entire trip.

Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Price: ￥￥￥￥

Address: 1 Shinhokamachi, Yanagawa, Fukuoka 832-0069, Japan

Tel: +81 (0)120-336-092

Website: http://www.ohana.co.jp/