Peninsula Hotel

Tokyo, Japan
Designed by architect Kuzukiyo Sato to look like a huge Japanese lantern, this 24-storey amber property is made entirely from Namibian granite. The Peninsula is a successful combination of traditional Japanese hospitality with simple luxury. The two-story lobby has ivory walls and wooden lattices, as well as a huge 1,300-bulb concave chandelier that resembles a swarm of fireflies. Spacious rooms feature horse chestnut sliding doors and gold-painted ceilings.