What To Consider When Booking a Hotel in Japan

Intro

You’re planning a trip to the incredible, beautiful, dazzling country of Japan - a dream destination for millions of travellers - but where should you stay? And what are the most important things to know when booking accommodation? Finding the perfect place to stay is a very important decision and could be the difference between a good holiday and a great one. So, where should you start? The answer is right here. At JapanDen, our entire ethos is based around helping travellers find the best possible accommodation for their time in Japan. We’re also here to educate and inform so you have all the knowledge and information you need to plan your perfect stay.  

What To Consider When Booking A Hotel in Japan

There are lots of different factors to consider when booking accommodation in Japan. You’ll find a huge range of accommodation types in Japan from Western-style hotels to traditional Japanese ryokan to luxury resorts, capsule hotels, onsen resort towns, and much more. There are also a number of key factors to consider when making a decision. However, before we get into the main considerations, we want to discuss the golden rule - ultimately, more than anything else, your choice of accommodation needs to suit your needs and fit with the kind of experience you want to have in Japan. It’s less about what is best, and more about what is right for you. With that in mind, here are some important things to consider: 

• Location

There is a reason they say ‘location, location, location’. It really is that important. Ask yourself, do you want to stay in one of Japan’s incredible cities or somewhere more off the beaten path? Perhaps you want to be close to a particular attraction or landmark? Do you want a room with a view - literally? What about transport connections and convenience? It is often said that Japan is a country of contrasts and this definitely extends to the geography and landscape. Japan is incredibly diverse and you’ll have a huge variety of locations to choose from, each with their own benefits. It’s really just a question of where you want to be. 

• Price

Is money no object or do you have a tight budget? Is the answer somewhere in between? It’s an unavoidable reality that your budget does dictate your choice. However, there are more expensive times and less expensive times to visit Japan (Cherry blossom season, Golden Week, and New Year are among the most popular times of year) and booking as far in advance as possible is always recommended to get the best price. 

• Food & Drink

Do you want dinner and breakfast included in the accommodation or do you plan on exploring Japan’s world-leading culinary scene, from traditional izakaya ‘gastropubs’ to Michelin-starred sushi and ramen restaurants? Of course, some ryokan - traditional Japanese inns - also offer authentic, multi-course banquets known as kaiseki-ryori, which gives you the chance to sample the food of Japan during your stay.

• Amenities

General amenities to consider when booking include WiFi, ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning/heating, security, housekeeping, room service, concierge facility, and more. Are you looking for a hotel with a gym and a pool? What about a bar and restaurant? Meeting spaces? Prayer rooms? Vending machines? What amenities do you need in your room? Consider things like WiFi, hairdryers, ironing board, kettle, tea and coffee making facilities (FYI, hotels in Japan tend to lean more towards tea than coffee), water, slippers? What about items for families with young children such as a travel cot or high-chair? 

• Convenience

Do you want to be right in the middle of the action or somewhere quieter and more remote? Consider factors such as proximity to landmarks and attractions, closeness to public transportation, distance from Japan’s airports and more. How high on your list of priorities is convenience?  

• Transport Links

Japan’s incredible public transport systems make it very easy to get around cities and explore the whole country, visiting multiple locations, and combining urban metropolises with rural idylls, to create a holiday that does a bit of everything. It’s worthwhile planning your trip to and from your accommodation before you travel as well as thinking through how you’ll reach places you want to visit during your stay.  

• Reviews

You should be able to find reviews for many hotels and popular ryokan, but it can also be challenging to know which reviews to trust. While traveller reviews have a sense of authenticity, everyone’s tastes are different, and you may find more useful information from trusted experts on Japanese accommodation and their carefully curated lists of hotels and ryokan. For more on this, check out our hotels page.  

• Family Friendly

If you’re travelling with young children or elderly relatives then certain types of accommodation may appeal more than others. Do you have any accessibility needs? May you need a travel cot or high-chair? If you’re travelling with children or relatives then it’s worth researching in advance and booking accordingly.

Types of Accommodation in Japan

As we mentioned earlier, Japan has every kind of accommodation you could possibly want, need, or imagine (and a few you’ve probably never even dreamt of!). Alongside luxury hotel chains and resorts, you’ll find traditional ryokans (Japanese inns) and family-run minshuku (small bed & breakfast style inns). Here is a quick overview:  

• Western hotels

Japan has a vast number of Western-style hotel chain, from luxury 5* hotels through to more affordable options. These are global hotels for global travellers who want a familiar, contemporary environment and all the amenities and the same experience you would get staying in their equivalent in New York or London. Of course, you might still find a few little Japanese eccentricities here and there. 

Tokyo’s first luxury Western-style hotel is arguably its most famous - the Park Hyatt, Tokyo, which was featured in the film, Lost in Translation, starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johanssen. As pictured above, this luxury hotel features distinctive architecture by Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Dr. Kenzo Tange. Highlights include the rooftop pool, housed in one of the spectacular, triangular glass atriums, a luxury spa, a gym with incredible views over Tokyo, a library with more than 2,000 books, and the famous New York Bar where Bill Murray and Scarlett Johanssen shared drinks!   

The global nature of these hotels can be a welcoming place to retreat to after having your mind blown by a dazzlingly different Japanese city. You may also benefit from spectacular city views depending on the location and hotel. 

Western-style hotels may appeal to travellers with young children or elderly relatives. If you want a more traditional experience then keep reading…

• Business hotels

Historically, these hotels were aimed at professionals who needed a place to stay for the night while travelling for business. A little more basic than the bigger Western-style hotels, they make a good budget choice for any traveller or visitor and are no longer just used by businessmen and women. Business hotels typically feature more basic amenities and smaller, more compact rooms. 

• Traditional ryokan

These authentic Japanese inns are more than a bed for the night, they’re a cultural experience. They vary from prefecture to prefecture and can also range from luxurious and high-end ryokan right through to more down-to-earth, budget-friendly options. Much more than a bed for the night, a ryokan is a fully-rounded cultural experience. It is an opportunity to sleep, dine, and bathe, like a Japanese citizen, and a chance to experience Japanese hospitality and household customs first-hand. We believe that staying in a ryokan is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in traditional Japanese culture, which is one of the main reasons why millions of people visit this beautiful country every year. While ryokan can vary enormously across Japan, they generally have several key features such as traditional rooms, clothing, dining, and an onsen, as part of the experience. 

• Minshuku

Smaller, family-run versions of ryokan, minshuku are a bed & breakfast style of accommodation where you may be staying in a Japanese family’s home. This offers an even more authentic and intimate experience of Japanese life and household customs. Naturally, this doesn’t come with the same level of luxury as some high-end ryokan, but in terms of experiencing the real Japan, it doesn’t get more authentic.  

• Shukubo

These are essentially ‘temple stays’. Some of Japan’s most beautiful Buddhist temples and mountain monasteries provide accommodation for visitors called shukubo, which as well as offering an interesting and unique place to stay, gives visitors a special insight into another important aspect of Japanese culture and its two main religions Buddhism and Shintoism.

• Resorts

From onsen resort towns with traditional bathhouses and volcanic springs to winter sports resorts high in the Japanese mountains, to beach resorts along the country’s stunning coastlines and subtropical south, spa resorts, zen resorts, and everything in between, this is a country where accommodation and relaxation can go hand-in-hand.   

• Other

It comes as no surprise that the country which invented the capsule hotel concept (the first capsule hotel opened in Osaka, Japan) in 1979) should have many alternative and unique accommodation options for visitors.

From quirky themed hotels and rooms (everything from Hello Kitty to Godzilla) to the opportunity to spend the night in unique places such as bookshops, art galleries, refurbished train carriages, and more, Japan has an unbelievably wide range of more eclectic and unusual accommodation types beyond the standard hotels, ryokan, and resorts. 

Useful Links

At JapanDen, we take a holistic approach to helping you find the perfect place to stay in Japan. Alongside our specialist accommodation recommendations, in-depth travel guides, 24/7 assistance, and community forum, we can also point you in the right direction for the most cost-effective and enjoyable transport, portable Wifi devices, and partner services to make your visit to Japan extra special:

• Has our guide inspired you to book a trip to Japan? For the perfect place to stay, visit our Hotels page and choose from more than 2,800 hotels and 1,800 traditional ryokans.

• Meanwhile, if you want to learn more about Japan’s regions and prefectures so you can decide the best place to visit, you should check out our Destinations page. 

• If you’re looking to explore the whole of Japan then the country’s famously efficient trains are the way to go. Japan’s railways are renowned as being the fastest, cleanest, and safest in the world. The country’s rail network is so vast and interconnected that it can help you reach almost any corner of Japan you want to visit. Furthermore, with a Japan Rail Pass you can enjoy unlimited travel on the majority of the country’s trains, including the famous Shinkansen ‘bullet trains’. The JR Pass is by far the most cost effective and flexible way to get around Japan. Find out more by visiting our partners at www.jrpass.com today.

• Want to use Google Translate to support your language skills? Or Google Maps for live train updates? What about posting photos to social media or keeping in touch with home? For all this and more, you’ll need a PocketWifi device like those from Ninja Wifi. With unlimited data, support for five devices simultaneously, the ability to share your Wifi with your travel companions, and more, renting a PocketWifi is highly recommended. Our Pocket WiFi guide has everything you need to know.   

• If you’re looking for information about Japan and want to speak with expert travellers who have been there and done that, then you should join our Community. This welcoming and friendly forum is the place to go to share stories, knowledge, and experiences about Japan, ask questions, make new connections, and find travel inspiration.