16 Best Hotels in Shikoku, Japan

The 7Days and its slightly plusher next-door annex 7Days Plus ( 2–13–6 Harimaya-cho  088/884–7111) are budget business hotels done right. Smart, clean, and with all the basic amenities (including free Wi-Fi), rooms are an excellent value. Each hotel has connecting double rooms that are ideal for a family of four. Slightly removed from the nightlife center, the hotels are in the backstreets northeast of Harimaya Bridge.

A level-up on the typical business hotel, the Agnes has a more sophisticated feel than similarly priced options in town. One reason for that are the French pastries served downstairs, all baked on premises with high-quality ingredients and seasonal fruit. Add to that English-speaking staff and rooms that are compact but comfortable, with a white-and-brown color scheme. Across the street is a sister property, the Agnes Plus, which has a public bath open to guests of either Agnes. Walking out of the train station, take the second of two narrow streets that branch out to the right.

Downtown's biggest international hotel, the ANA has some great city views and a good range of facilities, including a fitness center, several restaurants, and a top-floor bar. While not stunning, the rooms are all smart and clean, and doubles especially are good value for the rates. It's located next to Mitsukoshi department store on Ichiban-cho. Book a room with a view of the castle.

A reliable and well-maintained member of a business-hotel chain next to the Marugame-machi shopping arcade, the Roynet has helpful staff and great access to Takamatsu's main drinking and dining areas. The rooms are small, but the slightly larger "Hollywood twin" ones come with reclining massage chairs. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, and there's a handy coin laundry on-site, plus a 24-hour convenience store in the same building.

With its central location, smart decor, and great amenities, this branch of a national chain seems almost too good to be true in this price range. The terrific rooftop hot tub gets bonus points, and you can have an affordable in-house massage, the perfect way to relax after a day of sightseeing.

A top choice for a luxury ryokan experience, Hanajyukai overlooks city and sea from a flower-covered mountainside. In typical ryokan fashion, most rooms are fully tatami, but some also incorporate wood flooring, and there are rooms with beds (not futon) tastefully incorporated into the traditional design; book one of the "designers rooms" for that. Or splurge on a "rotemburo-tsuki" room, if you want a private hot-spring bath. Dinners are classic kaiseki with French twists, although no-meal plans are available if you want to cut costs or eat out in Takamatsu. The scenic rooftop spa will melt your travel stress away. The inn is a 10-minute taxi ride from the city center.

Guest rooms at this hotel in Dogo are compact but have a modern Japanese aesthetic. If you want a larger room, opt for a deluxe twin, which combines a bedroom and small tatami mat room. Breakfast (extra fee) is a step up from the average midrange hotel offerings. It's a buffet of fresh local vegetables delivered daily direct from Ehime farmers, and the fish comes from the Seto Inland Sea.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Just a three-minute walk from Miyanoura ferry terminal you'll find this hidden little gem where the hostess, Yukiko-san, carefully attends to her guests and makes great food. The old villa-turned-ryokan is a wooden structure, and the rooms are traditional Japanese with tatami mats and sliding doors. The per-person price includes both breakfast and dinner.

Comfortable facilities and easy city access make for a pleasing stay at this budget chain hotel. Rooms are clean if not inspiring, and the hotel has Internet access and a coin laundry. Walking out of the train station, follow the big road that branches off diagonally to the left. There's another branch five minutes farther away from the station, if this one is full.