337 Best Hotels in Japan

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 main appeal of this manor in the woods is the hospitality of the Tatsuji family. Bright guest rooms with tall windows provide far-reaching views. The chef creates culinary wonders, from fresh bread to Mediterranean dishes with local produce. From Kumamoto, take the bus via Minami Aso and get off at Takamori. Call the pension, and they will have someone pick you up. You don't have to book the evening meal, but the relative isolation of the property, and the Tatsuji's family's culinary skills, mean that booking meals with your stay is the best option and something that almost all guests do. Vegetarian options are available on request. The hosts ask that you arrive before dinner, which is served promptly at 6:30.

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.

The best lodgings at this family-run inn just a few minutes' walk from Shimoda's main beach are the Japanese-style corner rooms, which have nice views of the hills surrounding Shimoda. The pleasant Japanese couple who run the pension speak English, and cheap meals are available in the dining room. It's worth paying extra for these (especially breakfast) as there are very few dining options nearby.

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. 

This modern guesthouse sits in the center of the village's flower-filled pedestrian area. The owner is not only extremely knowledgeable about butterflies but is also an agile fisherman, so dinners can include freshwater fish, plus seasonal wild mushroom soup served from a giant cauldron in the dining room. He can also take guests on fishing trips. Sake liqueurs made from fruits like mountain grapes may enhance (or hinder) the next day's hiking power. There are clean tatami rooms with shared washing areas, and use of the Kurodake no Yu hot spring next door is free; there are two options for dinner. 

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.

This ski-in ski-out resort is popular with Japanese families and also for school trips, tour groups, and competition skiers. Recent updates to the hotel have focused on luxury wellness suites with their own saunas and, in the case of the premium suite, an oxygen capsule. The cheapest rooms—particularly the bathrooms—are in need of renovation. Young children will like the full-size indoor carousel, arcade games, and the animatronic singing bears. The "Oktoberfest" Hokkaido buffet showcases the best of the island's cuisine with all-you-can-eat snow crab. 

Established during the Meiji Restoration (1867), this small ryokan is the most lavish lodging in Kanazawa, and guests come from all over Japan as much for the food (breakfast and dinner are included in the rate) as for the stay. The interior blends traditional elegance with innovative designs—a perfect metaphor for the age of Japan's transition into modernity. Antique furnishings and exquisite scrolls and paintings appear throughout the inn. Superb regional Kaga cuisine is served in your room or in the restaurant.

This friendly ryokan has a few modest Western-style twin rooms amid its mostly Japanese-style rooms, and its location—just behind the Kaminari-mon gateway leading to the Senso-ji complex—is convenient for exploring the area. The downside for some will be the size of the rooms; it's worth paying extra for a 12-tatami mat room if you have a lot of luggage, as the six-tatami mat rooms are extremely snug.

Just off Nakamise-dori, this small inn, with both Japanese- and Western-style rooms, could not be better located for a visit to Senso-ji temple. Although all guest quarters have private baths, Western-style rooms are plain and a bit dated, and standard Japanese rooms are cramped, even for just two. The best option is to pay a little extra for a Japanese-style deluxe or suite room with futon bedding and tatami floors. Regardless, be sure to head to the sixth floor for a soak in a Japanese-style wooden communal bath with a view of the Senso-ji pagoda.

One of the closest lodging options to the Mt. Fuji hiking trails isn't much to look at from the outside, but the interior is spacious and homey, and the English-speaking staff speak can help you plan an area sightseeing itinerary. Meals, including vegetarian options, are available at a very low price. Shuttle service is provided from Fuji Yoshida Station, if you arrange ahead of time.

This charming hillside ryokan has been around for more than a century, and it owes its longevity to its having the best views on the island. Every room is blessed with a panorama of the famous gate, the shrine, and the pagodas—and all are backed by the sea, lush trees, or mountains. The friendly English-speaking owners provide excellent service and food, though the Western-style dining area and hotel's concrete exterior detract from the experience somewhat. Getting to the quiet east side of the bay requires a bit of a stroll—or ask the tourist office to arrange a van to pick you up. A private (no extra charge) outdoor bath on a sheltered overhanging corner has great views, so don't forget to reserve your 30-minute slot of pure Zen when you check in. Down in the basement there are more baths, open 24 hours. 

Before it was upstaged by the bathing monkeys, Kanaguya Ryokan, the town's oldest and grandest traditional inn, was Shibu Onsen's main draw. Kanaguya Ryokan's majestic wooden building dates from the late 18th century and retains a traditional atmosphere both inside and out. Most rooms don't have attached baths (most do have a private toilet), but five of the eight hot-spring baths in the ryokan can be used privately. The ryokan serves locally sourced feasts for dinner and breakfast and also offers a selection of local sake. Attentive kimono-clad service staff make sure your stay is comfortable, and the inn offers morning tours of the source hot spring and the elaborate network of pipes running into the hotel.

Established in the 1980s, this small, simple, economical inn—where all the rooms have traditional tatami flooring and futon mattresses—is a five-minute walk from the entrance to Ueno Koen (Ueno Park) and a 10-minute walk from the Tokyo National Museum. Although the largest rooms can accommodate four or five people, others are very small.

This friendly and cozy Japanese inn attracts budget-minded travelers, and it is a lot like visiting someone's grandmother's house. There's a small dining area where optional Japanese and Western breakfasts and Japanese dinners are served. Locals often gather in the restaurant for drinks or dinner. The clean and comfortable rooms are traditional in style but are equipped with toilets and showers. 

Get a real taste of Japanese living in the comfortable and homely surroundings of this small ryokan. Room sizes are measured by the number of tatami mats, guests sleep on futons, and there is a bath for each of the two rooms, one of which is large enough to accommodate a group of 6 (it's possible to rent the entire ryokan for group of 8 people). The wonderfully friendly owners provide a great Japanese-style breakfast, and even offer calligraphy sessions for those with an interest. Excellent location within walking distance of the two train stations, the city's main shopping areas, and Nara Koen.