337 Best Hotels in Japan

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.

Indoor and outdoor pools, a rooftop garden, tennis courts, and a sparkling marble atrium make this hotel a popular choice for both Japanese and Western travelers. The modern rooms, large by Japanese standards, afford handsome views of Osaka Castle and the Neya River. Rooms have pale color schemes accented with geometric patterns and Japan-inspired prints. There's a lot here—it's like a city within Osaka Business Park. Spend an evening in the teppanyaki restaurant on the 18th floor enjoying Osaka-jo in all its floodlit glory.

A central location in a bustling complex with restaurants and shopping arcades can make the New Otani feel frantic, but its spectacular, 10-acre Japanese garden can help you find peace. Rooms in the main building feature contemporary Japanese design; those in the Garden Tower overlook ponds and waterfalls. The complex also has a pool and a spa.

This 30-story hotel's exotic lobby is more reminiscent of Singapore than Japan, with tropical plants, cherry-oak slatted doors, and colonial-style furniture. A winding staircase curls around a bubbling pond in the middle of the lobby and leads to a brasserie called Garden House, which serves wonderful coffee and cake. The colorful top-floor lounge, Le Grand Chariot, has panoramic views over Kanazawa, cocktails, and soft piano music. Guest rooms begin at the 17th floor, and the Western-style ones are decorated with creamy pastels and blond-wood furnishings and have striking views of the sea, city, or mountains. An underground passageway connects the hotel to the JR Station.

The city's largest hotel provides plenty of creature comforts in rooms with thick carpets and large windows that let in lots of light. Given its location next to Nara JR Station, the rooms are remarkably quiet. All have private baths, and there's a communal bath as well. Close to downtown restaurants, the hotel sits atop a popular shopping arcade. The lobby is on the third floor, where you can also find a lounge offering free drinks including wine and sake.

A striking white tower in the colorful Shin-sai-bashi district, the Nikko is within easy reach of shopping meccas like Amerika-mura. What you pay depends on the amenities, as the twin and double rooms are all the same size. For a little more comfort, opt for a room on one of the L floors for a couple of thousand yen extra. Black-and-white photographs of Mido-suji-dori ornament the walls. 

Traditional and contemporary elements come together to make the Niwa Tokyo a prized little boutique hotel in the middle of the city. A small rock pond and massive paper lantern in the high-ceiling lobby welcome guests. Rooms are small (starting at 60 square feet) yet contain charming Japanese touches, such as shoji screens and carpeting made to look like tatami. The property is within minutes of Tokyo Dome, so catching the Giants during the baseball season is a snap.

Rising 35 stories over Meriken Park, this is one of the city's best lodgings. Beautifully furnished, the hotel lives up to the Okura chain's reputation for excellence. Rooms were designed by David Hicks, who has also done interiors for the British royal family. The hotel has a well-equipped health club and stunning views of the bay from the beautiful Sazanka Teppanyaki Restaurant on the 35th floor.

Perched on a cliff overlooking the Sea of Japan, this resort in Aikawa offers ocean views, an open-air hot-spring pool, and comfortable Japanese- or Western-style rooms. What you're really here for, though, is the food: meals consist of fresh sashimi, grilled sazae (a local shellfish), wagyu beef, and vegetable tempura from Sado farms. It's all washed down with some Niigata sake, of course. The hotel is a 50-minute bus ride from Ryotsu; ask in advance about the hotel's shuttle bus.

This hotel is an oasis on the coast of Motobu located next to Ocean Expo Park and the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. With gorgeous views out toward Ie Island and doorstep access to Emerald Beach, it is perfect for a romantic getaway or a family vacation. Use the hotel as a convenient base to also check out Bise Village, Kouri Island, and the northern coastline up to Cape Hedo. Decor is stylish with muted natural tones. All rooms are spacious with ocean views. Most guests arrive by rental car, but the hotel has timetables and discounted tickets for the Yanbaru Express bus to the airport.

From the outside, you might think you've booked a drab business hotel, but inside everything is surprisingly smart. Better yet, it's literally next door to the main building at Dogo Onsen, so you couldn't ask for better access to the city's famous hot-spring baths. "Standard doubles" might feel a bit too snug, but the "deluxe twins" are unusually spacious for Japan. The sushi restaurant on the first floor also serves good Japanese breakfast sets.

What puts Peace Island Miyakojima a cut above the rest are the amenities: all the rooms have their own washing machine, refrigerator, and microwave. It's filled with simple, functional rooms. It's particularly popular with scuba divers and families. In the center of Hirara, the Peace Island puts you within walking distance of the bars and restaurants.

With its excellent staff, comfortable rooms, and award-winning breakfasts, Hotel Piena is a step above other midrange business hotels in downtown Kobe. Just a short stroll from the fashionable Kitano area, Sannomiya Station, and Shin-Kobe Station, the hotel is a good base for exploring the city and surrounding area. While the rooms are smaller than those of higher end hotels, they are elegant, comfortable, and good for travelers who plan to spend most of the day out sightseeing. The hotel staff are friendly and helpful, happy to give advice about sights in the surrounding area. With its central location, affordable price point, good food, and excellent service, Hotel Piena is one of the best all-around values in the city.

Situated one block north of JR Gifu Station, this conveniently located hotel comes with larger-than-average Western-style rooms. Request an upper floor room facing Gifu Park for an excellent outlook toward Gifu Castle and the Nagara River. 

The main selling point of this functional business hotel is its location right next to the Kushiro train station. As with most business hotels, the rooms are sparse and small but clean. There is a free breakfast, but it can get crowded. The hotel's public bath is gender-separated and is an excellent place to thaw out in winter. 

You couldn't ask for a more convenient in-town lodging than this elegant, nicely furnished hotel. Just north of the Makishi monorail station—where Kokusai Street gets quieter—the nine floors of sturdy accommodations are the perfect place to spend a night on your way through Naha. Standard twin rooms have cozy semi-double beds with rather bland decor; deluxe rooms have opulent bathrooms and big desks.

One of the most affordable hotels near Tokyo Station (a mere three-minute walk away), the Ryumeikan is a great option for business travelers or those making side trips outside the city. Don't be put off by the drab elevator up to the 15th-floor lobby; things are far smarter elsewhere. Guest rooms have cream-colored walls and dark-brown textiles, and bathrooms feature showers outfitted with a special massage function. Small (188 square feet) single rooms are simply designed, with a curved desk and ergonomic office chair. The hotel's restaurant, Hanagoyomi, serves good Japanese dishes. Bicycle rentals are possible.

Smart but affordable, this hotel offers great city access—it's across from the JR Station—and a good range of facilities and amenities. Rooms are simple in design, but doubles are spacious, with queen-size beds, and the corner twins are huge by local standards. The top-floor natural hot-spring bath will soothe and rejuvenate you after a day on your feet.

Located a few minutes from the shops and nightlife of Okaido, the Hotel Vista is a cut above a standard business hotel. While the basic rooms are fairly compact, "moderate twins" and "superior twins" are very spacious by local standards. All rooms feature contemporary (if a little uninspiring) interiors, as does the coworking space, where you can grab free soft drinks. For wheelchair users, there's a "universal twin" available.

Aimed at no-nonsense business travelers, this spartan hotel provides simple, functional rooms, fast Wi-Fi, and fair prices. The hotel is a two-minute walk from Nagasaki Station, across the pedestrian bridge on the narrow road past the FamilyMart convenience store.

Opened in 2021, this bright and airy hotel next to Inuyama Station offers simple, but smart Western-style rooms. Where it stands out is with its activities geared toward travelers after cultural experiences. On-site, the hotel runs tea ceremonies, sweets-making classes, and ceramic painting workshops for both guests and nonguests. It also offers history walks of Inuyama's old town and can arrange ukai tickets. 

Situated in the heart of Ginza, this hotel is a chic place to unwind after a day of shopping and before a night on the town. Rooms range from spacious king-bed doubles and twins to sprawling suites; all are sleekly designed and have nice touches like Nespresso machines, eco-friendly Bee Kind bath products, and 50-inch wall-mounted TVs. Although the Centric keeps things minimal in terms of communal hotel facilities, it does have a bar, restaurant, gym, and laidback lobby lounge.