16 Best Hotels in Western Honshu, Japan

This reliable and popular hotel puts you close to the Peace Park and the nightlife of Nagarekawa. The Unkai restaurant, on the fifth floor, has tasty Japanese food and looks over a garden of dwarf trees surrounding a pond filled with colorful carp. In the morning, enjoy a full buffet breakfast in the hotel's ground-floor restaurant with plenty of Western and Japanese dishes to choose from.

An elegant ryokan built upon the ruins of an old Mori clan estate, the luxurious Hokumon Yashiki pampers you in a style the ruling elite were surely accustomed to in the good old days. The inn overlooks a garden in the samurai section of town, near the castle grounds. Meals are served in your room.

Connected by walkways to Hiroshima's JR Station, this conveniently located hotel is welcoming to weary travelers. Granvia's location and unpretentious, comfortable rooms make it a good choice for travelers arriving later in the evening or taking an early train out of the city. The Japanese restaurant Seto-uchi, on the second floor, offers a sampling of good traditional fare, and the expansive lobby is great for people-watching.

Bright-white marble and richly stained wood dominate the lobby at this large, luxurious hotel, a comfortable base for exploring the area. The bilingual staff are cheerful and welcoming. The rooms are spacious, with higher floors offering views over the city. It's conveniently connected to the JR Okayama Station—stay on the second level and follow the signs toward the southern end.

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 included in the rates and can be made Western-style. Nonguests can also enjoy the food.

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.

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.

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 local wagyu beef. 

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. 

If you're going to splurge for a luxury ryokan, this is the place. Housed in a cluster of traditional houses (the oldest was built nearly 300 years ago), Ryokan Kurashiki elegantly blends the feel and service of traditional Japanese inns with the modern comforts of high-end hotels. Each of the ryokan's suites housed in its own building, complete with Western-style beds and tatami-mat rooms tastefully decorated with art and antiques.

The same family has maintained a tradition of heartwarming hospitality at this charming riverside ryokan since 1893, but it's a strictly cash-only operation. Rooms vary in size but are air-conditioned, and the location is perfect for watching the famous Matsue sunset. The food is superb and of an astounding variety—virtually all the local seafood and vegetable specialties, both raw and cooked, are served. English is spoken, and your kind hosts may even demonstrate sushi making and a tea ceremony.

Treat yourself to a stay—or perhaps just a fantastic dinner—at this charming ryokan built in 1774. The rooms are intimate and secluded, and the suite overlooking the 400-year-old garden is especially captivating. You can't go wrong with the fabulous, filling, traditional dinners that incorporate the best local delicacies, from fish to fruit. The same friendly and hospitable folks run the Kurashiki Kokusai Hotel, so some English is spoken and foreigners are welcome and pampered. The hotel is across the bridge from the Ohara Art Museum.

Just a short walk from JR Hiroshima Station, this functional Japanese business hotel is identical to the nearly 300 other hotels in the chain. Rooms are compact, but there's a free breakfast, and very reasonable rates. Staff are friendly, and the English website makes booking relatively simple. 

This reasonably priced hotel is one of Kurashiki's most popular, as it offers basic, reliably comfortable rooms at a great value. It's only minutes away from the train station's South Exit. Sign up for their member's card to get discounted rooms, and other advantages.