238 Best Hotels in Japan

Glitz and glitter lure expense-accounters to the Hilton Osaka, in the heart of the business district, a typical Western-style hotel with endless marble and brass. The high-ceiling lobby is dramatic and stylish, and the arcade is home to designer boutiques. The five executive floors have a lounge for complimentary continental breakfasts and evening cocktails, and the decor is 21st-century art deco with a Japanese streak.

At this behemoth hotel, the lobby—where a staircase leads to a mezzanine floor and a bar-lounge—has a surprisingly human scale, and sizable guest rooms have soft, relaxing color schemes and such Japanese touches as the shoji screen, a constant since the hotel's opening in 1963. The hotel is what many people would expect of a property in a business center like Tokyo, but with views of its quieter areas.

Given its proximity to Narita Airport (15 minutes away on a free shuttle), this hotel is a solid choice for a one-night visit. All the rooms are no-smoking; if available, book one of the deluxe rooms, which are slightly larger and are done in neutral colors. Meal options include a Japanese restaurant, a Sichuan eatery, and the Terrace Bar for an evening cocktail. The breakfast buffet is a bit expensive but it offers a mix of Japanese and Western selections. Also, in case you forgot to get snacks for your flight, there is a 7-Eleven on the ground floor.

With a facade that follows the curve of the Tokyo Bay shoreline, the 15-story Hilton Tokyo Odaiba presents itself as an "urban resort" with European style. Dark-wood chairs and golden ornaments adorn the second-floor lobby, where large windows overlook the waterfront. The spacious rooms have a balcony and are decorated in pale yellow and beige textiles; select suites have whirlpool tubs. The Captain's Bar serves a large selection of whiskey and brandy. Access to the city center from here is cumbersome, but a boardwalk connects the hotel to a small park, an amusement area, and shopping destinations.

Located down the lively (and partially covered) Shinmachi shopping street is an emphatic hotel, where everything is large, including the lobby, public areas, roomy restaurants, and spacious, if tame, rooms. Because many wedding parties are held here on weekends, the hotel tends to be crowded with lots of families and kids. The top floor of the 17-story hotel houses a French restaurant and a bar, and the view beats even that of the 13th-floor observatory of the ASPAM building.

Established in 1957 and renovated in 2015, these budget accommodations offer both good value for the money and easy access (a 15-minute walk) to the nightlife of Roppongi. Standard rooms billed as semi-doubles here are really singles, but the superior twins are quite spacious for the price. Appointments are a bit spartan—off-white walls, mass-market veneer furniture—but each room has comfortable beds and plenty of basic amenities like a hair dryer, electric kettle, yukata (Japanese robe), and a TV. The restaurant serves a breakfast buffet that includes freshly baked bread.

This is the nicest and most convenient hotel in downtown Hirara, and every room at this contemporary high-rise hotel next to Hirara Wharf boasts ocean views. The rooms are large, and each has a big picture window; corner deluxe rooms enjoy two of them. Suites are large, with L-shaped sectional sofas. There are various dining options at the hotel, but it is also not too far to venture out to the local restaurants.

One step up from a standard Japanese business hotel, the Buena Vista has a glowing marble lobby and facilities that include a coffeehouse, café-bar, and three restaurants. Single rooms snugly accommodate a small double bed, while standard doubles and twins have space for a table and chairs. The hotel is four blocks southeast of Matsumoto Station, and there's a free shuttle bus from the station.

A wonderful location—atop the 35-floor Odakyu Southern Tower, minutes on foot from Shinjuku Station—and several on-site dining options are the main draws at this hotel. The 20th-floor lobby, with its wooden floors, is a relaxing perch from which to take in the beautiful views. Rooms, though basic, are pleasantly outfitted in light-wood furnishings and sizable writing desks suitable for the business traveler. The hotel is directly connected to plenty of shopping and entertainment options.

When you have had enough of feeling that you're in a city, try this sheltered haven of a hotel surrounded by a 17-acre garden nestled onto the former estate of an imperial prince. Guest rooms, some of the city's largest, are done it tasteful, muted tones. Spacious bathrooms have soaking tubs with separate showers. Deluxe rooms overlook the garden or offer pleasant skyline views. Amenities include a spa and a pool that can be adjusted for use in all conditions.

Guest rooms at this hotel in Dogo are compact but have a modern Japanese aesthetic. If you want a larger room, opt for a deluxe twin, which combines a bedroom and small tatami mat room. Breakfast (extra fee) is a step up from the average midrange hotel offerings. It's a buffet of fresh local vegetables delivered daily direct from Ehime farmers, and the fish comes from the Seto Inland Sea.

This low-rise hotel next to the train station has Western-style standard twin rooms with private baths; larger deluxe twins with sofas are worth the extra expense. A simple breakfast is generally included in the rates and served at the attached restaurant on the first floor.

Across from Fukui Castle, Hotel Fujita Fukui has the amenities of a luxury hotel at prices that won't empty your wallet. With a range of rooms—from tiny economy singles all the way to mixed Japanese- and Western-style suites—it caters to all budgets and tastes. Eight restaurants mean you can have a different culinary treat every evening. The staff speak basic English and, in little-visited Fukui, are delighted to have a chance to speak with foreign guests.

Centrally situated between JR Nara Station and Nara Park, what this simple hotel may lacking charm and ambience, it more than makes up for in location and price. The pink wave-shaped lighting in the atrium harks back to the 1980s economic bubble. There are two restaurants, one of which, Hanakagami, serves Japanese cuisine.

With a giant Godzilla head on the eighth-floor lobby terrace and one special guest room with movie posters, a rubber monster suit, and a giant claw emerging from a headboard, the Gracery is a good choice for fans of the silver screen's top prehistoric creature. A word of warning: while the hotel is clean, and the staff is friendly, it is located in a red-light district.

Connected by walkways to Hiroshima's JR Station, this conveniently located hotel is welcoming to weary travelers. Granvia's location and unpretentious, comfortable rooms make it a good choice for travelers arriving later in the evening or taking an early train out of the city. The Japanese restaurant Seto-uchi, on the second floor, offers a sampling of good traditional fare, and the expansive lobby is great for people-watching. 

Bright-white marble and richly stained wood dominate the lobby at this large, luxurious hotel, a comfortable base for exploring the area. The bilingual staff are cheerful and welcoming. The superior rooms are spacious, with higher floors offering views over the city. It's conveniently connected to the JR Okayama Station—stay on the second level and follow the signs toward the southern end.

At the main intersection in Ishigaki City, the Hotel GranView Ishigaki is a short walk from the port, restaurants, and dive shops. The rooms are spartan but clean and modern, and the staff are helpful and friendly. Japanese communal baths are open in the morning and evening. This is a great choice if you are focused on diving or don't have a rental car to get to more out-of-the-way beachside hotels, which ironically have far grander views.

The InterContinental offers lovely views of the Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Bay, and surrounding Odaiba and has large rooms featuring soft neutral textiles and bathrooms with separate showers and tubs—all of which offsets a somewhat isolated location, wedged between Tokyo Bay and an expressway, with nothing in the way of nearby entertainment options. The club floors (20th to 24th) have a breakfast buffet and complimentary evening drinks to go with a dedicated check-in area. Haneda Airport is easily accessible from JR Hamamatsucho Station, just an 8-minute walk from the hotel.

This nine-story hotel curves around a corner just up from the ASPAM building as if it belonged in a periodically snowbound 1990s-era Miami Beach. The lobby is open and bright and has an adjacent restaurant. A prime location makes shopping and exploring the city center easier, and because it's close to the harbor, you can easily walk along the waterfront in the morning. The rooms are spacious, some have sea views, and some accommodate guests in wheelchairs.

This chic downtown pied-à-terre successfully combines traditional ryokan elements—sliding paper screens, tatami rooms—with some unexpected boutique-hotel touches like the contemporary room design and the lobby aromas that change with the season (citrus when it's cool outside, mint when it's warm). One definite break with tradition is that you can opt for a plan that includes no meals.

Adjacent to the JR Akita Station and ALS shopping mall, this hotel with its large rooms is a perfect choice for shopping and exploring the sights. Rooms are understated in style, with wood accents. Premium-floor rooms are larger, but all of the rooms are clean and functional. There are also laundry facilities, massages, and access to the neighboring fitness center (for an extra ¥1,100 fee). 

Tastefully furnished, spacious rooms and English-speaking staff make this hotel—run by the same group as the Hotel Metropolitan Morioka (original branch)—a safe choice for visitors to Morioka. The hotel is conveniently close to Morioka Station. The presence of a large wedding altar right in the middle of the coffee lounge in the lobby gives it a rather over-the-top appearance. 

This upscale hotel adjacent to the railway station is a great value, with spacious, tastefully furnished rooms that have been renovated in calming tones. The restaurant and café on the second floor are bright and airy, with a fabulous glass-front view for people-watching. The hotel's location is great for travelers, but also good for events, so don't be surprised by a raucous wedding party or company dinner.

Yamagata's most centrally located upscale hotel caters to many busy corporate travelers from Tokyo and other big cities. There are two connected wings, but breakfast is served in the main building. The lounge and rooms are spacious, the staff are efficient, and decor is snappy and stylish. Upper-floor rooms have views you won't want to turn away from.

This sleek hotel offers spotless, if cramped, rooms at reasonable rates. There's a comfortable lobby lounge, and from there you have direct access to the train station or the shops and restaurants of the CoCoLo shopping center. Breakfast, served in an adjacent eatery, is good value.

The faux-stone exterior that attempts to replicate 20th-century Europe might seem cheesy, but this hotel is a true Ginza bargain. In keeping with the theme, rooms are outfitted with dark-wood floors, powder-white linens, and curtains tied with tassels, though free in-room internet and heated toilet seats are nice contemporary touches. The Escale restaurant is French, but this European slant isn't just for the hotel guests; the in-house wedding chapel can be busy on weekends and holidays.

This is the biggest resort hotel on Lake Yamanaka, with European-style rooms, hot-spring baths, on-site game and karaoke rooms, and a nature walk on the grounds. The guest rooms are larger than those at the other hotels, and the spacious lounges have fine views of the lake and mountain.

Glossy marble and massive slabs of granite dominate this popular and upscale hotel. Standard twin rooms are large and comfortable, with enough space for a table and a couple of easy chairs. Light colors, pastel carpets, and tasteful gold accents keep things looking chic. It's unbeatably convenient, right next to Nagasaki Station and the always lively Amu Plaza shopping center.