337 Best Hotels in Japan

The sleek lobby on the 26th floor leads to the modern lounge with huge wall-to-wall windows overlooking the city, mountains, and distant ocean; the guest rooms share these gorgeous views. Do be aware that you'll have to work your way through the ground-level entrance, which can feel like an office building, but you'll be rewarded once upstairs.

This ryokan feels very "Japanese," and what it lacks in big-hotel amenities it makes up for in atmosphere, albeit with some limitations, including some shared-bath rooms, that may not appeal to all travelers. A traditional ryokan, Yachiyo is in a quiet, verdant part of town close to the Heian Jingu Shrine and the National Museum of Modern Art. The least expensive rooms share bathrooms. If you prefer, you can have breakfast and dinner in your room instead of the restaurant.

In a century-old geisha house in the Eastern Pleasure Quarter, Yogetsu is a small, stylish minshuku. The owner is a welcoming hostess and keeps a neat shared bath. The guest rooms are small and sparsely furnished, but rustic exposed beams add character. Only the second-floor rooms are air-conditioned. A traditional Japanese-style breakfast is included, but the owner is happy to adapt to Western tastes.

Overlooking the town of Ito and the sea, Yokikan has been catering to visitors for more than a century. Despite being a short taxi ride from the station, this simple, comfortable ryokan feels like a secluded retreat. Take the private cable railway 30 yards up the hillside for impressive views from the open air hot spring bath.

Soak the stresses of the world away as you sit naked in the outdoor pool of the Yumerindo ryokan, eat a multicourse Japanese meal, and retire to your futon for a good night's sleep. You'll be able to listen to birds and the bubbling river as you bathe in the hot-spring waters. In the ryokan's restaurant, you'll be presented with dish after tiny dish of exquisite local delicacies, as is tradition with a kaiseki menu. You'll know you're nearing the end of the meal when you are offered miso soup and rice, which is always the penultimate course before a final seasonal dessert. While you are dining, staff will enter your room to lay out futons on the tatami matting. A futon on tatami is more solid that most mattresses, so it may take some getting used to. 

The old and new are elegantly juxtaposed in this upscale ryokan, where a century-old, four-story wooden building stands next to a newly built luxury lodging. Museum-quality art of the Edo period (1603–1868) is exhibited in public areas. Each room is unique, and all have state-of-the-art amenities like heated towel racks. Some rooms have beds instead of futons. You'll enjoy fine dining in the evenings accompanied by music in the well-restored original building. They claim that the 600-year-old onsen here was used by none other than Date Masamune himself. Beautiful, natural surroundings attract many honeymooners and couples. Call to arrange free pickup from either Shiroishi-Zao Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen line or from Shiroishi Station on the Tohoku main line.

Hot-spring relaxation and a central location in "Little Kyoto" makes this an elegant option for those who want to relax in Tsuwano for the night. Rooms bookings normally include breakfast and dinner, so you can enjoy fine dining with teppanyaki and tempura made with local ingredients. In the evening you can try Japanese spirits and other tipples for free.