Japan has a range of accommodation depending on your budget and level of adventure. There are many chain hotels, as well as smaller bed and breakfast style hotels.
Whichever type of hotel you choose, it is best to plan and make reservations in advance. Japan hotels can book up quickly on weekends, especially during holidays and festivals.
Types of Japan Hotels and Accommodation
Luxury Hotels
Deluxe five-star hotels, such as the Marriott, Hilton, Intercontinental, New Otani, and Tokyu Hotel, are available in the major cities. The rooms are spacious and include all modern amenities. There is usually multi-lingual staff, room service, restaurants, and concierge service.
Typically the rates for luxury hotels increase per person. For example, the rate may be 20,000 yen for one person to stay in a room and 25,000 yen for two people to stay in the same room. These hotels can range from 20,000-60,000 yen per night depending on the room type, number of people, and time of year.
Business Hotels
Business hotels, such as Toyoko Inn, APA Hotel, The B, My Stays, and Dormy Inn, are a very affordable option for travelers at around 10,000 yen per night for two people. The rooms are very small, but are clean and include modern amenities (i.e., bed, desk, TV, private bathroom and toilet).
Photo by Bentley Smith / CC BY-NC-ND
The hotels do not offer room service, but usually have breakfast and vending machines for snacks and drinks.
The staff may only have limited English ability, but can usually communicate enough to check-in and ask very simple questions.
Japanese-style Hotels
Japanese-style hotels, such as ryokan or minshuku, offer a truly Japanese experience. The rooms have a tatami floor and a futon bed that gets rolled out at night. The bath and toilet are shared with other guests at the hotel. The rate usually includes breakfast and dinner.
These traditional style hotels charge per person and not per room. A stay in a ryokan is more expensive and can average around 10,000 yen per person. Minshuku are generally cheaper because they are family-run and not as luxurious as a ryokan.
Capsule Hotels
Capsule hotels are a fun experience for a night, but may not be suitable for everyone because they can get a bit claustrophobic. The space is only large enough for a bed and a small TV. There are lockers to store your bags, and there is a shared bath and toilet.
Capsule hotels are generally only for men, but there are hotels that also allow women. At these hotels, men and women stay in separate areas. Capsule hotels run about 3,000-5,000 yen per person.
Youth Hostels
There are youth hostels in Japan, but they are not as cheap as in other Asian countries, ranging from 2,000-4,000 yen per person. Like most hostels, the rooms and amenities are shared with other guests. Youth hostels can be fun for single travelers looking to meet new people, but the accommodations tend to be outdated and sometimes have a strict curfew.
