The Shinra

THE SHINRA Tateyama is a 23-room hotel above Tateyama Bay in Chiba, with rooms split between a Classic wing and a Prestige wing. Every room has its own open-air bath on the balcony, filled with water from Tateyama Onsen (たてやま温泉) and open for a soak any time of day. There is also a shared bath on the top floor of the Prestige wing, indoors with a reclining tub, kept separate for men and women, looking out over the water. The water is clear and weakly alkaline, gentle and smooth on the skin. It's an adults-only retreat, no children under 13, with balconies that look out over the sea and the green hills behind town. Reviews describe it as a quiet stay for couples rather than families.