337 Best Hotels in Japan

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.

This large, slightly dated hotel sits on the island-studded bay near tourist attractions such as Zuigan-ji and offers lavish rooms, some with private rotenburo (open air bath) on their balconies as well as a communal, open-air onsen with perhaps the best view of all if you do not mind the tour buses parking in front. Each room has a slightly different view, but most face the sea. You can reserve a family onsen room if you are shy about the shared baths. There is also a very small pool and other on-site activities.

This posh resort hotel has a gorgeous garden that stays illuminated at night, not to mention large, bright rooms offering gorgeous, panoramic views the bay, a delightfully relaxing tea room, and public hot-spring baths on the top floor. Affluent travelers may enjoy this splurge, but it's also a favorite among locals celebrating anniversaries. The Kyohei Fujita Museum of Glass, within the hotel complex, contains many opulent pieces by an artist inspired by the area. There are shops in the hotel and bicycles for rent, but the route to all the sights might be a bit busy. Confirm the times of shuttle buses to and from both Matsushima and Matsushimakaigan Stations when you make your reservations. They will also arrange pickup at other times if you call.

On the south bank of the Kiso River, this hotel has winning views of the castle and the surrounding hills. The lobby is bright and lively, and the well-tended grounds, including some hot-spring baths (open to nonguests also for ¥930), are relaxing. Sunny rooms in Japanese or Western style have pleasant vistas; the best face the castle, which is illuminated in the evening. The hotel can arrange tours of the area.

Both chic and reasonable, this hotel occupies the top nine floors of the 24-story Ginza Mitsui Building in a convenient location at the edge of the bustling neighborhood. Guest rooms have a soft modern style, incorporating earth tones with dashes of forest green. Little luxuries include cozy bedding and free Wi-Fi; View rooms offer city views from their bathrooms. Another great spot to take in the skyline? The Karin cocktail bar and E'Volta restaurant. Both are on the 16th floor and have wonderful panoramas of Tokyo.

This modern and comfortable hotel is an excellent base for exploring the area around Peace Memorial Park as well as the city's restaurants and nightlife. Rooms on the upper floors have excellent views over Hiroshima and the mountains beyond, as does the 25th-floor restaurant. The staff are friendly and helpful. 

A few blocks from the pier, this narrow eight-story hotel caters to the economically minded. You can book anything from a spartan room to a spacious deluxe twin at an affordable price. It's within walking distance of downtown and some of the best nightspots. The bus depot, ferry port, dive shops, and car-rental agencies are within walking distance. There's a discount for booking online.

Directly south of Kyoto Station, this refurbished hotel is more convenient than glamorous. Rooms are of standard size and comfortable enough but pretty much devoid of style. There are several restaurants and bars within, so you won't lack for food and drink. This is a decent place if you are on a package tour or if you can't find a room in this price range elsewhere.

Not only does the Mizno have a stylish lodge aesthetic and stunning views of Lake Kawaguchiko but nearly every part of the hotel—from the restaurant and rooftop bar to the guest rooms and private onsen—is designed to offer stellar Mt. Fuji views as well. In summer, make reservations for dinner on the terrace to watch the sun set over the lake.

Smack in the center of Ginza, this hotel was created in 2019 by budget Japanese retailer Muji, a company known for its natural toned, minimalist approach to interiors and fashion. That characteristic aesthetic runs through all of the smart, but compact singles and doubles, as well as the on-site library, bar, bakery, and Japanese restaurant. If you want to shop, the lower floors of the hotel's building house Muji's Ginza flagship store.

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.

It's not as over-the-top as its big-city counterparts, but this hotel is endowed with the same crisp service and all the right amenities. Weary travelers will be happy to know it's next to Kumamoto Station—great if you want to drop off your bags and freshen up before heading off to see the sights.

This classic hotel is a little worn around the edges after a century of operation, but it still has the best location in town—across the street from Toshogu—and the main building is a delightful, rambling Victorian structure that has hosted royalty and other important personages from around the world. Rooms vary a great deal, as do their prices: the more expensive rooms are spacious and comfortable, with wonderful high ceilings; in the annex the sound of the Daiya-gawa murmuring below the Sacred Bridge lulls you to sleep.

"Resort" is a misnomer for this small lodge, but the Nilaina has a perfect location, wooden decks where you can kick back, and a hot tub with an ocean view. The rooms could be more spacious—and there are only four of them—but they're smartly built, with excellent details like fancy baths and subtle lighting. They all look out onto the jungle. Snorkeling, hiking, and kayaking tours are on offer, but the diving and sailing tours on the hotel's 38-foot catamaran are unique to Nilaina. Call ahead to get free pickup from Uehara Port.

For a layover at Narita Airport, this capsule hotel, located pre-security in Terminal 2, is a good bet—just pick up your slippers and robe at reception, and make your way to your "sleep pod" (basically, a very narrow sleeping space with a small pillow). In addition to overnight stays, there are day-use (from ¥1,500) and shower-only (¥1,000) options

Two minutes from Nagoya Station, Nine Hours is a modern take on the capsule hotel, designed for short stays on a tight budget. Unlike capsule hotels of old, this isn't a dingy, last-resort after being too drunk to make the last train home. Design-wise it's got a hip, minimalist feel, with stark concrete and metallic gray common areas. Each of the clean yet basic "sleeping pods" is just 110cm wide, 110cm tall, and 220cm deep (about 3.5’ x 3.5’ x 6.5’ feet), but there's a top-floor lounge and first-floor café to relax in, as well as lockers for luggage storage and shared showers. There are separate male and female floors. There's a 5% discount with free Nine Hour membership.

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.

On the Shinano River, about 1½ km (1 mile) from the station, the 16-story high-rise affords views of the water from many of its rooms. The riverside La Shinano café is a great spot for afternoon cake or coffee. The service is attentive and the rooms—mostly Western in style but some Japanese—are comfortable. 

The rebuilt Okura combines modern, 21st-century luxury with the retro charm and stylish design of its predecessor, an iconic property that was constructed before the first Tokyo Olympics and featured a blend of traditional Japanese and modernist aesthetics. From the outside, it looks like just another set of steel and glass towers, but the conservative dark wood in the lobby gives the Okura an air of somber sophistication. An on-site museum houses fine antiques and memorabilia connected to the original hotel.

This slender tower a couple of minutes east of the Senso-ji complex is part of the affordable yet sleek OMO chain created by luxury brand Hoshino Resorts. In keeping with Hoshino's approach to design, rooms feature a contemporary blend of Japanese and Western sensibilities, incorporating light woods and natural tones that make compact spaces feel a little more expansive. Families could opt for the largest room, the Deluxe Quadruple, which is accented by tatami flooring. Beyond the design, what helps elevate the OMO3 above many other hotels in this price range are the little extras—the 24-hour food and drink station, the nightly Rakugo comedy show on the 13th floor, and free morning Asakusa tours with staff.

This fresh, budget option from luxury hotel operator Hoshino Resorts opened in Katamachi in 2022, offering simple, Western-style rooms that are decorated with light woods and pastel accents. The common areas include a chilled-out cafe-lounge and library. Nice extra touches are the on-site cultural experiences, such as a confectionary workshop and a tea-tasting session. It's especially good value on weekdays, as the Saturday rate is (unusually) double other nights.

Opened in 2024, the OMO7 is a fashionable but budget-conscious outpost from luxury brand Hoshino Resorts. The airy rooms, which range from twins (bookable as singles) to suites that can fit a family of four, are all spacious by locals standards and feature light natural tones. On-site you'll also find a plush public hot-spring bath, restaurant serving breakfast and dinner buffets (for an extra fee), a café-bar, and staff who can help plan itineraries and arrange guided activities.

This bungalow hideaway 15 minutes south of the Churaumi Aquarium is a laid-back alternative to the bigger resorts. The rooms are spacious and most face the beach. The restaurant on the sandy deck is relaxing and intimate, and grill-it-yourself options are especially fun for families. The water is great for swimming, and the beach is quiet at night. This is a good, economical spot to spend a night after circling the northern part of the island or visiting the aquarium.

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.

Dark wooden beams, shadowy corridors, and well-chosen antiques transform a modern canal-side building into a comfortable, old-fashioned Japanese inn—a rarity in Otaru. The traditionally clad staff bow low on the raised straw matting in the reception area, and the first-floor restaurant has seating with a canal view. The charm of the public areas continues into the newly renovated lounge area, where reading materials are available, adjacent to the lobby. The eighth-floor Japanese bathroom has several indoor and open-air onsen baths as well as a sauna. The hotel's breakfast includes up to 40 different options made by their chefs with ingredients from Hokkaido.

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).

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.