74 Best Hotels in Japan

Of the rustic ryokan in the Nyuto area, this one is the coziest, giving you access to the river and trails; the water in the onsen is milky white and cool enough that even babies can bathe in it. Descending the path affords you a view of thatched roofs and what could easily be mistaken for a tiny village. The front desk is there in what would be the town square, and so is a little café. In addition to three outdoor and five indoor pools, there's a waterfall to massage your shoulders. The accommodations are all tatami rooms, but some have beds. The two meals are typical local fare. Don't miss tasty, half-cooked onsen eggs at breakfast. Families often rent the cottage that has a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, and living room, but if you're interested in that, you'll have to call. Perhaps the best of all is how genuinely friendly and helpful the people are in this little getaway that's open only between mid-April and mid-November.

Smiling staff welcome you to this charming small inn with modern, albeit simply decorated, rooms that adjoin the town baths. Join the locals for an evening dip before heading back to your room. While it is on a quiet street, you are nevertheless just a few minutes' walk from the main sights. Tea and coffee are available in the corridor. The optional Japanese breakfast served at the neighboring restaurant is well worth the cost.

This unpretentious ryokan welcomed its first guest, a monk from the nearby Higashi-Hongan-ji Temple, in 1884. The innkeepers are welcoming, the rooms, most of which have private baths, are pleasant, and the temple-facing location provides a special atmosphere. Ask about the studio apartments on the top floor for extended stays. After renovations, the interior has lost some of its 19th-century authenticity, though the improved convenience is worth it.

A swanky ryokan near the Matsue Shinji-ko Onsen Station (for easy access to the shrine of Izumo Taisha), Naniwa Issui is envied for its amazing views out over the big lake and for its hot spring. The seven mind-blowing deluxe rooms on the fourth floor have private tubs to soak in out on the balconies. Naniwa offers impeccable service and serves fabulous Matsue seafood. In season, the delightful lounge-side garden becomes a beer and cocktail patio. Excellent barrier-free rooms are also available.

Of all the traditional-style guesthouses in Naramachi, this refurbished property is one of the most stylish and authentic. Accommodations are simple but give you an idea of what living in a 100-year old town house would be like, the peaceful atmosphere accentuated by the soft tatami floors, wooden fittings, and a charming inner courtyard. The lattice-fronted building also functions as a café during the day, and staying guests receive a ticket for free use of the neighborhood bathhouse. Bookings are done via the website, so you may need to translate some Japanese to make a reservation.

In a neighborhood with many traditional buildings, this ryokan that's an easy distance from the city center has a welcoming staff and serves delightful kaiseki (multicourse meals). Dining takes place in a downstairs room, and there's a comfortable lounge with computer terminals and laptop ports. The large Japanese-style public baths (separate areas for men and women) stay open late, so taking a late-night dip is no problem, though Japanese guests generally bathe before the evening meal. The rooms are comfortable but not exceptional.

This traditional ryokan was built in the 1870s, and though it has been renovated and modernized, the main wooden structure remains true to its original design, with spacious, comfortable rooms overlooking gardens. Some Japanese literary figures have stayed in this ryokan while writing, with the natural surroundings of Yugashima as the inspiration.

Although the well-worn rooms have thin walls, a warm welcome is assured when you enter this small home, which is just past the Ainu village end of the town. It is famous for having its own bicarbonate chloride onsen. 

The windows in all six tatami rooms of this minshuku face the wooded valley, and although you can opt for a room-only stay, it's only an extra couple of thousand yen to book dinner and breakfast too, which is a good idea with nowhere to eat nearby. The chef prepares local specialties such as horse-meat sashimi, mountain vegetables, but more-familiar Japanese food is also on the menu. There are shared Japanese baths.

Antiques-filled nooks with chairs and coffee tables become cozy lounges in this old Tera-machi minshuku. In the mineral-water baths, a giant waterwheel turns hypnotically, complemented by recorded birdsong. Dinner hours are more flexible than those of the typical minshuku, and the food, including local specialties such as Hida-gyu beef and hobamiso, is superb. The rooms are all Japanese style, but there are no private baths. Yamakyu is east of the Enako-gawa, at the very top of Sanmachi-dori, a 20-minute walk from Takayama Station. There's an 11 pm curfew, but the staff will give you a key if you plan to be out later. Only Visa and MasterCard accepted (no Amex).

The main appeal of this manor in the woods is the hospitality of the Tatsuji family. Bright guest rooms with tall windows provide far-reaching views. The chef creates culinary wonders, from fresh bread to Mediterranean dishes with local produce. From Kumamoto, take the bus via Minami Aso and get off at Takamori. Call the pension, and they will have someone pick you up. You don't have to book the evening meal, but the relative isolation of the property, and the Tatsuji's family's culinary skills, mean that booking meals with your stay is the best option and something that almost all guests do. Vegetarian options are available on request. The hosts ask that you arrive before dinner, which is served promptly at 6:30.

The best lodgings at this family-run inn just a few minutes' walk from Shimoda's main beach are the Japanese-style corner rooms, which have nice views of the hills surrounding Shimoda. The pleasant Japanese couple who run the pension speak English, and cheap meals are available in the dining room. It's worth paying extra for these (especially breakfast) as there are very few dining options nearby.

This modern guesthouse sits in the center of the village's flower-filled pedestrian area. The owner is not only extremely knowledgeable about butterflies but is also an agile fisherman, so dinners can include freshwater fish, plus seasonal wild mushroom soup served from a giant cauldron in the dining room. He can also take guests on fishing trips. Sake liqueurs made from fruits like mountain grapes may enhance (or hinder) the next day's hiking power. There are clean tatami rooms with shared washing areas, and use of the Kurodake no Yu hot spring next door is free; there are two options for dinner. 

Established during the Meiji Restoration (1867), this small ryokan is the most lavish lodging in Kanazawa, and guests come from all over Japan as much for the food (breakfast and dinner are included in the rate) as for the stay. The interior blends traditional elegance with innovative designs—a perfect metaphor for the age of Japan's transition into modernity. Antique furnishings and exquisite scrolls and paintings appear throughout the inn. Superb regional Kaga cuisine is served in your room or in the restaurant.

This friendly ryokan has a few modest Western-style twin rooms amid its mostly Japanese-style rooms, and its location—just behind the Kaminari-mon gateway leading to the Senso-ji complex—is convenient for exploring the area. The downside for some will be the size of the rooms; it's worth paying extra for a 12-tatami mat room if you have a lot of luggage, as the six-tatami mat rooms are extremely snug.

Just off Nakamise-dori, this small inn, with both Japanese- and Western-style rooms, could not be better located for a visit to Senso-ji temple. Although all guest quarters have private baths, Western-style rooms are plain and a bit dated, and standard Japanese rooms are cramped, even for just two. The best option is to pay a little extra for a Japanese-style deluxe or suite room with futon bedding and tatami floors. Regardless, be sure to head to the sixth floor for a soak in a Japanese-style wooden communal bath with a view of the Senso-ji pagoda.

One of the closest lodging options to the Mt. Fuji hiking trails isn't much to look at from the outside, but the interior is spacious and homey, and the English-speaking staff speak can help you plan an area sightseeing itinerary. Meals, including vegetarian options, are available at a very low price. Shuttle service is provided from Fuji Yoshida Station, if you arrange ahead of time.

This charming hillside ryokan has been around for more than a century, and it owes its longevity to its having the best views on the island. Every room is blessed with a panorama of the famous gate, the shrine, and the pagodas—and all are backed by the sea, lush trees, or mountains. The friendly English-speaking owners provide excellent service and food, though the Western-style dining area and hotel's concrete exterior detract from the experience somewhat. Getting to the quiet east side of the bay requires a bit of a stroll—or ask the tourist office to arrange a van to pick you up. A private (no extra charge) outdoor bath on a sheltered overhanging corner has great views, so don't forget to reserve your 30-minute slot of pure Zen when you check in. Down in the basement there are more baths, open 24 hours. 

Before it was upstaged by the bathing monkeys, Kanaguya Ryokan, the town's oldest and grandest traditional inn, was Shibu Onsen's main draw. Kanaguya Ryokan's majestic wooden building dates from the late 18th century and retains a traditional atmosphere both inside and out. Most rooms don't have attached baths (most do have a private toilet), but five of the eight hot-spring baths in the ryokan can be used privately. The ryokan serves locally sourced feasts for dinner and breakfast and also offers a selection of local sake. Attentive kimono-clad service staff make sure your stay is comfortable, and the inn offers morning tours of the source hot spring and the elaborate network of pipes running into the hotel.

Established in the 1980s, this small, simple, economical inn—where all the rooms have traditional tatami flooring and futon mattresses—is a five-minute walk from the entrance to Ueno Koen (Ueno Park) and a 10-minute walk from the Tokyo National Museum. Although the largest rooms can accommodate four or five people, others are very small.

This friendly and cozy Japanese inn attracts budget-minded travelers, and it is a lot like visiting someone's grandmother's house. There's a small dining area where optional Japanese and Western breakfasts and Japanese dinners are served. Locals often gather in the restaurant for drinks or dinner. The clean and comfortable rooms are traditional in style but are equipped with toilets and showers. 

Get a real taste of Japanese living in the comfortable and homely surroundings of this small ryokan. Room sizes are measured by the number of tatami mats, guests sleep on futons, and there is a bath for each of the two rooms, one of which is large enough to accommodate a group of 6 (it's possible to rent the entire ryokan for group of 8 people). The wonderfully friendly owners provide a great Japanese-style breakfast, and even offer calligraphy sessions for those with an interest. Excellent location within walking distance of the two train stations, the city's main shopping areas, and Nara Koen.

The quietest ryokan on the city side of Nara Park, the Nanto has airy tatami rooms with a simplicity fit for a Zen retreat. Interior rock gardens are placed throughout the mazelike collection of rooms, which makes finding the communal bath an adventure. There are large rooms that are perfect for families; most rooms have toilets, some have tubs. A Japanese breakfast is included. Ryokan Nanto is halfway between Kintetsu Nara Station and JR Nara Station.

At the former villa of the Iwasaki family, founders of the Mitsubishi conglomerate, this hotel has rooms furnished with museum-quality antiques. The best rooms have traditional baths made of fragrant cypress wood and overlook exquisite little private gardens. Breakfast and dinner are served in your room and are included in the rate. The Sanyoso is a five-minute taxi ride from Izu-Nagaoka Station.

Of the many inexpensive, small ryokan in Nara-machi, this family-run establishment is the best pick for its spotless rooms and attentive service. The quiet neighborhood contributes to the inn's relaxed atmosphere. Simple accommodations overlook a large central garden. For those interested in local history, sit down for a chat with Mr. Shigeki whose family has owned the building for three generations. This place is very popular, so it's best to book far in advance.

A bit of a miniature miracle, the Ryokan Seryo is in the semirural village of Ohara, near the Sanzen-in Temple. The rooms are spacious with views of beautiful gardens and access to natural hot-spring baths in the rooms. Breakfast and the kaiseki dinner includes mountain vegetables and seasonal specialties like wild boar stew in winter, and is served on a veranda overlooking the koi pond. Two new rooms have outdoor baths with memorable mountain views. The hotel is a 70-minute bus ride from Kyoto Station or from buses leaving from the Kokusai Kaikan subway station, 20 minutes away.

Just a three-minute walk from Miyanoura ferry terminal you'll find this hidden little gem where the hostess, Yukiko-san, carefully attends to her guests and makes great food. The old villa-turned-ryokan is a wooden structure, and the rooms are traditional Japanese with tatami mats and sliding doors. The per-person price includes both breakfast and dinner.

Across the Nagara River from Gifu Castle, Ryokan Sugiyama is a tasteful blend of traditional and modern, offering large rooms with tatami floors and elegant shoji doors—ask for one overlooking the river. The staff are polite in a mannered way, and the food (meals and no-meals plans are available) features the ubiquitous ayu alongside traditional ryokan fare. There's a nice hot-spring bath on the roof. The place is run by the same family whose cormorant fishing masters ply the river every night in ukai season, and some of the staff speak English. It's a 15-minute taxi ride from Gifu Station or a 10-minute walk north of the castle.

The same family has maintained a tradition of heartwarming hospitality at this charming riverside ryokan since 1893, but it's a strictly cash-only operation. Rooms vary in size and lack private bathrooms but are air-conditioned, and the location is perfect for watching the famous Matsue sunset. The food is superb and of an astounding variety—virtually all the local seafood and vegetable specialties, both raw and cooked, are served. English is spoken, and your kind hosts may even demonstrate sushi-making and a tea ceremony.

Friendly service and delicious meals, which are included in the basic rates, make for a relaxed stay in this quiet mix of old and new. The newer wing has suites with private baths, whereas rooms in the old wing share a communal bath. A green tea porridge breakfast is served in the dining room overlooking the interior garden. Prices include a kaiseki dinner and breakfast, and there are reduced prices for stays of three nights or more. Tsubakiso is down a quiet side street in central Nara, about a 10-minute walk from either of the main train stations.