238 Best Hotels in Japan

Adjacent to the Imperial Palace and its park, this reasonably priced hotel has extended-stay rates. The multilingual concierge and location midway between two subway stops on the Karasuma Line compensate for the small but adequate rooms, some of which have the bonus of a kitchenette. The waiters at the restaurant are often foreign students working their way through college. The outdoor seating at the café is a nice perk, and a rare one in any Japanese city.

This luxurious mountain retreat offers ski-in ski-out access to the Niseko Hanazono Resort as well as a wide range of restaurants and bars should you be lucky enough to spend several days here. Many may not feel the need to venture out to Niseko Village or Kutchan for meals. The French restaurant Molière Montagne has received glowing reviews. Rooms are spacious and elegant and have expansive views of the ski slopes. In winter (high season) there's a minimum-stay policy of up to three nights. 

From the staff in caps and sharp suits, often assisting guests from a Rolls-Royce shuttling to and from Narita, to the shimmering gold glow emitting from the top floors, the 24-floor Peninsula Tokyo exudes elegance and grace. The rooms include all sorts of glamorous touches like red-lacquered elm desks, mobile phones for use during your visit, flat-screen TVs in the bathroom, and separate soaking tubs. Bedside panels with remote controls allow you to tweak the room's ambience from the comfort of your bed. Tall windows afford pleasant views of the downtown financial district. Another amazing view can be found from the top-floor lounge, Peter, which serves European cuisine. The hotel's other dining options include Hei Fung Terrace (Cantonese), as well as sushi, tempura, and teppanyaki restaurants.

The exterior may look worn, but the rooms have possibly the best view in Japan. The café has a decent selection of options, but you mainly come here for the beach with good swimming and gorgeous sunset views. They also offer diving, snorkeling, and sailing excursions. You save money if you opt for the Japanese tatami rooms rather than Western beds. May close during the winter season December to February.  Staff will pick you up from Uehara Port if you phone ahead.

This resort hotel has the lake in front and the mountains of Komagatake in back. The Ryuguden bathhouse has open-air hot-spring baths with lake views, and the hotel offers tours and activities such as yoga, fishing trips, and kayaking.

Directly across from the Kyoto International Conference Hall, nestled in a forest setting, this grand hotel will make you feel like visiting royalty. Rooms are spacious, with views of lush greenery on both sides, some facing the nearby mountains and others the inner garden. Demonstrations of the tea ceremony take place in the teahouse beside the garden pond upon request. The chef of the French-themed Beaux Sejours restaurant is one of city's most talented practitioners. The Kokusai Kaikan subway station is a few minutes away by foot.

The surrounding parkland and the absence of any adjacent structures make the Park Tower a peaceful urban retreat, where a vertically impressive atrium lobby, with two glass elevators, gives a clear look into the building's hollow core. Guest rooms are somewhat generic but roomy for the price, with the corner doubles and twins being the most desirable, as they have the best views. Guests staying on the Premium Club Floor have free use of the lounge and spa and fitness facilities, and receive complimentary breakfast. Bathrooms with jetted tubs and separate full-stall showers are nice, modern touches. The Sky Lounge Stellar Garden on the 33rd floor offers cocktails and supreme night views of Tokyo Tower.

If you're all about smart technology and efficient service, try this small Ebisu property, where the lobby has an interactive map, and check-in/out and luggage storage before or after your stay can be done using self-service machines. Rooms are small, modern, and minimalist; some have smart-technology speakers and mirrors. Breakfast is limited to a small sandwich and a cuppa, but fret not—Ebisu is a transportation hub with heaps of nearby cafés and restaurants, as well as shops.

Stretching along a sandy beach, this resort hotel is peerless for its comfort, service, luxury, and access to the sights. Pick your favorite room from a variety of Western and Japanese arrangements with unique character; the Japanese website has pictures of every room. Ask for a beachside room, so the sound of the surf can lull you to sleep. The waves at the beach are too rough for swimming, but there's a fun restaurant on the dunes.

Considering its view over the sea, spacious rooms, and proximity to Hagi's old town, Mihagi is a great option. The hotel's public hot spring is modern and has a variety of baths with views over the beach. Meals are based around fresh, local seafood and the region's Wagyu beef. 

A central location on a busy corner with bus connections and comfortably furnished rooms make this moderately priced hotel a good choice in Aomori. The lobby, located on the fifth floor, is equipped with an automated check-in system that can speed things up, or at least remove any language barrier. Staff are also on hand, of course, to welcome you in the attractive lobby area. Some east-side rooms overlook Mt. Hakkoda. The rooms are bright and modern, and the breakfast buffet has quite a variety.

Pristine rooms, excellent rates, and a prime location near nightlife and shopping make this hotel a superb midrange choice. As at most business hotels, the rooms are on the small side, so book one of the roomier "Hollywood twin" rooms. The breakfast buffet is an additional cost, though there are cheaper options in the cafés in the Obiya-machi arcade, where the Richmond is located.

Two minutes from JR Yamagata Station, this sleek 12-story hotel offers reasonable rates and comfortable rooms with many amenities: bath salts, skin-care products, and special packages for kids. The breakfast offers local dishes including cold ramen and imoni, a potato hot pot. There is also a cultural arts center (Yamagin Kenmin Hall) across the street that might have interesting performances or events going on. It's a pretty safe bet, but most of what you'll want to see is on the other side of the tracks.

Built in the 1930s, the well-established RIGHA Royal is where the royal family stays when visiting Osaka, and it received a major makeover before reopening in March 2025 as part of IHG's new Vignette Collection of individually managed luxury hotels. The hotel contains more than 20 restaurants, bars, and karaoke rooms, and no fewer than 60 shops—in addition to more than 1,000 rooms and suites. The West Wing has standard rooms for business travelers, the Tower Wing standard and executive floors. A stay in the VIP tower means free access to the swimming club's two rooftop pools and gym (other guests pay ¥6,600). A shuttle bus drops you off at Umeda and Yodoya-bashi stations.

One of Kyoto's major hotels, recognized for its excellent service and restaurants, the Rihga Royal is a five-minute walk from Kyoto Station, making it an especially fine choice for those with early train connections. Although it is a Western-style hotel, paper shoji windows and Japanese textiles lend atmosphere to the rooms. Four-person family rooms are available for larger groups. Kyoto's only revolving restaurant crowns the building, offering splendid views of the city; there are four other on-site restaurants. The staff members are trained to make you feel like a VIP.

Opened in 2023, the Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka brings a new level of luxury to Kyushu. Elegant design elements that celebrate the region's weaving culture can be seen in the rooms and communal spaces. The 25-meter swimming pool has views out over the city. Bay, the top floor bar, is the perfect place to watch the sunset and enjoy a craft beer or cocktail. The multilingual staff provide exceptional hospitality. 

This simple, well-kept hotel's location makes it a good base for visiting Dewa Sanzan or exploring other cities in Yamagata Prefecture or just for checking out Tsuruoka. The hotel offers modern rooms done up in shades of cream and chocolate. A brisk three-minute walk takes you to the S-Mall shopping center, where you can find coffee or snacks and catch a bus to Mt. Haguro.

Opened in the heart of Sakae in 2024, the new hotel offers spacious rooms with sweeping city views and is in the perfect location for nightlife and shopping. Occupying the 24th to 32nd floors of the towering Chunichi Building, rooms on the Premium floor, where everything is 55 square meters or larger, offer the top options. The main differences between the sleek room categories are in the design, some being defined by lighter woods and materials, but others with a darker feel. You'll also find a gym and sauna that are free for all guests, plus several restaurants and a bar.

The Ryotei Hanayura hot-spring hotel has floor-to-ceiling lobby windows that look out on a small canyon and river and hot springs that bubble gently among rocks and trees. Spend a little more and enjoy your own one-person cypress wood tub on your balcony, followed by a traditional dinner delivered to the door. This relatively small, modern hotel is overlooked by tour groups; it's connected to a larger hotel, so you can use its bar and souvenir shop. Reserve seats on a free shuttle bus from Sapporo.

Perched atop coastal cliffs, this luxurious family-friendly hotel has its own onsen, and most rooms have stunning ocean views. At night, Yakushima's dark skies mean the view up is filled with stars. It is well worth booking the evening buffet, not only because food options are limited on Yakushima, but also because the delicious food is quite varied, including fresh sushi. There is a common area with table tennis and a small library with books on local wildlife, plus a small bar with complimentary drinks available before dinner. 

With classic European style, white-gloved bellhops, and conveniences like in-room refrigerators tastefully hidden away in wooden cabinets, Sapporo's grand dame has welcomed guests since 1934. In the heart of downtown, the three buildings (Main, Annex, and East) almost fill a city block. Rooms in the older main building feel like a gentlemen's club, with striped wallpaper and small armchairs, while those in the east wing exhibit a more modern flair. In the Memorial Library, check out photographs of VIP guests and mementos of their stays, such as Margaret Thatcher's thank-you letter and the 1955 lunch menu for the visiting New York Yankees.

Its chic interiors have enabled this boutique hotel near the Imperial Palace to gain a foothold in this competitive market with individually designed suites, each the unique creation of a different renowned local or international interior designer. The styles range from traditional, with sliding doors painted with gold leaf, to ultramodern, with everything in ethereal whites. In a popular one, diaphanous white curtains halo the walls and bed. If your suite isn't to your taste, if at all possible the staff will move you to one that is. The rooftop bar has fine city views, and you can dine under the stars in the courtyard.

Occupying the top 11 floors of the 37-storey Marunouchi Trust Tower, near Tokyo Station, the Shangri-La offers superb city views, as well as a lavish interior, including 2,000 works of art hung throughout; 50 glistening chandeliers handmade in the Czech Republic; and large (more than 500 square feet) standard guest rooms that are awash in burgundy-and-brown textiles and equipped with high-end entertainment systems. Upper-floor Horizon Club rooms feature a dedicated concierge and views of the bay and Imperial Palace; suites include additional living and guest rooms. For dining, the Japanese restaurant Nadaman serves teppanyaki, kaiseki, and sushi, while Piacere has creative Italian dishes. Treatments in the Chi spa employ traditional Chinese and Tibetan healing methods. 

An excellent base for exploring Osaka, the Miyako is also handy when you plan on taking day trips to Kyoto and Nara—the Kintetsu Ue-hon-machi Station next door offers quick access to both cities. Osaka Castle and Tenno-ji Temple are each a 15-minute walk away. The Miyako is comfortable and stylish with a staff who are attentive without being obsequious. As an added bonus, a new shopping center and theater are connected to the hotel.

Location is key to this otherwise unremarkable hotel in the towering Mark City complex—not only does the Narita Express depart from nearby Shibuya Station regularly but the Shinjuku neighborhood is just a five-minute train ride north, and there are plenty of shops and affordable restaurants outside the door. Guest rooms are plain but comfortable. For families the extra space in the larger rooms is worth the higher prices. North-facing rooms on the 10th floor and above (including the ladies-only floor on level 20) have views of the Shinjuku skyline. Two restaurants on the top floor also offer excellent views.

Originally opened in the 1950s and then reopened in 2016 after a major renovation ahead of hosting the Ise-Shima G7 summit, the Shima Kanko is Ise-Shima’s premier Western-style luxury hotel, with a very refined look and feel throughout its two zones: the spacious Classic and the Bay Suites. The facilities include several highly rated French and Japanese restaurants, a tea-ceremony room, a spa, summer-only pool, and a gym where President Obama took his morning run during the summit.

At this V-shaped resort hotel that faces the Pacific, the decor is more functional than it is aesthetically pleasing, but the white sand of Shirahama Beach is just steps away, and there are oceans views from all rooms and the public onsen baths, which open early enough for you to catch the sunrise while soaking.

Perched just above the bay, the Shimoda Tokyu has impressive views of the Pacific from one side (where rooms cost more) and mountains from the other. Unlike at most Japanese resort hotels, the lobby here is full of character and warmth, with an airy layout and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bay. Prices are significantly higher in midsummer.

Part of a no-nonsense chain of business hotels, the Shin-Osaka Washington Hotel Plaza is the smartest of its kind. The rooms are not large, but are comfortable and nicely designed. Among the highlights is the China Table Chinese restaurant, equally well known for its food and city views. The hotel is convenient to JR Shin-Osaka Station, where you can catch the bullet train.

Just a three-minute walk from JR Shinagawa Station, the multi-tower Prince Hotel is in a sprawling entertainment complex with, among other things, an 80-lane bowling alley, an 11-screen movie theater, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis and golf centers, and an aquarium, but crowds definitely detract from the experience of staying here. Guest rooms, simply designed and featuring pops of earth- or jewel-tone color, are on the small side overall; indeed, singles can be truly tiny, with space for a bed and little else. Families should book a larger twin room to better accommodate the kids. The Top of Shinagawa Lounge has spectacular views of Tokyo Bay.