337 Best Hotels in Japan

Opened next to Kanazawa Station in 2020, the Hyatt Centric delivers stylish rooms and common areas, but with deliberately trimmed back facilities in an attempt to keep fees down. The rooms and suites are all spacious, combining natural tones and natural lighting with the occasional bold motif and modern amenities. There's a chic rooftop bar, plus a café and grill that serves a Western-style buffet breakfast. Unlike some of Kanazawa's older accommodations, the Centric also has an accessible room available. Next door you'll find another new property, Hyatt House, better geared toward longer stays and families.

The Hyatt is elegant but without a stratospheric price tag. It is located beside the quiet Tsuboya pottery district, which provides quick access to busy Kokusai Street. There's a great view of the city from Milano, the Italian restaurant on the 18th floor. Along with a sports gym, there's a rooftop pool surrounded by loungers, and a shallow kids' pool. Some of the suite rooms even have double beds—a rarity in Japan where twin rooms are the norm. The lounge area is quiet and relaxing, a great retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Snuggled amid the skyscrapers of Shinjuku, this hotel has Hyatt's trademark, atrium-style lobby—seven stories high, with glass elevators soaring upward—and as well as rooms that are spacious rooms, if somewhat unremarkable in design. Splurge for the club access deluxe rooms, which include breakfast, tea service, and other perks to go with your even-more-spacious room. Tocho-mae Station, beneath the hotel, allows swift access to the nightlife in Roppongi and Shiodome's business towers, but it's quite deep, so you might find that Shinjuku Station is an easier connector. The nearby park is great for a jog or a stroll and for watching people walk their dogs.

Though not as fashionable or modern as its neighbor the Peninsula, when it comes to traditional elegance, it's hard to top the venerable Imperial, which opened in 1890 and has always been justly proud of its Western-style facilities and personalized Japanese service. Located in the heart of central Tokyo, between the Imperial Palace and Ginza, the hotel has its finest rooms on the 30th floor of the tower, providing views of the palace grounds. In general, rooms—complete with walk-in closets—range from standard singles (344 square feet) to suites that are larger than many homes. Since some Tower rooms are just above the JR train lines, a room closer to Hibiya Park might be a little more pleasing. Dining options are varied and superb, including the award-winning Les Saisons, which is one of Tokyo's finest French restaurants. The Old Imperial Bar incorporates elements from the 1923 version of the hotel, which Frank Lloyd Wright designed, and the Toko-An teahouse offers traditional tea ceremonies.

Owned by a diver–wildlife photographer (iruka means dolphin), this well-kept guesthouse sits by the water in Utoro. Vast fish dinners are served in the bright, modern dining room and on the wooden deck overlooking the Okhotsk Sea. Yamamoto-san speaks some English and is qualified to take guests diving under the ice floes in winter. From the small tatami rooms at dusk, keep an eye out for local foxes that curl up on the hoods of the still-warm cars in the parking lot. As you arrive into town from Abashiri, take the first left after coming out of the tunnel, and the bright-yellow hotel will be the last building on the right (with the dolphin on it) before the road curves to the left. They also have a separate two-bedroom house for rent (June to October only) on the mountain side of town.

On tiny Yokoyama Island, this small inn has painted its name in large letters on the red roof. Ishiyama-so is a two-minute boat ride from Kashikojima; phone the day before and your hosts will meet you at the quay. The inn isn't fancy, but it offers six well-maintained rooms overlooking the sea. You'll find tea sets and yukata (Japanese bathrobes) in both the Japanese- and Western-style rooms, and breakfast and dinner plans are available.

Along the Hirose River, this large ryokan has rooms that peer out over the stream and mountains, offering a 20-meter pool, table tennis, and a children's play area, as well as its original rotenburo. Some of it is a bit over the top, but that is the mood. Nevertheless, the reason to stay here is for the onsen. Although the rotenburo generally offers mixed-sex bathing, some hours are reserved for women only. Five different springs fill the four rocky baths, and you can see the warm water bubbling up from the bottom of the river while you’re soaking. Request a room with beds if you’re not interested in sleeping on futons. Some rooms even have private baths with views.

For traditional elegance, it's easy to like this venerable Japanese inn. It's the oldest and most famous lodging on the island, and everyone important has stayed here. The rooms in the wheelchair-accessible newer wing are nice enough, but the older rooms have more character. Two quaint cottages on the grounds have suites decorated with antiques. Prices vary widely according to the size of your room, the view, and the kaiseki dinner you select, so be sure to get it all ironed out when you make reservations. Breakfast and dinner are usually included in the rates and can be made Western-style. Nonguests can also enjoy the food.

The private onsen bathtubs on each room's balcony here have breathtaking views of the unspoiled valley below. The Japanese-style rooms are luxurious. Follow Route 45 as it curves right and transforms back into the old Route 32; make a left just after the decrepit pink Kazurabashi Hotel, and the lush Iya Bijin will come up on your right.

This traditional inn just up the road from Kazura-bashi has spacious rooms, an outdoor hot-spring bath, and unobstructed views of the valley, but the home-style feast you're served at dinner and breakfast are what you'll write home about. Two meals are included in most rates, but breakfast-only and dinner-only options are also available at a much lower rate.

Perched on the edge of a steep ravine above the Iya River, this upscale hot-springs inn provides absolute luxury in the middle of nowhere. Iya Onsen is one of Japan's three "secret" baths (if you ask locals where the other two are, nobody seems to know). Reasons to stay here include the sweeping views from most guest rooms, the lavish meals, and the riverside hot-spring bath accessed by cable car. When the mist rises from the valley in the early morning, it really does feel like you're in a hidden world. A hotel bus picks up overnight guests from Oboke Station at 3:10 pm (reservation needed).

Situated in a tower of the glistening Azabudai Hills complex, the Janu is one of the newest and swankiest luxury hotels in Tokyo. This Aman Group hotel, designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, has guestrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies, and sleek natural-tone interiors that blend Asian and contemporary Western aesthetics. To that you can add eight highly rated bars and restaurants, plus one of the city's finest spas and wellness centers.

If you're inclined to indulge in Western-style comfort, this hotel next to Takamatsu Station is a good choice. The decor is pleasant if no great shakes—the city views are the selling point at Takamatsu's tallest hotel. The corner rooms on the upper floors have sweeping views of the Inland Sea. The Clement also comes with a reputation for attentive service.

Located right next to the station and directly accessible, this business hotel, a delight for trainspotters, is the most convenient accommodation in the city. Rooms are modern with subtle locomotive-themed decor. From the 12th-floor onsen you can soak while watching the trains pull in and out of the station. Also on the 12th floor is a small lounge with free coffee, books on Japan's train network, and great views across the city and ocean. At the "Pillow Corner" in the lobby, guests can select from 12 different types of pillow.

"Fit for a king" is often an exaggeration, but in this case it's true—Jyoseikan is where the emperor and empress once stayed. A monumental, somewhat dated exterior gives way to a grand interior with spacious Japanese-style rooms, exquisite tatami suites, and a sauna and bath with wonderful views of the city and the castle. There are pleasant Western-style twins available, but they don't come close to the traditional Japanese rooms in either the main building or new annex. No-meal or limited-meal plans are possible too, if you want to keep the price more affordable, but most rates include breakfast and a refined kaiseki or French dinner. It's seven stops west of Harimaya Bridge by tram. 

Although this hostel is best known as a backpacker getaway, the modern architecture, smart facilities, multilingual staff, and central location make it a great find, as do the two cheap double rooms with ensuite baths. The rooms are a good value for those who have low budgets but still want perks like free Wi-Fi, plentiful computer terminals, and a lovely courtyard. K's House is located north of Shichijo-dori and west of the Takase River.

If the beauty of Arashiyama inspires you to spend the night in the area, consider this resort whose draws include its kimono-clad staff, modern amenities, multicourse meals, and spacious hot springs a short walk from the monkey park. In addition to the communal areas, there are five private thermal-water pools guests may use, three of them invitingly open-air. Other perks include complimentary ice-cream bars after your bath or massage.

This hotel is well-located for those who want to be close to Kawagoe train station—just few minutes away on foot via an elevated walkway—and its numerous shops and restaurants. Although it is a bit far from Ichibangai, Toki no Kane, and other sights, frequent buses plying the area stop at historical attractions. As the lobby isn't at ground level, reaching the modestly sized, minimalist rooms requires taking two different elevators. Breakfast (not included in the rates) is served slightly offsite, but it has some tasty regional offerings such as sweet potato, Musashino udon, and Kawajima cold soup.

Although some areas of this hotel are nondescript, it has a remarkable variety of contemporary accommodations, including fully accessible rooms and those with as many as four beds. It also has an impressive gym with city views and a seasonally open outdoor pool so you can swim among the skyscrapers.

Built in the traditional honmune-zukuri style, this hot-springs lodging has a characteristic peaked roof, ornamental woodwork above the front gable, and bow windows. The spacious lobby has crossbeams made from the trunk of a zelkova tree. There are two hot-spring baths: Kikuburo is made of Italian marble with a large carved chrysanthemum, while beniburo has an open-air tub. Ground-floor guest rooms face the garden, and some have private cypress baths. Artfully arranged meals on lacquer trays arrive in your room. The hotel is a 20-minute bus ride from Matsumoto Station to Asama-onsen, which is northeast of the city at the foot of the Utsukushigahara highlands.

A huge hotel with every imaginable amenity, the sleek Portopia Hotel rises high above the city. The restaurants and lounges on the top floors have panoramic views of Rokko-san and Osaka Bay. Ask for a room in the south wing if you want a balcony and ocean view. It's a bit isolated on man-made Port Island, but it has complimentary shuttle buses to and from Shin-Kobe Station throughout the day. The location is somewhat countered by the fact that everything from food—Chinese, Japanese, and French—to clothing is available inside the hotel.

This friendly hostel on the main street leading to the shrine's steps offers a mix of dorms and simple singles and twins. Being a budget hostel, the rooms are barely furnished and have wood-chip walls that give an almost unfinished feel, but the beds are comfortable and rooms come with air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi. Staying here also gives access to a laid-back coworking space, a communal lounge, and a shared kitchen.

Across from and named for the city's best-loved landmark, this hotel has great views and provides excellent service. Traditional enough to please anyone, the rooms come in an amazing variety of layouts, all with ornate puffy furnishings in luscious creamy colors. In-room dining is available, but you don't want to miss the romantic restaurant on the 11th floor.

The town's oldest Western-style hotel welcomes guests with a black-tile lobby and dramatic Japanese wood-block prints. The rooms are dated, but large. Ask for one in the newer annex at the back of the building overlooking the garden. The location is ideal—just around the corner from the Ohara Art Museum, a 10-minute walk on the main road leading southeast from the station.

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.

Built in 1913, but with a smart, new annex added in 2020, the Kusatsu Hotel is a blend of classic and contemporary ryokan; though meals are not obligatory, use of the hot springs is included with all rooms. Accommodation options include traditional tatami-mat rooms (with futon for sleeping) in the main building or rooms with beds and wood flooring that still manage to retain a traditional vibe. Meals (there are various plans available) are centered on multicourse kaiseki traditions, but there's also a laid-back café on-site. The several indoor and outdoor public baths, which were renovated in 2020, offer a classic way to unwind, especially after a day at the nearby Kusatsu Ski Resort.

Situated just across the road from the Imperial Palace and gardens, the Kyoto Garden Palace is a classically styled yet unfussy hotel, offering excellent Japanese hospitality plus quiet, clean, and comfortable rooms. The two excellent ground floor restaurants are great spots for lunch or dinner, and both have views of the serene interior garden. East-facing rooms overlook the famous palace and grounds.

Trendy yet budget-friendly, this hotel on the edge of Ginza seems geared to a younger crowd, with pop-art throughout and guest rooms done in light blues and oranges. Most rooms are compact singles and twins, although some triples and double bedroom rooms are available for families or groups of friends. Then there are the facilities, which (along with the price) make Lyf an option for long stays: a co-working space, chilled-out bar-lounge, shared kitchen, small gym, and a laundromat.

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.

Situated as it is on the upper 11 floors of the Marunouchi Oazo Building, with an underground walkway connected to Tokyo Station, this hotel offers both a convenient location and views of the city lights, which illuminate the quiet neutral hues and high ceilings in the guest rooms. Among the dining selections are Daian Club, featuring Wagyu beef, and the French restaurant pomme d'Adam, which specializes in dishes prepared with seasonal ingredients. If you need other options, a multitude of restaurants await in nearby skyscrapers.