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Super Exclusive Boutique Hotel: Ginzan Hot Spring Fujiya Inn in Tokyo

Where: 443 Shinpata Oaza Ginzan Obanazawa, Yamagata, 999-4333

Most of the time when we talk about luxury or boutique hotels we are referring to a Ritz Carlton, or W Hotel, or one of the Morgan's Hotel Group's spectacularly designed locations - but the Ginzan Hot Spring Fujiya Inn near Tokyo has all of those places beat - for one, there are only 8 rooms - giving the hotel a total capacity of 16 guests.

Here's the story behind this 350 year old hotel, which was just fully renovated in mid-2006:

The owner, Jean Fuji, who is originally from San Francisco, began studying as a traditional Japanese okami in 1991. Those who are okami personally cook all the guests meals, serves the guests, does the housekeeping and tries to predict each and every guests want and need - before they want it. Hmm, I think okami should be a required class in all hotel management schools.

The best part?

The nightly rate is surprisingly on par with your typical big-city luxury hotel - the highest rate currently listed on their website comes out to about $472 per night, the lower room rates start at $325 - and that's not even including the discounts which are currently being offered for the winter months.

For those smoking guests out there, the hotel has a strict no-smoking policy, good thing because except for the nails holding the wood together - everything is flammable.